This 1940s black and white film titled “Horace Mann” is an educational film that details the life and career of Horace Mann(1796 – 1859), an American educational reformer and Whig politician known for his commitment to promoting public education. This documentary was presented by Encyclopedia Britannica Films in collaboration with Dr. E.L.F. Williams of Heidelberg College and produced in affiliation with Emerson Film Corporation. It utilizes scripted reenactments of Horace Mann at various stages of his life from his childhood to the end of his career as a professor at Antioch College.

Shot of John Harvard monument on Harvard University campus (0:28). Scene of Franklin, Massachusetts birthplace of Horace Mann (0:44). A young Horace Mann at a school house (0:57). University Hall of Brown University (1:45). College-aged Horace Mann receiving an invitation from the president of the United States, James Madison (1:54). Horace Mann giving a speech at university graduation (3:11). Horace Mann teaching at Brown University (3:33). His wife, Charlotte Messer Mann, bringing him tea (3:46). Death of Charlotte Messer Mann (3:53). Working in Boston at the Massachusetts State Senate (4:10). Meeting with Massachusetts governor Edward Everett and other politicians (5:24). Horace Mann accepts the position of secretaryship of Massachusetts’ first Board of Education (8:02). Horace Mann presenting ideas on education to a public audience (8:31). Receiving the governor and another politician to his home office to persuade them to pass more legislation and discussing his magazine the Common School Journal (8:49). Children running towards a newly built school house (10:47). Horace Mann riding in carriage with Massachusetts businessman Mr. Dwight (11:00). Campus of one of the first three normal teachers’ schools in Massachusetts (12:41). Horace Mann discussing a book with his second wife, Mary Peabody of Boston (12:50). Horace Mann facing controversy from writings in a recent publication (13:08). Mary and Horace walking through the home that they are building together in West Newton, Massachusetts (14:33). Horace Mann greeting a politician who is hoping he will replace John Quincy Adams in the house of representatives (15:29). Shot of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. (16:44). Daniel Webster making his famous Compromise Speech which alienated Horace Mann from the Whig Party (16:53). Antioch Hall of Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio (17:06). Horace Mann giving a commencement speech at Antioch College (17:17). Shot of Horace Mann’s grave at North Burial Ground in Providence, Rhode Island (17:46). Montage of various educational institutions in the United States ending with the Horace Mann School (17:55).

We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 — President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.”

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com