The History of Columbia Greenhouse Nursery School
Timeline
The parents hired Carrie Cheek, a recent graduate from NYU. She was a fierce advocate for early childhood education. She spoke of progressive ideals like “learning by doing” and providing opportunities for children to “solve their own problems.” These progressive tenants still live and breathe inside the walls of Greenhouse.
After serving for 32 years as the director of the playgroup, Mrs. Crampton stepped down. The Columbia Greenhouse Playgroup Parent Organization assumed responsibility.
The Greenhouse of today still shares much in common with these early days inside the greenhouse of yesterday.
The program expanded to serve more children. Now, there were morning classes for two- and three-year olds and afternoon classes for four through seven year olds.
The Greenhouse Playgroup moved into a greenhouse behind Johnson Hall.
Marion M. Crampton (Tully), whose husband was a noted zoologist at Columbia University, begin a playgroup for young academic families with a $100 gift from Kate Butler (La Montagne), whose husband, Nicholas Murray Butler, was the President of Columbia University. The first playgroup had 10 children in attendance.