AMS History

10th International Montessori Congress

1953

Nancy McCormick Rambusch attended Congress in Paris. Mario Montessori (Head of AMI) encouraged NMR to take coursework and bring Montessori to United States.

Foundation of Whitby School

1958

Nancy McCormick Rambusch (and supportive families) founded The Whitby School in Greenwich, CT. This was the first Montessori school to open since the initial introduction in the early 1900s.

United States Representative

1959

Nancy McCormick Rambusch appointed to serve as USA Representative for AMI, by Mario Montessori.

Foundation of the American Montessori Society

1960

Nancy McCormick Rambusch founded the American Montessori Society

Time Magazine Feature

May 12, 1961

Nancy McCormick Rambusch and The Whitby School featured in Time Magazine. Other national publications to follow.

Learning How to Learn Published

1962

Nancy McCormick Rambusch publishes book, "Learning How to Learn."

AMI and AMS function Separately

1963

AMI withdrew its recognition of AMS as a Montessori society, and from that point until the present AMS has existed independently of AMI

Cleo Monson hired by AMS

1963

AMS hired executive secretary, Cleo Monson, to reorganize AMS office. Over the next 10 years she coordinated virtually all of the societies activities.

AMS office moves to NYC

1963

The National AMS office moved from Greenwich, CT to New York City where it remains today.

Cleo Monson becomes first National Director of Society

1973

Cleo created this position and held it until she retired in 1978.

First International AMS Symposium

1979

Held in Athens, Greece, the first International Symposium featured renowned educators and scholars.

25th Anniversary Seminar

1985

Held in Washington D.C.