The paper folding book is an example of kindergarten education methods developed by Friedrich Wilhelm Fröbel (1782-1852). Fröbel's lessons for kindergarten entailed a series of twenty gifts for students, each intended for teaching children to recognize and appreciate nature's designs. Paper folding represents the eighteenth gift. The paper folding book at Rhode Island College was likely created by a student or instructor of the Rhode Island State Normal School to practice Fröbel's methods for use in the kindergarten classroom. Course catalogs showed that Fröbel methods were part of the curriculum in the early 20th century. The manufacturer of the album in unknown and the manufacturer of the album's papers may be the Milton Bradley Company. The paper folding album at RIC can be dated to the late 1800s or early 1900s.
The collection includes one paper folding book of green and pink paper folded in intricate ways. There is no other information written on or attached to the book.
Researchers are advised to contact Rhode Island College Special Collections for questions regarding permissions to reproduce, distribute, or otherwise publish material from this collection. Although Rhode Island College has physical ownership of the collection, it does not necessarily hold literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
The collection is open for research.
Paper folding book, MSS-0117, Special Collections, James P. Adams Library, Rhode Island College.
The collection is arranged in the order in which it arrived in the Rhode Island College Special Collections.
Provenance of this collection is unknown, however it was in the holdings of Special Collections prior to 2019.
The collection was described by Special Collections intern, Melissa Moniz, in 2023 under the supervision of Digital Archivist and Special Collections Librarian, Veronica L. Denison. Further description of this collection was provided by Rhode Island College students, Alice Leng, Jessy Rijo, Joe Macari, Ibrahim Sinyan during their First Year Seminar class “Raid the Collections in 2024” taught by Professor Amy Barlow. The students researched this collection as part of the class.
Students in FYS 100 “Raid the Collections” created a podcast episode based on item one in the collection. The podcast is part of the FYS 100 “Raid the Collections” podcast series collection in Special Collections.
This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact the Rhode Island College Special Collections.