Sara L. Houston Papers

Collection

Identifier: RG 30-174

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Consisting almost exclusively of data and statistics from her phenomenological movement behavior studies, the collection sheds little light on the personal life of Sara Louise Houston. The earliest records consist of two graduate school papers written by Houston in 1964 and 1965 on the relationship between movement and the fine arts. The remainder of the records are comprised of questionnaires, personal profiles, and statistics derived from her movement behavior studies.

The phenomenological studies investigated aspects of movement behavior in relation to personality correlates of twenty college women measured by the Cattell Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire. The studies observed movement as a projection of inner attitude and personality structure. Using judges' ratings and subject self-ratings of the sixteen Cattell factors, the results were tabulated and compared to average scores on the Cattell 16 PF Questionnaire. Each of the twenty subjects performed structured movement improvisation in isolation before a video camera. After completing the exercise, the subjects wrote immediate spontaneous reactions, and then rated reflexively the movement experience best and least liked. The studies were designed to shed some light on the significance of human movement as a symbolic form, and the movement experience as a source of human meaning.

Abstracts of her dissertation help to explain the meaning of the questionnaires and profiles contained within the record series. Although a final copy of the dissertation is not found within the records, the profiles and statistics provide evidence of the research methodology used by Houston. The fact that the twenty subjects were Oberlin College students adds significance to the data. There is little correspondence contained in the collection, but what is present, consisting of letters to and from her advisor, and from members of the Ohio State University statistics laboratory, aids in understanding her statistical approach to movement behavior analysis. Other correspondence relates to efforts to secure permission to use the Cattell Questionnaire, and to publish her dissertation.

Dates

Creation: 1964 - 1969
Other: Date acquired: 1985 June 21

Creator

Houston, Sara Louise (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted.

Biographical Sketch

Sara Louise Houston (1913-1973) was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to John Duff Sr (1876-1947) and Rosetta Ann Moore Houston (1879-1940). She had two brothers: James Moore (1910-2000) and John Duff "Zeke" Jr (1917-2008). In 1930 she matriculated to Wellesley College, where she earned the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1934, and the Master of Science degree in 1935. In 1935 she was appointed to the faculty of Dennison University, where she taught physical education until her appointment to the Oberlin College faculty in 1950. During several summers and two leaves of absence she continued graduate work, studying at the University of Wisconsin (1937), Adelphi College (1946), University of Minnesota (1948), and at Ohio State University (1964-1967). Her work led to a dissertation on the relationships between body movement styles and personality based on the study of college women. In 1967, upon completing her PhD thesis she was awarded the degree Doctor of Philosophy by the Ohio State University.

Houston was a member of several professional associations including, the Ohio College Association, American Association of Physical Education, Health and Recreation, and the Midwest Association for Physical Education of College Women. She was an active participant at meetings and workshops, and presented several conference papers based on her phenomenological studies of movement behavior.

Increasing stress and tension led her to choose early retirement, planning to retire at age 60. Houston died of heart failure in 1973, before beginning retirement.

Note written by Brian A. Williams.

Extent

1.00 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Method of Acquisition

Four cartons of Sara Houston records were brought to the archives by Physical Education Women's Department colleague Barbara Calmer following Houston's death. They were placed on temporary deposit at the request of Calmer, and eventually placed on permanent deposit and accessioned in 1985. A large portion of the notes and other material collected while Houston was taking classes was not retained.

Accruals and Additions

Accession No: 1985/7.

Related Materials

Files relating to Houston's physical education teaching can be found in the records of the Physical Education Department (RG 9/6). Biographical information can be found in Houston's staff file in Alumni Records (RG 28).