About five years ago, I became very active in tracing my family history. I discovered that my paternal grandmother (who, sadly, had passed away by that time) had attended a teacher's college in Colorado-far from her home in Marlette, Michigan. I asked my grandfather, who is now 92 years old, how my grandmother was able to do such a thing. After all, this was 1925, and it was very uncommon for a young, single woman to matriculate at a college that was so far away from her home and family. My grandfather informed me that she had been "sponsored" by her uncle, Dr. George Willard Frasier, who was the President of the Colorado State Teacher's College.

Needless to say, I became very interested in the story of my great, great-uncle-the college president! So I contacted the college (now called The University of Northern Colorado), and they happily sent me information about him. I learned that he was, by all accounts, a pioneer in the field of education-which just happens to be my field of study! He earned graduate degrees from Stanford and Columbia, and authored numerous books and articles. He was also, at the time of his appointment, the youngest college president in the United States. Dr. Frasier was described as " a thoroughly modern man...a scholar-president... a charming extrovert." He refused to live in the university's sumptuous presidential home, choosing instead to turn the home over to the department of music, and live with his family in a campus apartment!

Over the past five years, I have worked diligently to collect Dr. Frasier's many fine books, not only because he was my great, great-uncle, but also because these works represent important contributions to the field of education. His ground-breaking works run the educational gamut from preprimers and elementary level science books, to college level texts and his philosophy of education (he was a great admirer of John Dewey). His books were widely read for nearly three decades, and remained a part of America's educational curriculum until well into the 1960's

It has not been easy to collect these books, as they are old and rare, but I currently have 14 of his books, and I am always on the look-out for more. I am very proud of my great, great-uncle Frasier, and his wonderful books are very dear to me.

The How and Why Science Books

Frasier, George Willard. We See. Syracuse: L.W. Singer, 1937.
We See is a first edition of the first book of Frasier's How and Why series. This darling pamphlet-style book is very old, but in nearly perfect condition. It is intended to be a pre-primary book, and is charmingly illustrated.

Frasier, George Willard. Sunshine and Rain. Syracuse: L.W. Singer, 1937.
Sunshine and Rain is the second book in the How and Why series. It is one of the oldest and dearest books in my collection. It is intended for kindergarten students, so it is beautifully illustrated with large, full color pictures. There is a particularly wonderful picture of a rabbit with her bunnies.

Frasier, George Willard. Through the Year. Syracuse: L.W. Singer, 1937.
Through the Year is the third volume of the How and Why series. This wonderful first edition is intended for first graders. The book leads the young reader through the four seasons, explaining how and why the seasons change.

Frasier, George Willard. Winter Comes and Goes Syracuse: L.W. Singer, 1949.
This text, which is the fourth volume of Frasier's How and Why series, is intended for second graders. It provides a wonderful and detailed explanation of the natural events that occur with the onset of winter.

Frasier, George Willard. The How and Why Club. Syracuse: L.W. Singer, 1939.
This is Frasier's sixth volume of the How and Why series. It is intended for fourth graders, and introduces them to the "How and Why Club," a fictional club of students interested in learning about science. The club remains the focus of the remaining volumes.

Frasier, George Willard. How and Why Experiments. Syracuse: L.W. Singer, 1944.
This book, which is actually volume seven of the How and Why series is a withdrawn library book, but is in beautiful condition. Intended for fifth graders, this text introduces ideas such as the migration of birds, the effect of heat on metal and gasses, and the importance of good nutrition.

Frasier, George Willard. How and Why Discoveries. Syracuse: L.W. Singer, 1949.
This is the eighth volume of the How and Why series. It is in wonderful condition, and, like its counterparts, is full of vivid, colorful illustrations. There is an interesting section about the hazards of drugs and alcohol.

Frasier, George Willard. How and Why Explorations. Syracuse: L.W. Singer, 1947.
This is the ninth volume of Frasier's How and Why series. It is a wonderful text full of detailed illustrations. Intended for seventh graders, it includes topics such as the metric system, weather, and digestion.

Frasier, George Willard. How and Why Conclusions. Syracuse: L.W. Singer, 1947.
This beautifully illustrated hardcover is the tenth and final volume of the How and Why Series. As the final book of the series, some fairly advanced scientific ideas are presented such as how airplanes fly, and how the nervous system works.

The Singer Science Series I

Frasier, George Willard. Seeing New Things. Syracuse: L.W. Singer, 1955.
This text is part of the Singer Science Series. Some of the topics covered in Seeing New Things include diseases, insects, and geology.

Frasier, George Willard. Finding Answers. Syracuse: L.W. Singer, 1955.
Finding Answers is also one of the books in the Singer Science Series. This book is in excellent condition, and is filled with the vivid illustrations of eight artists.

The Singer Science Series II

Frasier, George Willard. Science Discoveries. Syracuse: L.W. Singer, 1962.
This is the fourth book in Frasier's 8 volume science series. It is filled with many colorful pictures, and lists of fun "things to do" associated with each chapter. The Science Series books are fairly new-1960's-but are particularly hard to find.

Frasier, George Willard. Singer Science Experiments. Syracuse: L.W. Singer, 1959.
This book contains numerous science experiments for children. It is the fifth volume of the Singer Science Series. It is a lovely text with wonderful illustrations, and interesting experiments.

Frasier's College Texts

Frasier, George Willard. Introduction to the Study of Education. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1956.
This college text is an introduction to the teaching profession. It provides a very detailed introduction into the study of K-12 education. My favorite line in this text is "A democracy determines its future by determining the kinds of education it offers and the quality of its teachers" (p. 129).