George Junior Republic oral history project

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 13-6-1039

Scope and content

This collection contains 5 interviews conducted by Cornell PhD students Jack Holl and Frances Keefe as part of their research for their dissertations “George Junior Republic and the Varieties of Progressive Reform” (Holl, 1969) and “the Development of William Reuben (Daddy) George's Educational Ideas and Practices from 1866-1914” (Keefe, 1967). The collection contains interviews with A. Alvord Baker, a family friend of "Daddy" George and early student at the school, August 26, 1965; Georgia Fellows, a neighbor. and her daugher-in-law, Mrs. Frank Ellis, August 26, 1965; Malcolm J. Freeborn, husband of Daddy George's youngest daughter, and administrator at the Republic, August 23, 1965 (Jack Holl only); Mildred D. Genung, whose father was superintendant at the Republic, August 26, 1965; John Kinane. a life insurance salesman, who was an associate of Daddy George, August 30, 1965 (Jack Holl only).

Scope and content

Interviews by Jack Holl and Frances Keefe with A. Alvord Baker, a family friend of "Daddy" George and early student at the school, August 26, 1965; Georgia Fellows, a neighbor. and her daugher-in-law, Mrs. Frank Ellis, August 26, 1965; Malcolm J. Freeborn, husband of Daddy George's youngest daughter, and administrator at the Republic, August 23, 1965 (Jack Holl only); Mildred D. Genung, whose father was superintendant at the Republic, August 26, 1965; John Kinane. a life insurance salesman, who was an associate of Daddy George, August 30, 1965 (Jack Holl only).

Dates

1965.

Creator

no primary creator (Person)
Baker, A. Alvord (Andrew Alvord) (Person)
Fellows, Georgia (Person)
Ellis, Frank, Mrs. (Person)
Freeborn, Malcolm J. (Person)
Holl, Jack M. (Interviewer, Person)
Keefe, Frances Margaret, 1914- (Interviewer, Person)
Genung, Mildred Derrick. (Person)
Kinane, John. (Person)

Language of Material

In English.

Biographical / Historical

William Reuben "Daddy" George founded the George Junior Republic in 1895 in Freeville, New York, the first of several residential treatment centers opened under his name intended to reform “delinquent” urban youth in a rural environment. The Junior Republic, a community reflecting the principles of youthful self-government, was founded upon the maxim "Nothing Without Labor." With assistance from his wife Esther Ide Brewster, George developed a community consisting of a farm, blacksmith and carpentry shops, laundry, bakery, general store, jail, and other elements of the larger society which were intended to complement citizens’ academic endeavors. By 1898, the first of several institutions based on the Republic’s principles was founded in Redington, PA, and by 1908, the National Association of Junior Republics was formed with George as Executive National Director. George severed ties with the Freeville Republic in 1910 after being found guilty of behaving "without regard to the rules and usages of common life and civilized society," and was accused in 1914 of sexual abuse by several girls housed at George Junior Republics. Although William George died in 1936, the family maintained its involvement with the Republic through the activities of George’s daughters and their husbands, including Edith George Freeborn and Malcolm Freeborn, who served as Director of Education and Principal of the Republic high school from 1946-64.