Papers of Harold Rosen (1919-2008)

Records of Harold Rosen relating to his work whilst at the Institute of Education between 1962-1998, with additional records of his schooling, war-service, training and personal writings and research, including poetry, lectures, publications and correspondence produced after his retirement

Harold Rosen, educationalist: born Brockton, Massachusetts, 25 June 1919; married 1941 Connie Isakofsky (three sons); married 1978 Betty Watson; died London, 31 July 2008

Harold Rosen was a teacher who became a key figure in the Institute of Education and in comprehensive education and educational thought and practice in Britain in the second half of the twentieth century. He studied English at University College, London between 1937 and 1940 and took a teaching qualification at the Institute of Education in 1941. As an American citizen, he served in the Education Corps of the US Army between 1945 and 1947. He taught in a number of schools in Leicestershire and Middlesex and took up a post as Head of English at the London County Council pilot comprehensive Walworth School from 1956 to 1958. He left Walworth Road to being a career in teacher education at Borough Road Teacher Training College, followed by a move to the Institute of Education in 1962, where he remained until his retirement in 1998, having been appointed Senior Lecturer in Education in 1972, Chair of Education in 1976, and Head of Department in 1985.

Rosen produced a large number of publications and conference papers with a global reach, on educational theory and practice over the course of his career at the Institute of Education. These demonstrated an increasing focus on the role of language and learning and of storytelling in schools and the English curriculum within a multi-cultural society. 'The Language of Primary School Children' (1973) was produced jointly for the Schools Council with his first wife Connie Rosen. He was closely involved with the London Association for the Teaching of English (LATE) and was a founder member of the Society for Storytelling. He remained active within education to the end of his life, continuing to write and speak on the subject after his retirement from the Institute of Education in 1998.

Before and after his retirement Harold Rosen published autobiographical works including 'Troublesome Boy' and 'Are You Still Circumcised?' recounting his experiences growing up in the Jewish East End of London.

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The collection was donated in 2013 by the family of Harold Rosen.

A small number of personal items of correspondence and research found to relate to living Rosen members were offered back to the family.