ABSTRACT
It is well accepted in all disciplines that future endeavors rest on the “learnings” from the past. Historical research is the process that reveals the lessons from the past and opens windows to the future. The purposes of this chapter are twofold: (1) to share the methodologies effective in doing historical research in ECE and provide examples to illustrate the effectiveness of various strategies and (2) to share some of the aspects of ECE history that demonstrate how the primary and secondary sources support theories and positions taken based upon historical data. These purposes are presented through discussion of the following topics: (1) primary and secondary sources, (2) selected controversies as examples of the use of sources, (3) parenting and adultchild relations, (4) violence against children, (5) kindergartens, day nurseries, and preschool programs, (6) models of early education, (7) government-funded programs, (8) professional preparation, (9) archives, print, and online resources, (10) diversity and multicultural perspectives, (11) organizations, and (12) resources.
