A Forgotten Voice: A Biography of Leta Stetter Hollingworth [Paperback]

Ann G., Ed.D. Klein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2002

The mother of gifted education has been forgotten, even though her words of 100 years ago are still as relevant today as they were back then.

Born in rural Nebraska in 1886, Leta Stetter Hollingworth (1886-1939) rose above a traumatic childhood and prejudice to become an influential psychologist, feminist, educator, author, and advocate for gifted children.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate from the University of Nebraska, she helped form the Heterodoxy Club in New York City, joined the faculty at Columbia University, founded the Speyer School for the Gifted, and published numerous articles and books that provide insights into the education and special needs of gifted children and adults.

-Early education of gifted students

-Feminist and other social causes

-New sources, including interviews

-Previously unpublished photos

-Needs of profoundly gifted children

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ann G. Klein has written a beautiful and informative book." -- Gifted Education News-Page

"Any library with even a small collection on giftedness should include this book...essential" -- Choice Magazine, June, 2003

"Dr. Klein's book is a rich story that strongly holds the reader's interest." -- The Maryland Psychologist- January/February 2004

"Highly recommended...provides a truly fascinating and informative study into the life and work of an extraordinary, trailblazing woman." -- The Midwest Book Review, KNLS Bookwatch, January 1, 2003

"Klein has both written an engaging biography and contributed significantly to scholarship on the history of women in psychology." -- Psychology of Women Magazine, December, 2003

"Reading this beautifully yet factually orchestrated book will tell this story in novel-like details"` -- CAG Communicator, Spring, 2003

"Thank you so much for publishing Leta Hollingworth's biography. I finished that book with tears in my eyes and so deeply touched by her vision, commitment and practical work. I have been working in this field myself for 25 years, yet here in NZ almost nothing is known of this inspirational woman... Your publication of this book is hugely valuable, and I will be recommending it to teachers on my own courses." -- Rosemary Cathcart, Director, REACH Education Consultancy, New Zealand

"This is a book well worth reading" -- Feedback, South Carolina Psychological Association

"a rare treat to find a biography of one of the early important contributors to the area of psychology." -- South Carolina Psychological Association,

"recommended reading for anyone interested in the history of gifted education." -- Duke Gifted Letter

About the Author

Dr. Klein is professor Emerita from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She first became intrigued with Leta Hollingworth after reading about her in Roeper Review, which dedicated the March 1990 issue to Hollingworth's life. Raised in Newark, NJ, she currently resides in Eau Claire, WI, and Elk Rapids, MI.

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Great Potential Press (November 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0910707537
• ISBN-13: 978-0910707534
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #469,771 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Biography, history combine for an insighful book!, April 3, 2003

By 

Carolyn K. "Mrs. Hoagie" (Hoagies' Gifted Education Page) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Forgotten Voice: A Biography of Leta Stetter Hollingworth (Paperback)

Far more than a biography, this book is also a history of gifted education and a snapshot of the life of the exceptionally gifted in our society. I learned a great deal while reading it, not only About Leta Hollingworth and her contemporaries in gifted, but about myself, and my fit within my world.

As a biography, "Leta" captures the imagination, taking you to turn-of-the-century Nebraska during the westward expansion. Life was not easy then, and Leta had a harder time of growing up than most. They say "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger," and this certainly applies to Leta's young life. Continuing to college at an early age, Leta faces a new challenge: she is a young woman in a man's world. While she is highly successful there, many still will not accept her, and her struggles continue.

As a history book, "Leta" is just as interesting, and should be required reading for any education or psychology degree program. The relationships between many of the leading historical figures in gifted psychology and education are explained, and the reader learns how their theories and experiences intertwine to form the basis of gifted theory of today.

And most importantly, Ann Klein has done a terrific job combining the elements of Leta Hollingworth's life into an enjoyable volume. Don't miss this book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Challenging Myths, March 5, 2003

By 

Phyllis MacDonald (Oro Valley, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Forgotten Voice: A Biography of Leta Stetter Hollingworth (Paperback)

A Forgotten Voice: A Biography of Leta Stettler Hollingsworth
By Ann G. Klein, Ed.D

Which of us remembers when female students were not expected to excel in academic endeavors because of a belief that female physiology stood in the way of logical thinking and reasoning? Who of us can recall the time when equality in education meant that all children must learn the same things, at the same rate, and by the same processes of learning? Early in the 20th century, an exceptional young woman, Leta Stettler Hollingsworth, challenged those myths.
In her book, A Forgotten Voice: A Biography of Leta Stettler Hollingsworth, Dr. Ann G. Klein describes the hardships of Leta's early life and her struggle to take advantage of every educational opportunity possible to her. Leta's husband, Henry Levi Hollingsworth (Holly) was her constant companion, support and mentor. Together they moved from rural Nebraska to New York where each would find success and satisfaction though their involvement in the relatively new field of psychology at Columbia University's Teacher's College and at Barnard.

After a stint of baking lemon pies and researching the effect of caffeine in Coca Cola, Leta completed her graduate studies and had the opportunity to work with such eminent researchers and scholars as John Dewey, Lewis Terman, Edward Lee Thorndike, and Naomi Norsworthy. In addition to becoming an active feminist, Leta studied and worked with school children, primarily focusing on those who demonstrated very high intelligence. She was instrumental in founding the Speyer School, a New York City School for Exceptional students. Leta Hollingsworth served as educational advisor of the Terman classes for those students who scored 130 or above on the Stanford Binet IQ test.

In working with the Terman students, Leta introduced cooperative and thematic studies, observed the "special perplexities" (social and emotional needs) of gifted children, noted the frequency of uneven (asynchronous) development, and recognized the benefits of grouping gifted students to provide stimulus and challenge.

While the life of Leta Stettler Hollingsworth was cut short, her influence lives on. I thank Dr. Ann G. Klein and Great Potential Press for sharing her with us.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable, February 17, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: A Forgotten Voice: A Biography of Leta Stetter Hollingworth (Paperback)

As a history buff and a lover of biographies with an interest in the studies of human potential, I found this book fascinating. What a great opportunity it was to get to know Leta Stetter Hollingworth from her own perspective as well as the perspective of her husband, family, co-workers, friends, and rivals. The book was nicely rounded, and the balance of personal information combined with historic and academic information was satisfying. Well, almost anyway. The book definitely left me wanting to learn more about Leta.