ABSTRACT
Everett Dean Martin held a narrow definition of liberal education. Many in the adult education movement disagreed with his belief in the centrality of liberal education. Martin came into adult education after a brief career in the ministry. Martin’s almost a quarter of a century career in adult education was focused around his commitment to liberal education - the humanist tradition - as the unifying philosophy of adult education. Under Martin’s leadership the People’s Institute concentrated on adult education. It shifted from involvement in the movement for scientific efficiency and urban and environmental improvement to focus on the creation of an adult population that was rational and humanist. Martin implemented his adult education ideas through lecture series, the School of Philosophy, and the Reader Roundtable Discussion Groups. In 1929 Martin proposed that the activities of the People’s Institute become part of the Cooper Union.
