Winifred Mary Ward
Encyclopedia
Winifred Mary Ward She was one of the founders of modern creative drama.
Ward was born in Eldora, Iowa
on October 29, 1884. She never married, She completed a Ph.D. in Education at the University of Chicago
and immediately went on to teach at Northwestern University
in the School of Oratory as a professor of speech. She retired from Northwestern an assistant professor in 1950. At Northwestern University, her most significant work was not in speech but in her pioneering contributions to creative dramatics.
Creative Drama is a classroom teaching method that places a heavy emphasis on self-expression, literature appreciation, and proficiency in spoken English. It is noted for having a complete lack of scripts. In her own words, "instead of memorizing set speeches and acting parts in the way the teacher directs, the children develop plays out of their own thoughts and imaginations and emotions". When Winifred Ward first started working with Creative Drama, she coined the phrase Creative Dramatics. Currently, "Drama in Education" is a more commonly used term for "Creative Drama."
Winifred Ward is often dubbed the mother of creative drama; the “systematic approach to dramatic activity and learning.”5
In 1924, Ward was appointed supervisor of the newly created creative dramatics curricula of the Evanston Public Schools. The next year Ward founded The Children’s Theatre of Evanston, created with “double purpose of providing a worthy service to Evanston and giving the Speech students a laboratory in the study of theater for youth.”3 Later in 1944 she launched the national Children’s Theater Conference, which later became the American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE). Ward died in Evanston, Illinois
in 1975.
Creative Dramatics, 1930, D. Appleton & Co., N.Y.
Theater for Children, 1939, 2nd Ed. 1948, D. Appleton-Century Co., Inc., N.Y.
Playmaking With Children, 1947, 2nd E. 1957, Appleton-Century-Crofts, N.Y.
Stories to Dramatize, 1952, published by the Children's Theater Press, Cloverlot, Anchorage, Kentucky
PAMPHLETS
"Choice and Direction of Children's Plays," 1928, L.D. Horner, Redfield, Iowa, and "Drama with and for Children," U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Office of Education, 1960.
Ward was born in Eldora, Iowa
Eldora, Iowa
Eldora is a city in Hardin County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,035 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Hardin County. Eldora is located adjacent to the Iowa River and Pine Lake State Park. The city is most famous for the filming of the 1996 movie Twister on location. The...
on October 29, 1884. She never married, She completed a Ph.D. in Education at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and immediately went on to teach at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in the School of Oratory as a professor of speech. She retired from Northwestern an assistant professor in 1950. At Northwestern University, her most significant work was not in speech but in her pioneering contributions to creative dramatics.
Creative Drama is a classroom teaching method that places a heavy emphasis on self-expression, literature appreciation, and proficiency in spoken English. It is noted for having a complete lack of scripts. In her own words, "instead of memorizing set speeches and acting parts in the way the teacher directs, the children develop plays out of their own thoughts and imaginations and emotions". When Winifred Ward first started working with Creative Drama, she coined the phrase Creative Dramatics. Currently, "Drama in Education" is a more commonly used term for "Creative Drama."
Winifred Ward is often dubbed the mother of creative drama; the “systematic approach to dramatic activity and learning.”5
In 1924, Ward was appointed supervisor of the newly created creative dramatics curricula of the Evanston Public Schools. The next year Ward founded The Children’s Theatre of Evanston, created with “double purpose of providing a worthy service to Evanston and giving the Speech students a laboratory in the study of theater for youth.”3 Later in 1944 she launched the national Children’s Theater Conference, which later became the American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE). Ward died in Evanston, Illinois
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
in 1975.
Ward's philosophy
Rooted in the progressive education movement of the 1930s, Ward sought to educate the whole child, with the notion that, “the child could achieve an understanding of self and society.”5 Ward’s method emphasizes storytelling that grows from nonverbal movement and pantomime, eventually becoming dialogue and characterization and ultimately an integrated drama. Stories told from literature, popular culture, poems, and fairy tales are a hallmark of Ward’s work. Ward emphasized the study of characters as a vital phase for understanding multiple perspectives both in drama and in life. Her workshops often culminated in informal performances for invited guests. Ward believed that creative drama was one way to create productive members of a democratic society.Publications
BOOKSCreative Dramatics, 1930, D. Appleton & Co., N.Y.
Theater for Children, 1939, 2nd Ed. 1948, D. Appleton-Century Co., Inc., N.Y.
Playmaking With Children, 1947, 2nd E. 1957, Appleton-Century-Crofts, N.Y.
Stories to Dramatize, 1952, published by the Children's Theater Press, Cloverlot, Anchorage, Kentucky
PAMPHLETS
"Choice and Direction of Children's Plays," 1928, L.D. Horner, Redfield, Iowa, and "Drama with and for Children," U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Office of Education, 1960.
Sources
- 1. American Alliance for Theatre and Education http://www.AATE.com
- 2. Children’s Theatre Resource Webpage by John Snowden-VanValin and Michael Cotter, Northwestern University http://faculty-web.at.northwestern.edu/theater/tya/history.html
- 3. Northwest University Archives, Evanston IL Winifred Ward Papersthwestern.edu/findingaids/ward_winifred.pdf
- 4. Northwestern: For alumni and friends of Northwestern University http://www.northwestern.edu/magazine/northwestern/winter2003/features/communication/sidebar1.htm
- 5.'A book of rhymes and jingles for children from four to fourteen, for the use of speech therapists and teachers of the spoken word' Black 1954