Archives and Special Collections
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Archives and Special Collections Finding Aids

Printable Finding Aid. Back to Browsing Version.

Collection Overview
Title:Urban School Collaborative records
Dates: 1976-1992
Location:31/2
Call Number:A70
Volume:0.30 cubic ft. (1 box)
Scope and Content Note:The URSCO records reflect NU's participation in Boston's efforts to integrate schools and document plans to develop curricula and courses suited to the newly integrated student population. This collection includes materials about NU's partners in URSCO and numerous issues of the Urban School Collaborative News. It provides samples of art and poetry produced by students in their schools as a result of the Collaborative's efforts. Also included are workshops materials, a course catalog from Madison Park High School, and a curriculum in communications, mathematics, social science, and science.
Historical Note:

Northeastern University's (NU) role in the Urban Schools Collaborative began in August 1975 when U.S. District Court Judge W. Arthur Garrity, Jr. ordered the desegregation of Boston's schools. The Court mandate called for 21 universities to assist in providing equal educational opportunity for all Boston Public School children. Under NU President Asa S. Knowles, who chaired the first Steering Committee of the Phase II Desegregation effort, NU was paired with District 7 schools and the planned Madison Park High School.

NU's leadership role continued under Knowles successor, President Kenneth Ryder. In 1976, Ryder appointed Gregory C. Coffin as Director of NU's Office of Phase II Desegregation, which became the Urban Schools Collaborative Office (URSCO) in 1976.

Early programs with District 7 schools included a music curriculum, a special education diagnostic center, and the Community Resource Development program. During the second year, URSCO developed mathematics and bilingual curricula as well as a parent liaison program, and offered the use of recreational facilities. NU also helped to plan the Madison Park High School programs and facility, which opened in 1977. For Madison Park, NU created programs for parents, teacher training in mathematics, and career development.

When Coffin retired in 1987, long-time Assistant Director Paula Clarke became URSCO's Director. Since July 1992, URSCO has been part of NU's College of Arts and Sciences.
Arrangement:Arranged in one alphabetical sequence.
Subjects and Contributors:
  • Boston (Mass.) -- Race Relations
  • Boston School District VII
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Office of Phase II Programs
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Urban Schools Collaborative
  • School Integration -- Massachusetts -- Boston
Restrictions:The collection is unrestricted.
Processor:Finding aid prepared by Patsy Baudoin, November 2003

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BoxTitleDate
1Boston Higher Education Partnership1989
1Boston Private Industry Council Summer Jobs Project1984
1Celebrating the Creative Child1980
1Collaborative Planning Study: School Department and the College and University Presidents 1980
1Computer Up-date Newsletter1985
District VII Collaborative Publications
1Blossomingsn.d.
1 Once Again... Listen!1978
Madison Park High School
1Course Catalog1977
News Clippings1978
1Model City Administration Higher Education Program n.d.
1Program Descriptions 1992
1School Newspaper Workshop1979
1School Reform and Higher Education: A Menu for Action.1984
1Student Involvement in Phase II 1976
Studying Ethnic Neighborhoods
1NEH Grant Report1982
1Villa Victoria1976
1The Urban Schools Collaborative News1976-1983