Virgil Ellsworth Poling papers
name: label: Creator
content: Poling, Virgil Ellsworth, 1908-2001
label: Names
content: American Industrial Arts Association
label: Names
content: Dartmouth College
label: Names
content: United States. Agency for International Development
topic: label: Occupation
content: Administrators -- Maine
label: Occupation
content: Educators -- Maine
label: Topic
content: Crafts
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The Virgil Ellsworth Poling papers were donated in 1980-1981 by Virgil Poling.
creator: label: Creator
content: Poling, Virgil Ellsworth, 1908-2001
setName: label: See more items in
content: Virgil Ellsworth Poling papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of educator and administrator Virgil Ellsworth Poling measure 1.6 linear feet and date from 1939 to 1974. The collection comprises Poling's files from his work in Korea, Nigeria, and other countries evaluating and developing industry programs for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and professional files containing correspondence, photographs, printed materials, and other material relating to Poling's position as Director of Student Workshops at Dartmouth College, and his work with the American Industrial Arts Association.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Virgil Ellsworth Poling (1908-2001) was an educator and administrator in Little Deer Isle, Maine.

Poling was born in rural southern Ohio, and as a young boy became acquainted with the local blacksmiths, carriage makers, homebuilders, and other tradesmen who influenced his interest in crafts. He studied English at Ohio State University and intended to work in journalism but was discouraged by the low pay he received as a freelance writer. Poling moved to New Haven, Connecticut, after accepting a teaching job at Hamden Hall Country Day School. In 1941, he began an over 20 year career at Dartmouth College as Director of Student Workshops. He was instrumental in establishing the School for American Craftsmen at Dartmouth in 1943 with Mrs. Vanderbilt Webb, who provided funding. The school moved to the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1953. 

In addition to being an educator, Poling acted as an advisor on industrial production to small industries in New England and for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) with assignments in Korea, Nigeria, and several other countries. 

Poling retired in the early 1970s and died in 2001.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1.6 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1939-1974
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.polivirg
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged as 2 series.

Series 1: U.S. Agency for International Development Files, 1965-1974 (0.6 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 2: Professional Files, 1939-1973 (1.0 linear feet; Boxes 1-2, OV 3-4)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Sarah Mundy in 2022.
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The papers of educator and administrator Virgil Ellsworth Poling measure 1.6 linear feet and date from 1939 to 1974. The collection comprises Poling's files from his work in Korea, Nigeria, and other countries evaluating and developing industry programs for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and professional files containing correspondence, photographs, printed materials, and other material relating to Poling's position as Director of Student Workshops at Dartmouth College, and his work with the American Industrial Arts Association.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: Also at the Archives of American Art is an oral history interview with Virgil Poling conducted on February 8, 1980 by Robert Brown for the Archives of American Art.