Using documents and photographs from the American Montessori Society Archives, this exhibit will illustrate the role of AMS in the development of Montessori education in the United States. Concentrating especially on the advent of a “second wave” of American interest in Montessori, the exhibit highlights the efforts of Nancy McCormick Rambusch to promote and disseminate a uniquely “American” approach to Montessori.

Beginning in the late 1950s and continuing for the better part of the next 25 years, Dr. Rambusch crafted a vision of American Montessori that reflected the times and circumstances in which she lived.

Dr. Rambusch identified four essential goals for both herself and the American Montessori Society:

• Encourage and support the growth of schools throughout the nation
• Create a pool of Montessori teachers by developing sophisticated, state-of-the-art teacher education programs
• Bring Montessori to the public’s attention through tireless advocacy
• Create the institutions that would allow Montessori to become a social movement impacting diverse student populations.

The exhibit will be located in the Ballroom of the conference hotel.

The American Montessori Society gratefully acknowledges the exhibit curator, historian, and AMS Archives Committee member Keith Whitescarver.