The National Home Study Council, 1926–1942

Abstract

As enrollments in correspondence schools soared in the early twentieth century, unethical practices marred the reputation of this type of learning. Prominent schools created the National Home Study Council in 1926 to combat the proliferation of sham schools. At the same time, council members knew that the better schools also needed to change their advertising, sales, and collections. Analysis of the transcripts of annual meetings traces these pioneering efforts to enhance correspondence schools.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author thanks Fred Hofstetter (University of Delaware), Joseph Kett (University of Virginia), James Raths (University of Delaware), Harold Wechsler (New York University), and Sally Welch (DETC) for their valuable comments and assistance. He also thanks Dr. Walter Kemp and Eugene Rietzke, sons of the founders of the U.S. School of Music and the National Radio Institute, respectively, for their recollections.