The University's School of Education sponsored preschool began in 1932, largely through the efforts of Dean Leslie O. Cummings. It was named the Children's Cooperative Group. Patterned after the Ruggles School in Boston, the school's primary purpose was to provide observation opportunities for professional preparation in teaching. it was initially located on the second floor of Hayes Hall on the South Campus.

Dr. Ruth E. McGrath was involved with the school as a teacher from 1932 until 1949, when she became Chair of the Nursery School. She was named director of the School in 1959, a position she held until her retirement in 1979.

Overtime, the Cooperative Nursery School moved to several locations: the first floor of Hayes Hall, the Engineering Building, one of the houses the University Presbyterian Church. Finally, the School settled in to present location at 15 Baldy hall. There is officially became known as the "Early Childhood Research Center."

When Dr. McGrath retired in 1979, Christine Z. Cataldo was appointed a Director of the newly named "Early Childhood Research Center" (ECRC), she held the post until her death in 1985. Dr. James L. Hoot became the director of the ECRC in 1986. He was instrumental in adding the Robert Leather's playground in the fall of 1989, and through his efforts also obtained a $ 200,000 endowment for the Fisher Price and Quaker Oats Foundation Endowment. The School's new name became "The Fisher Price Endowed Early Childhood Research Center."

In 1989 the ECRC became among the first in the nation to be accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs. Reaccreditation was granted in 1996 under the guidance of Associate Director, Dr. Elaine T. Bartkowiak. The school is compliance with the highest level of quality standards determined by 90,000 members of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

The Fisher Price Endowed Early Childhood Research Center is administered through the Department of Learning and Instruction. Preschool programs are offered to 75 children, ages 2-5 and providing a superior quality, developmentally appropriate, multi-cultural, anti-biased preschool education and also research training and consultation opportunities to the Western New York Community.

Taken and modified from ECRC homepage: http://ecrc.buffalo.edu

1930s

Buffalo Association for Nursery Education (BANE)

1946

BANE becomes Buffalo Chapter of New York Association for Nursery Education (NYSANE)

1964

National Association for Nursery Education (NANE) reorganized to become the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

Buffalo Chapter of NYSANE becomes the Early Childhood Education Council (ECEC) of Western New York; ECEC is also the Buffalo Chapter of the New York Association for the Education of Young Children