Collection: Papers of Dorothy Whitney Elmhirst
Level: Series
RefNo: DWE/DS
Extent: 4 boxes
Title: DWE Dartington Hall School
Date: 1926-1967

Pupils swimming in the River DartAdministrative History: Dartington Hall School was founded by Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst as an experiment in progressive coeducation in 1926. From the beginning it was a central focus of their purpose in purchasing and renovating the Dartington Hall estate. Dartington Hall featured a pupil-defined curriculum based upon the individual. There were few rules for older students. There were no uniforms, no formal religious education, no church services, no patriotism, and emphasis was placed on co-operation rather than competition.

In 1931, W B Curry accepted the position of headmaster, serving for 25 years until his retirement in 1957. Hubert and Lois Child served as joint head teachers until 1968 when they were succeeded by Dr Royston Lambert. Lambert left in 1973 to be succeeded by deputy head John Wightwick. Dartington Hall School closed in 1987.

Description: This small series is comprised of Dorothy Elmhirst's records relating to the founding and administration of Dartington Hall School. It includes her correspondence with School staff and educational advisers.

The early period of the School is documented by extensive personal correspondence between Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst, Wyatt Rawson, and Marjorie Wise (see box 2). Rawson's effusive correspondence with both Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst is highly personal but mentions his involvement in the New Education Fellowship. Organisational records include reports from early school staff, advisors, and guest teachers among them H N Brailsford, Eduard Lindeman, and Ruth Morgan. Additionally there are records relating to student projects on the estate, and a journal including Dorothy's notes about school staff. Printed records include copies of the first prospectus, and the manifesto 'Outline of an Educational Experiment' (both 1926). Student publications date from about 1927 onwards.

In 1931, William B Curry was hired as headmaster. The series therefore includes letters and reports between Bill Curry and Dorothy Elmhirst dating between 1931 and 1962.

Also included are some early records of the Education Committee including minutes. Alphabetical correspondence includes letters to and from school staff, parents, prospective parents, and education theorists including A S Neill. Teacher Training Department records include reports by Margaret Isherwood. There are also headmaster search records and subsequent correspondence (1956-1967) with Curry's successors, Hu and Lois Child. Occasional letters found in this series include those from Frances Cornford and Gerald Heard.

Subjects include alternative education, co-education, sex education, and child psychology.

See the online catalogue for item level descriptions reference DWE/DS

Access: Archives held by The Dartington Hall Trust are subject to Trust policies which generally follow normal document closure periods for public records. Records that are not governed by the Data Protection Act of 1998 and that are more than 30 years old are open for research. In addition, it is Trust policy that records of people still living are closed.