Florence Laura Goodenough papers

This collection consists primarily of Florence Goodenough's personal professional correspondence from 1936-1959. The correspondence chiefly discusses publications and developments in the field of child welfare during the 1930s and 1940s, with many letters soliciting Goodenough's opinion. A smaller number of letters pertain to thesis work being done by graduate students under Goodenough. The bulk of the correspondence dates from 1936-1959; it constitutes most of the material available on Goodenough, with the exception of a few letters found in other collections at the University of Minnesota. Correspondence dating from 1936-1947 is of a professional nature, but does give some insight into Goodenough's character and interests, as well as to development in the field of child welfare.

One folder consists almost entirely of correspondence between Dr. Goodenough and Dale B. Harris who was associated with the Institute of Child Development from 1939-1959. It was written during the years of Goodenough's retirement until her death (1947-1959). The letters reflect Harris's collaboration with Goodenough on various projects, most notably a revision of the Draw-A-Man Test. Due in part to Miss Goodenough's failing eyesight and increased duties brought upon Dr. Harris when he became director of the Institute of Child Welfare (1954-1959), the revision entitled, Children's Drawings as Measures of Intellectual Maturity, was not completed until after Goodenough's death. Other topics of note in the correspondence are of a personal nature and discuss Goodenough's health and life in New Hampshire as well as Harris's family life, and University of Minnesota matters, especially concerning the Institute of Child Welfare and people that they knew in common.

Biographical information on Goodenough was primarily collected by Theta Wolf, a former student of Goodenough's, in preparation for an article in Notable American Womenon Goodenough. Additional biographical information can be found in the University Archives' biographical file.

In 1942 Goodenough conducted a test taken by members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corp known as the Speed of Association Test. The papers contain the raw data that was divided into three sections, based on the test takers' marital status (single, married, and divorced). Keys to the test consist of a Commonality Key, Leadership Key and M-F Key (Masculine-Feminine). See the Biography File of Florence Goodenough for a list of publications regarding the Speed of Association Test.

Outlines of lectures for courses given by Goodenough, that were found with the papers, have been placed in the Curriculum Collection (uarc 827).