Date Range

1885 - 1980.

Creator

Dorothy Gentleman

Physical Description

215 files

History Biographical

Dorothy Gentleman (1905—1980), was an early childhood educator, lecturer, and writer who helped pioneer kindergarten education in Lethbridge, Alberta. Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, she immigrated to Canada in 1922. She would marry and have two children before being widowed in 1950. In 1948, Gentleman founded Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse, a preschool operated from her home in Lethbridge until her retirement in 1973. The Playhouse gained broad recognition, attracting regional, national, and international attention, and she later served as an observer-consultant during the early development of the United States Head Start program. In 1961, she was named Canada’s Mother of the Year in recognition of her contributions. Alongside her teaching, Gentleman was an active writer and public speaker, producing essays, lectures, and broadcast scripts that promoted funding for education and various methods. She remained engaged in educational advocacy after her retirement. Gentleman died on October 1, 1980.

Custodial History

Donated by Muriel Gentleman.

Scope and Content

20251053/001 - Letters and Correspondence, 1950-1963. 20251053/002 - “Mother of the year 1961” documents, Newspapers, Photos, biography. 20251053/003 - Class Photos, 1950 – 1960. 20251053/004 - Miscellaneous documents 1/4, Dorothy Gentleman Membership cards, 1969-1973. 20251053/005 - Miscellaneous documents 2/4, Music Sheets, 1960s 20251053/006 - Miscellaneous documents 3/4, Class photos, Japanese gardens, [Pow Wow?], family photos, 1965 – 1976. 20251053/007 - Miscellaneous documents 4/4, Christmas Cards and performance, Pamphlets, poetry, 1960s 20251053/008 - Notebooks, Curriculums, 1960s 20251053/009 - “Knowing book worksheets, [196-?] 20251053/010 - Folders, Aunt Dorothy’s Knowing Book, [196-?] 20251053/011 - Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse Registration forms, 1972 – 1973. 20251053/012 - Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse Registration forms, 1971. 20251053/013 - Inquires for publishing, Playhouse Material, Muriel Gentleman, Knowing Book, Letters, 1972. 20251053/014 - Aunt Dorothy’s Knowing Book Filled Out, [ca. 1971 – 1973] 20251053/015 - Knowing Book drafts, ideas, cutouts, [ca. 1971 – 1973] 20251053/016 - Dorothy Gentleman correspondence, notes on writing, 1970 – 1979. 20251053/017 - Letters to Dorothy Gentleman, Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse, Retirement, Anniversary, thank you letters, 1963, 1973. 20251053/018 - Notebooks, 25th birthday party plans, retirement, Photoprint book, list of students, 1949 – 1973. 20251053/019 - Photo orderbooks, 1958 – 1968. 20251053/020 - Kristie’s Accident correspondence and court documents, 1963 – 1966. 20251053/021 - 4 Street shorts Pattern, 1972? 20251053/022 - Lesson Plans, closure of Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse Letter, 1970 – 1973. 20251053/023 - Playhouse Crest letters, 1971. 20251053/024 - 5-year-old girls' uniforms instructions, 1965. 20251053/025 - Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse Financial Policy, 1972. 20251053/026 - 5-year-olds parents workshop day at the yates' documents, 1970? 20251053/027 - Class Photo, 1973. 20251053/028- Iwai Xmas letter, leaf collection, 1967? 20251053/029 - Mental health legislation in Canada document, 1960. 20251053/030 - Child welfare in Canada booklets, 1959-1962. 20251053/031 - Teaching Material Catalogue, 1968 – 1969. 20251053/032 - Early Childhood Education Documents, Reports, Council briefs, 1965 – 1966, 1968 – 1969. 20251053/033 - Sociology Research-Training of Nursery school teaches in Ottawa, 1966. 20251053/034 - Child Identification cards, 1971. 20251053/035 - Letters regarding Kristie Gentleman’s accident, 1963-1966. 20251053/036 - Alberta Mother’s Allowance Act letters and documents, 1950-1957. 20251053/037 - Material on the aged Pamphlets, Agenda, newspaper clippings, 1960-1956. 20251053/038 - French for Fun, Playhouse Correspondence, essays, newspaper clippings, bulletins, 1964-1965, 1970, 1972. 20251053/039 - Property and fire inspection documents, 1972. 20251053/040 - Early Childhood Education documents, 1971, 1973. 20251053/041 - Letter to Dorothy Gentleman from daughter, 1963. 20251053/042 - Provincial Department of Education documents, 1961-1973. 