Our History

The Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Development has over 80 years of history of dedication to the study and wellbeing of children, families, and their communities. While today its members come from a variety of disciplines (for example, psychology, education, law, public policy), its historical roots reside in the early childhood movement of the first part of the 20th century, when Abigail Eliot and Elizabeth Pearson established the Ruggles Street Nursery School in Boston to serve children living in poverty in 1922. The Ruggles Street School developed into the Nursery Training School of Boston, one of the first such training programs in the country. In 1954, the Training School became affiliated with Tufts University, and in 1964, it was absorbed into Tufts and became the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study, now the Department of Child Development. In 1981, the Department launched one of the most innovative and highly regarded doctoral programs in Applied Child Development.

Though its focus has expanded greatly since its inception, the Department retains its original commitment to innovation in applied developmental practice and research. The Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Development enjoys close ties with other Departments (College of Engineering, School of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Wright Center for Science Education, Lincoln-Filene Center for Citizenship and Public Affairs), and offers joint degree programs with the Department of Education and the Department of Urban and Environmental Policy. Over the last decade, the Department has developed its portfolio of international student and faculty exchange, and technical assistance and consultation projects. International partners include non-governmental organizations and universities around the world.

Learn more about our founder, Abigail Adams Eliot.

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