This collection comprises an array of records and artifacts chronicling a transformative period in the history of The Ladd School. From 1959 to 1972, a series of ambitious construction projects revolutionized the institution's physical plant, evolving it from antiquated premises to a progressive, modern facility.
Key highlights include invitations to dedication ceremonies, written remarks by Rhode Island Governor John A. Notte Jr., civil rights activist Gunnar Dybwad, newspaper articles, press releases, letters, maps, descriptions of building interiors, and photographs of the new structures. An autographed photo of Governor Lincoln Chafee adds a personal touch to the collection.
The collection documents significant milestones in the school's development: The completion of the Education and Recreation Building in 1959 that introduced classrooms specifically designed for "special education." The establishment of a state-of-the-art hospital and rehabilitation unit in 1962 that brought modern medical facilities on campus. The introduction of residential cottages in 1964 offered an alternative to dormitory life, marking a shift in institutional living. And finally, the addition of an Olympic-sized swimming pool in 1972, made possible through a long-standing donation program.
Further enhancing the collection are four Independence Day celebration invitations and float descriptions, documents on the closing ceremonies for the Ladd Center in 1994, and an invitation and butterfly pin from the Ladd School Reunion in 1999.
This collection illuminates a crucial phase in the Ladd School's history, marked by optimism and the belief in a new era of human services. It offers valuable insights into the institution's evolution and the social, cultural, and political currents that shaped it.
:JRC
Invitations, speeches, newspaper clippings, photographs, and maps to events in the Ladd School's late history.