20251053/043 - Parents’ days, workshop documents, programs and parent meetings, 1966 – 190. 20251053/044 - Acknowledgements of Playhouse of services letters, 1959 – 1971. 20251053/045 - Dominion Bureau of Statistics documents, 1963 – 1972. 20251053/046 - Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse Crests, correspondence, list of crests and names, 1952 –1972. 20251053/047 - General Letters to Parents, Financial policy sheet, Meeting Invitations, 1955 – 1971. 20251053/048 - Excise Tax documents, materials correspondence, 1971 – 1972. 20251053/049 - Calgary Kindergarten contacts, Correspondence and booklets, 1960. 20251053/050 - Playhouse curriculum, growth and development, pre-school child notes, [ca. 1960 – 1973] 20251053/051 - Meeting minutes, Early Childhood service documents, 1972 – 1973. 20251053/052 - A.T.A council in early childhood education, 1966 – 1970. 20251053/053 - Carlorff Method, supplies, music booklets, 1969. 20251053/054 - Everyweek-Educational Press correspondence, 1969 – 1971. 20251053/055 - Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) correspondence, 1961, 1964. 20251053/056 - Fee and Registration, Refunds Correspondence, 1961 – 1967. 20251053/057 - Correspondence regarding unpaid accounts, 1969. 20251053/058 - Ontario Nursery Education Association, Newsletters, Salary schedules, correspondence, 1959 – 1964. 20251053/059 - Pre-school parent centre (Ottawa) document, letters, 1962. 20251053/060 - Out of city Children correspondence, 1962 – 1970. 20251053/061 - 4-year-old buttons, correspondence with Manitoba Stencil and stamp works, 1966 – 1968. 20251053/062 - Recreation Department – civic cenre correspondence, 1952 – 1957, 1972. 20251053/063 - Musical Festivals and program, 1959. 20251053/064 - Licensing with City of Lethbridge and Province, 1958 – 1970. 20251053/065 - Provincial department of welfare correspondence, 1961 – 1970. 20251053/066 - Special case studies correspondence, reports on children, 1966 – 1967. 20251053/067 - Playhouse contacts with other schools, correspondence, responses to valentines' letters, 1959 – 1970. 20251053/068 - Safety Council documents, materials for teaching traffic safety, 1959. 20251053/069 - Kindergarten Data 1/2, By-law recommendations, correspondence, 1958 – 1961. 20251053/070 - Kindergarten Data 2/2, 1944, 1951, 1958 – 1961. 20251053/071 - Employee Applications, correspondence, agreements, 1960 – 1961. 20251053/072 - Employment Documents, Termination, Agreements, Pension Plans, 1970 – 1971. 20251053/073 - Children’s Newspaper, Mynews, ourworld publication, 1971. 20251053/074 - Children’s Newspaper “ourworld” publication, 1971. 20251053/075 - Teacher’s newspapers, “ourworld” and “Everyweek” publication. 20251053/076 - Children’s Newspapers, “Mynews”, Teachers bulletin, 1970. 20251053/077 - Photographs, Children, Trips, Graduation, 1955-1957, 1969 – 1972. 20251053/078 - Photographs, Playhouse events 1/2, Christmas, Reading, sports, birthdays, 1969 – 1972. 20251053/079 - Photographs, Playhouse events 2/2, Crafts, Nature, Carnival, Dolls, 1969. 20251053/080 - Photographs, Playhouse events, 1/2, Birthday party, Class photos, Individual activities, 1969 – 1971. 20251053/081 - Photographs, Playhouse events 2/2, Children Activities, Nature, Christmas, 1969 – 1971. 20251053/082 - Photographs, Trips in Asia and Hawaii 1/2, Tokyo, Taiwan, Vietnam, Hawaii, Hong Kong, 1970 – 1971. 20251053/083 - Photographs, Trips to Asia 2/2, Monuments, Buddhist Temples, landmarks in Asia, 1970 – 1971. 20251053/084 - Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse children’s registration forms, 1966 – 1967. 20251053/085 - Aunt Dorothy’s playhouse children’s registration forms, 1971 – 1972. 20251053/086 - Aunt Dorothy’s children’s registration forms, 1966 – 1970. 20251053/087 - Aunt Dorothy’s playhouse children’s registration forms, 1968 – 1969. 20251053/088 - Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse children’s registration forms, 1964 – 1965. 20251053/089 - Aunt Dorothy’s playhouse children's registration forms, 1967 – 1968. 20251053/090 - Aunt Dorothy’s playhouse children's registration forms, 1967 – 1968. 20251053/091 - Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse registration forms, 1963 – 1965. 20251053/092 - Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse registration forms, 1961 – 1964. 