Robert H. Wyatt collection
Collection
Identifier: L484
Scope and Contents
This collection includes correspondence, speeches, periodicals, pamphlets, other publications, reports, photographs, clippings, and other papers from Robert H. Wyatt in Indianapolis, Indiana ranging from 1869 to 1972 (bulk 1948-1972) and undated regarding his career in education and work with professional organizations such as the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA), the National Education Association (NEA), and Future Teachers of America. There is also information about teachers' strikes in Fort Wayne and Gary, Indiana (1966-1967).
Oversize materials include broadsides, editorials, newsletters, and newspapers, ranging from 1953 to 1970 and undated (OBD060).
Oversize materials include broadsides, editorials, newsletters, and newspapers, ranging from 1953 to 1970 and undated (OBD060).
Dates
- 1869-1972, undated
Creator
- Wyatt, Robert Hall, 1903-1975 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
Robert Hall Wyatt was born to James Louis (1858-1943) and Joanna (Hall) Wyatt (1862-1943) on November 4, 1903 in Noble County, Indiana. He contracted and recovered from polio when he was 4 years old. Wyatt was raised on a farm in Noble County, Indiana and went on to become a teacher, after a 12-week training course at Tri-State College, he returned to Noble County to teach in a one-room school house at age 16.
Wyatt continued his education through 3 years of correspondence courses before attending 2 years at Indiana University where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in education in 1925. Not long after, he joined the school system in Fort Wayne, teaching history, political science, and economics for 12 years, and became the head of the social studies department at Fort Wayne Central High School. During this period, Wyatt joined the Fort Wayne Classroom Teachers Association and the Indiana State Teachers Association. When he was 27, he became president of the Fort Wayne association, beginning a long career in professional association leadership.
Wyatt served the executive secretary of ISTA for 32 years (1938-1971), as well as the president of the National Education Association (NEA) (1963-1964). Wyatt was a fierce advocate and lobbyist for both teachers and students, "dedicated to improving classroom conditions, salaries, and the quality of education in Indiana" (Indianapolis Star, July 24, 1975). The ISTA building across from the Indiana Statehouse was finished in 1958 during his tenure. He also served as a trustee of the Indiana Teachers Retirement Fund Board, often as chairman, for 25 years before he was removed by Governor Edgar D. Whitcomb in 1970. Wyatt also served as president of the Indiana Retired Teachers Association.
Wyatt pursued additional graduate studies at Indiana University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Southern California. He also received two honorary degrees from Ball State University and Taylor University.
Wyatt married Margaret Caroline (Lambert) Gant (1910-1987) on December 31, 1941 and they had two sons from Margaret's previous marriage: John Robert Gant (1931-1996) and George Louis Wyatt (1936-2002). The family lived in Indianapolis and later, the couple had a 40-acre farm in Greenwood where they raised sheep. Wyatt died on July 23, 1975 at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and was cremated.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
Ancestry.com. "Robert H. Wyatt." 1910 United States Federal Census. Accessed March 21, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Robert H. Wyatt." 1920 United States Federal Census. Accessed March 21, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Robert H. Wyatt." 1930 United States Federal Census. Accessed March 21, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Robert H. Wyatt." 1940 United States Federal Census. Accessed March 21, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Robert H. Wyatt." 1950 United States Federal Census. Accessed March 21, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Robert H. Wyatt." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017. Accessed March 21, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Robert H. Wyatt." U.S., Newspapers.com™ Marriage Index, 1800s-current. Accessed March 21, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Robert H. Wyatt." Web: Marion County, Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1925-2012. Accessed March 21, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
"John Gant Marries Margaret Lambert." Franklin Evening Star (IN), October 17, 1929. Accessed March 21, 2024. Newspapers.com.
"Robert Wyatt Dies; Chamption of State Teachers, 32 Years." Indianapolis Star, July 24, 1975. Accessed March 21, 2024. ProQuest.
"Wyatt-Gant." Rushville Republican (IN), January 3, 1942. Accessed March 21, 2024. Newspapers.com.
Wyatt continued his education through 3 years of correspondence courses before attending 2 years at Indiana University where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in education in 1925. Not long after, he joined the school system in Fort Wayne, teaching history, political science, and economics for 12 years, and became the head of the social studies department at Fort Wayne Central High School. During this period, Wyatt joined the Fort Wayne Classroom Teachers Association and the Indiana State Teachers Association. When he was 27, he became president of the Fort Wayne association, beginning a long career in professional association leadership.
