A Century of Contributions to Gifted Education traces the conceptual history of the field of gifted education.

A Century of Contributions to Gifted Education traces the conceptual history of the field of gifted education. Bookended by Sir Francis Galton's Hereditary Genius published in 1869, and Sidney Marland's report to the United States Congress in 1972, each chapter represents the life and work of a key figure in the development of the field. While the historical record of gifted education has previously been limited, A Century of Contributions to Gifted Education explores the lives of individuals who made fundamental contributions in the areas of eminence, intelligence, creativity, advocacy, policy, and curriculum. Drawing heavily on archival research and primary source documentation, expert contributors highlight the major philosophical, theoretical, and pedagogical developments in gifted education over the course of a century, providing both lively biography and scholarly analysis.

"This fascinating book is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in gifted education! This highly readable and engaging text provides both a historical foundation for those ideas that shaped our field and also provides a revealing glimpse into the personal lives of these founders that is very different from what we have known before." -Tonya R. Moon, Professor, University of Virginia, USA "I learned something new, and occasionally roguish, about everyone portrayed in this volume, including those whom I knew personally or had taught about in courses. Except for the opening two chapters in Great Britain and France, plus a rather somber visit to Poland, these biographies are strongly focused on lives lived primarily in the USA where so much innovation and research on gifted education has flourished, a phenomenon illuminated by these stories and their archival reference lists-my appetite is whetted for volume two!" -Bruce M. Shore, Professor Emeritus of Educational Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada "The best way to understand present issues, practices, and controversies in gifted education is to examine our historical roots and the contributions of people who were the pioneers of this fascinating field of study. This book takes us to a new level of understanding by analyzing and interpreting the works of our most creative and innovative forerunners. A unique contribution, it is destined to be a classic in our field." -Joseph S. Renzulli, Director, The National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented, Raymond and Lynn Neag Professor of Gifted Education and Talent Development, University of Connecticut, USA "This book should be on the must read list for anyone who is serious about gifted education and who thinks about conducting research on related topics. For those who have been working in this field for many years, this book would surely provide new insights into the works of someone they are familiar with, rekindle their passion for the work they are doing, and consolidate their commitment to this line of work that makes their life satisfactory and fulfilling."-PsycCRITIQUES