20251053/093 - Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse registration forms, 1960 – 1962. 20251053/094 - Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse registration forms, 1963. 20251053/095 - Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse registration forms, 1959 – 1962. 20251053/096 - Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse registration forms, 1959 – 1961. 20251053/097 - July Graduates and 4-year-olds, 1952. 20251053/098 - Class Photo, Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse Crest, Greg K’s Crest, 1966? 20251053/099 - Miscellaneous Photographs, Holiday cards, Playhouse events, Alberta’s 50th, 1948 – 1964. 20251053/100 - Class Photo and Crest, Marilyn Carberts Crest, 1966? 20251053/101 - Class Photo, 1960. 20251053/102 - Class Photo on Football Field, 1956. 20251053/103 - Class photos, graduating class photos, 1958. 20251053/104 - July Graduation Banquet, 1953. 20251053/105 - July Graduation Banquet, 1954. 20251053/106 - Class Photo, Graduation Photo? 1956. 20251053/107 - July Graduation Banquet, 1955. 20251053/108 - Class photo on Football Field, 1957. 20251053/109 - Class photos, 1959. 20251053/110 - Class photos, 1960. 20251053/111 - Class photos, 1961. 20251053/112 - Class photos, 1962. 20251053/113 - Class photos, 1963. 20251053/114 - Class photos, 1964. 20251053/115 - Class photos, 1965. 20251053/116 - Class photos, 1966. 20251053/117 - Class photos, 1967. 20251053/118 - Class photos, 1968. 20251053/119- Class photos, 1969. 20251053/120 - Class photos, 1971. 20251053/121 - Class photos, 1972. 20251053/122 - Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse Registration Forms, 1959. 20251053/123 - Pre-Reading, “we Read more pictures” book, 1959. 20251053/124 - The new basic readers curriculum book, [1950 - ?] 20251053/125 - Pre-Reading, “we Read more pictures” book, [1950?] 20251053/126 - Pre-Reading, “we Read more pictures” book, 1959. 20251053/127 - Pre-Reading, “we Read more pictures” book, 1959. 20251053/128 - Pre-Reading, “we Read more pictures” book, [1950?] 20251053/129 - Pre-Reading, “we Read more pictures” book teachers edition, [1950?] 20251053/130 - “Material objects” Science curriculum Improvement study book, 1963. 20251053/131 - Reading Fundamentals program “Thinking Skills” curriculum package, [195-] 20251053/132 - Reading Fundamentals program “Thinking Skills” level 2 curriculum book, [1958?] 20251053/133 - Reading Readiness learning forms book 1, [1950?] 20251053/134 - Reading Readiness learning forms book 2, [1950?] 20251053/135 - Reading Fundamentals program “beginning sounds” level 1, [1958?] 20251053/136 - “Come and See” teachers guide, [1953?] 20251053/137 - “Come and See” a first reading-readiness book, [1954?] 20251053/138 - “Come and Hear” a first ear-training book, [1955?] 20251053/139 - “Come and hear” teachers guide, [1953?] 20251053/140 - “Come and Count” a First number-readiness book, [1952?] 20251053/141 - “Come and Count” teachers’ guide, [195-?] 20251053/142 - Carbon paper copies for curriculum books, [195-?] 20251053/143 - “A Wonderful world for children’ 4th Edition, [196-?] 20251053/144 - Pre-reading “Before we Read guidebook”, 1959 20251053/145 - “A child’s First playbook”, [195-?] 20251053/146 - “Kindergarten Fun” book, [1953?] 20251053/147 - “Exercise Book: Physical Fitness for boys and girls”, [1964?] 20251053/148 - “Petal Craft: Junior Set” instructions, [1953?] 20251053/149 - Used duplicate sheets, 1961 – 1962. 20251053/150 - University of Lethbridge documents 1/2, first convocation planning, meeting, correspondence, promotional material, 1967 – 1969. 20251053/151 - University of Lethbridge documents 2/2, Convocation guest list, president banquet pamphlet, correspondence, 1968. 20251053/152 - Newspaper clippings, civic center documents, [1949 -?] 20251053/153 - Aunt Dorothy Playhouse photos, Tea Party, field trips, class activities, 20251053/154 - Historical Documents 1/4, Historical Society of Alberta newsletters, 1968 – 1971. 20251053/155 - Historical Documents 2/4, Essays, classification of artifacts, 1968? 20251053/156 - Historical Documents 3/4, Inuit “Eskimo” documents, historical publications, Alberta’s golden jubilee, [1955 – 1970?] 20251053/157 - Historical Documents 4/4, Newspaper clippings, kindergarten license and documents, 1885, 1964 – 1973. 20251053/158 - Photographs of Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse events, children’s activities, Japanese gardens, field trips, 1959 – 1967. 