Wyatt served the executive secretary of ISTA for 32 years (1938-1971), as well as the president of the National Education Association (NEA) (1963-1964). Wyatt was a fierce advocate and lobbyist for both teachers and students, "dedicated to improving classroom conditions, salaries, and the quality of education in Indiana" (Indianapolis Star, July 24, 1975). The ISTA building across from the Indiana Statehouse was finished in 1958 during his tenure. He also served as a trustee of the Indiana Teachers Retirement Fund Board, often as chairman, for 25 years before he was removed by Governor Edgar D. Whitcomb in 1970. Wyatt also served as president of the Indiana Retired Teachers Association.
Wyatt pursued additional graduate studies at Indiana University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Southern California. He also received two honorary degrees from Ball State University and Taylor University.
Wyatt married Margaret Caroline (Lambert) Gant (1910-1987) on December 31, 1941 and they had two sons from Margaret's previous marriage: John Robert Gant (1931-1996) and George Louis Wyatt (1936-2002). The family lived in Indianapolis and later, the couple had a 40-acre farm in Greenwood where they raised sheep. Wyatt died on July 23, 1975 at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and was cremated.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
Ancestry.com. "Robert H. Wyatt." 1910 United States Federal Census. Accessed March 21, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Robert H. Wyatt." 1920 United States Federal Census. Accessed March 21, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Robert H. Wyatt." 1930 United States Federal Census. Accessed March 21, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Robert H. Wyatt." 1940 United States Federal Census. Accessed March 21, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Robert H. Wyatt." 1950 United States Federal Census. Accessed March 21, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Robert H. Wyatt." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017. Accessed March 21, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Robert H. Wyatt." U.S., Newspapers.com™ Marriage Index, 1800s-current. Accessed March 21, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Robert H. Wyatt." Web: Marion County, Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1925-2012. Accessed March 21, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
"John Gant Marries Margaret Lambert." Franklin Evening Star (IN), October 17, 1929. Accessed March 21, 2024. Newspapers.com.
"Robert Wyatt Dies; Chamption of State Teachers, 32 Years." Indianapolis Star, July 24, 1975. Accessed March 21, 2024. ProQuest.
"Wyatt-Gant." Rushville Republican (IN), January 3, 1942. Accessed March 21, 2024. Newspapers.com.
Extent
6.7 Cubic Feet (19 manuscript boxes, 1 half manuscript box, 2 extra-large oversize folders)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
Arranged in the following series:
Series 1: Correspondence and papers, 1869-1972, undated
Series 2: Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) records, 1921-1970
Series 3: Other organization' papers, 1953-1971
Series 4: Subject files,
Series 5: Publications, 1948-1969
Subseries 5.1: Periodicals and pamphlets, 1948-1969 Subseries 5.2: Reports and studies, 1951-1963
Series 1: Correspondence and papers, 1869-1972, undated
Series 2: Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) records, 1921-1970
Series 3: Other organization' papers, 1953-1971
Series 4: Subject files,
Series 5: Publications, 1948-1969
Subseries 5.1: Periodicals and pamphlets, 1948-1969 Subseries 5.2: Reports and studies, 1951-1963
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Robert H. Wyatt in June 1973 and 1974 October.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing and finding aid completed in 2000 by Amy L. Baskette. Collection reprocessed 2024/04/03 by Brittany Kropf. EAD finding aid created 2024/03/21 by Brittany Kropf.
- Actions and defenses
- Biography
- Biography -- Indiana
- Blacks -- Segregation
- Buildings
- Centennial celebrations, etc
- Christmas cards
- Clippings
- Congresses and conventions
- Congresses and conventions -- Indiana
- Construction
- Correspondence
- Education
- Education -- Indiana
- Federal aid to education--United States
- Fort Wayne (Ind.)
- Gary (Ind.)
- Indiana -- Constitution
- Indiana -- Politics and government
- Indiana State Teachers Association
- Indiana. Constitution (1851)
- Indianapolis (Ind.)
- Local taxation
- National Education Association
- Obituaries
- Pamphlets
- Periodicals
- Photographs
- Politics and government
- Professional associations
- Public schools
- Public schools -- Indiana
- Religion
- Retirement -- Indiana
- Right-wing extremists
- School buildings
- School integration
- Schools
- Schools -- Indiana
- Speeches, addresses, etc.
- Strikes and lockouts
- Taxation
- Teachers
- Teachers -- Indiana
- United States -- Politics and government
- White House Conference on Education (1955 : Washington, D.C.)
- White House Conference on Education (1965 : Washington, D.C.)
Creator
- Wyatt, Robert Hall, 1903-1975 (Person)
- Title
- Robert H. Wyatt collection
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
