September 23, 1880 - 1971
Personal Data
Born: September 23, 1880 in Texas
Died: 1971
Married: W. W. Charters
Education
B.S. - University of Washington - 1899
M.A. - University of Washington - 1901
PhD - Psychology University of Chicago - 1904 (studied philosophy under John Dewey and James R. Angell)
Employment
Carnegie Institute of Technology
University of Chicago
Ohio State University
Awards and Honors
Jessie Charters was the first female on the west coast to receive a Ph D., and also to receive the highest honors ever for a woman.
Membership-Professional Organizations
Founder of Pi Lambda Theta educational fraternity
Founded the Department of Adult Education at Ohio State University
Illinois Child Study Association
Publications
1936 Young Adults and the Church. Abington Press.
Professional Interest Areas
Worked closely with the Illinois Parent-Teacher Association in developing study groups, which led to its national policy of a study group for each parent-teacher association.
Major proponent of adult education as a field of study and involving adults in a variety of aspects of continuing education.
Her primary area of interest was parental education and working with girls and women.
Major Contributions to Adult Education
First female professor of Adult Education.
Founded Department of Adult Education at Hohio State University, the second graduate program in adult education at a university.
Pioneering work to bring education to parents, college-age women, and alumni.
She educated college women about sexual matters when these topics were not openly discussed.
She offered lectures and courses promoting responsible sexual behavior, before it was acceptable and popular to do so.
Additional Resources
Articles
Karlovic, L. (1993). Jessie Allen Charters: A voice for our times. Adult Learning, 4(5), 13-14, 26.
Photo Gallery
Video/Audio
Presentations
Books
References
International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame. (2004). Jessie Charters. Retrieved July 2, 2011 from
http://www.halloffame.outreach.ou.edu/2004/Charters.html