20251053/159 - Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse Photos, Children's activities and events, 1959, 1966? 20251053/160 - Photographs, Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse events, Children’s activities, [1950 -?] 20251053/161 - Guest book, mother of the year, miscellaneous guest signatures, 1961. 20251053/162 - Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse 25th Birthday letters, printouts, 1973. 20251053/163 - Guest book, [1950 -?] 20251053/164 - “An Alberta Directory of Women’s Organizations” book, 1971. 20251053/165 - Parents Meetings book, 1955 – 1970. 20251053/166 - Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse Crest booklet, 1950 – 1973. 20251053/167 - Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse scrapbook, 195-?] 20251053/168 - Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse photographs, Mounties, playhouse activities, 1953 – 1960. 20251053/169 - Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse photographs, playtime, outside activities, reading time with Aunt Dorothy, 1964. 20251053/170 - Class photos, 1948 – 1973. 20251053/171 - Aunt Dorothy’s playhouse photographs, Children’s activities, Japanese Gardens, Portraits, 1953, 1960 – 1968, 1980. 20251053/172 - Correspondence, Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse photos, Christmas cards, newspaper clippings, letters, 20251053/173 - Pattern Record book, 1969 – 1970. 20251053/174 - Uniform patterns for girls at Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse, 1965 – 1969. 20251053/175 - Corduroy – Girls’ uniforms 5’s sheets, 1969? 20251053/176 - Class photos, 1970 – 1971. 20251053/177 - Aunt Dorothy’s Playhouse photographs, events, Alphabet poses, 1966? 20251053/178 - Miscellaneous Letters, Policies for Playhouse, Insurance correspondence, 1949 – 1966. 20251053/179 - Health Insurance correspondence, 1973. 20251053/180 - Historical Documents, Newspaper clippings, Publication, 1960 – 1973. 20251053/181 - Press clippings of the Playhouse, 1950 – 1971. 20251053/182 - Newspaper clippings of Playhouse children through the years, 1953 – 1973. 20251053/183 - “Mathematics - Skills, concepts, understandings” teachers edition, [1966?] 20251053/184 - Portraits and miscellaneous materials, including clippings and 1967 Centennial calendar, ca. 1909, 1954 – 1980. 20251053/185 - Class photo, Art Project, Parent correspondence, [ca. 1962 – 1973] 20251053/186 -Advanced Registration names, attendance book, 1959 – 1960. 20251053/187 - Registration forms, attendance book, 1960 – 1961. 20251053/188 - Registration forms, advanced registration book, 1961 – 1962. 20251053/189 - Registration forms, advanced registration book, 1962 – 1963. 20251053/190 - Registration forms and book, 1963 – 1964. 20251053/191 - Registration Forms and book, attendance book, 1964 – 1965. 20251053/192 - Registration forms, attendance books, progress books, 1965 – 1966. 20251053/193 - Registration forms, attendance book, 1966 – 1967. 20251053/194 - Registration forms, attendance book, 1967 – 1968. 20251053/195 - Registration forms and book, 1968 – 1969. 20251053/196 - Registration forms and book, [1969] - 1970. 20251053/197 - Registration forms, attendance books, 1971 – 1973. 20251053/198 - Teacher notebook, [ca. 1950 – 1970?] 20251053/199 - Teacher notebook, 1964 – 1966. 20251053/200 - Attendance Sample Page, [ca. 1948 – 1973] 20251053/201 - Attendance book, 1948 – 1949. 20251053/202 - Attendance book, 1948 – 1949, 1955 – 1956. 20251053/203 - Attendance sheets, [ca. 191949 – 1950] 20251053/204 - Registration booklet, ca. 1949 – 1951. 20251053/205 - Check in/out book, 1950 – 1951. 20251053/206 - Attendance book, address book, 1951 – 1953. 20251053/207 - Check in/out book, registration fees, 1952 – 1953. 20251053/208 - Attendance book, ca. 1954 – 1955. 20251053/209 - Attendance book, ca. 1955 – 1956. 20251053/210 - Attendance book, ca.1956 – 1957. 20251053/211 - Attendance Books, 1958 – 1959. 20251053/212 - W.D. Gentleman Workbook, 1966. 20251053/213 - Registration forms, Yates theater trip plan notes, 1950- 1951, [ca. 1950 – 1973] 20251053/214 - Student record of name, address, age, transportation method, 1950 – 1951. 20251053/215 - Student records of name, address, age, transportation method, 1950 – 1973.

Accession No.

20251053

Collection

Archive

Less detail