Edna Dean Baker (1883–1956) was an educator, author, co-founder of Baker Demonstration School, and President of the National Kindergarten and Elementary College (later to become

National-Louis University National Louis University (NLU) is a private university with its main campus in Chicago, Illinois. NLU enrolls undergraduate and graduate students in more than 60 programs across its four colleges. It has locations throughout the Chicago metropo ...

) from 1920 to 1949. She was an early advocate for kindergarten style early childhood education in the United States. Born in

Normal, Illinois Normal is a town in McLean County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town's population was 52,736. Normal is the smaller of two principal municipalities of the Bloomington–Normal metropolitan area, and Illinois' seventh most ...

, her family moved to Washington state when she was six years old. After graduating from Watcom High School in

Bellingham, Washington Bellingham ( ) is the most populous city in, and county seat of Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It lies south of the U.S.–Canada border in between two major cities of the Pacific Northwest: Vancouver, British Columbia (loc ...

in 1902, she moved with her family to Evanston, IL, where Edna entered

Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Charte ...

as a Classics Major. In 1904 after her father's death. she transferred to Chicago Kindergarten College (Later the National Kindergarten and Elementary College) to pursue a career as a kindergarten teacher. She graduated with a Bachelor's in Education from the National Kindergarten College in 1913, and returned to Northwestern University to earn a bachelor's degree in 1920 and a Master's degree in 1921. While pursuing her studies at the National Kindergarten and Elementary College, Edna and her sister, Clara Belle Baker, served as co-directors of the Evanston Elementary school, a private elementary school in

Evanston, Illinois Evanston ( ) is a city, suburb of Chicago. Located in Cook County, Illinois, United States, it is situated on the North Shore along Lake Michigan. Evanston is north of Downtown Chicago, bordered by Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, ...

. Both would later co-found Baker Demonstration School as the demonstration school for the National Kindergarten and Elementary College. Recognized in her time as a progressive educator, Baker was listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Education, Who’s Who Among College Presidents, American Women, and Principal Women of America. Baker was the author of several books, including ''The Beginner’s Book in Religion, Parenthood and Child Nurture, Kindergarten Method in the Church Schools, The Worship of the Little Child,'' and ''A Child is Born''.

References

External links

Edna Dean Baker at National-Louis University Archives and Special Collections
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, Edna Dean 1883 births 1956 deaths National Louis University Northwestern University alumni People from Normal, Illinois