Storied History

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Caroline Pratt: An Educational Pioneer

Caroline Pratt, founder of City and Country School, was a trailblazing educator who championed child-centric learning. She sought to replace “the repression of formal education" with approaches that embraced children's natural ways of learning.

The Birth of City and Country School

In autumn 1914, Pratt opened City and Country School in a three-room apartment in Greenwich Village, NYC. Lucy Sprague Mitchell soon joined her, providing financial support and educational expertise. Their collaboration enabled the school to move to its current location on West 12th and 13th Street.

Innovative Educational Methods

Pratt introduced open-ended work materials, allowing children to explore and dramatize their world. Her wooden unit blocks for young children became widely admired and replicated. C&C’s materials and developmental approach garnered national and international attention, including praise from renowned educator John Dewey.
Lasting Educational Impact

Encouraged by Dewey, Pratt and her team meticulously documented their work, creating a century-long framework for the integrated curriculum still in use. Pratt's memoir, I Learn From Children, continues to be the gold standard for progressive education worldwide.
Continuing Influence

City and Country School's philosophy remains influential globally. The school frequently hosts observational visits and workshops, and its educators are sought after for their expertise. Caroline Pratt’s dynamic legacy ensures that the school's program is as relevant today as it was a century ago.
City and Country School Archives

The City and Country School Archives house a rich collection of documents, photographs, and student work that capture the school's unique pedagogy and history. These invaluable resources also chronicle the evolution of education in America, offering irreplaceable insights into progressive education.
Extensive Collection

Spanning over 100 cubic feet and organized into 16 distinct collections, the Archives include:

  • Caroline Pratt’s life and work before founding the school

  • The program and philosophy of C&C

  •  Administrative records and publications

  • A diverse array of photographs, videos, and original student work

  • Early records from the Bureau of Educational Experiments dating back to 1916

In This Section

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Explore Further

Contact us at archives@cityandcountry.org to learn more about our physical archive and its materials, schedule an appointment to visit, or donate relevant content.

  • 700+ Boxes, Artifacts, Objects, and More
    - C&C’s Archives contain an extensive and irreplaceable collection of documents,
    photographs, and student work related to the school’s pedagogy and history, as
    well as the evolution of education in America.
    - Discover an overview of our archives

  •  C&C’s Digital Archive
    - City and Country’s digital archive collection highlights some of the school’s
    greatest treasures, as well as compelling images spanning the entirety of its
    history.
    - Visit our digital archive.
  • City and Country School at 100
    - Drawing on C&C’s rich archival collection, the centennial exhibit told the story of
    Caroline Pratt and the school’s origins; its role in the development of progressive
    education; and the continuity of its unique program.
    - Review presentations marking a century of program development
  • C&C Today, at a Glance

We can’t wait to welcome you.
 

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