Redeemer University and the Charlotte Mason Institute (CMI) are partnering once again to develop a resource centre at the university. Peter Turkstra Library will host the hub, which will include scholarly works (books, journals and other printed media) related to Charlotte Mason’s philosophy of education, as well as a library of classic and contemporary “living books” for K–12 education. The Charlotte Mason Institute is providing financial resources and booklists to help establish the hub.
Charlotte Mason (1842–1923) was a British educator and philosopher who designed, developed and promoted a relational approach to education with an emphasis on rich lived experiences, engagement with the natural world, and immersion in quality living literature. In Mason’s philosophy, the child is viewed as a person and the educator as one who cooperates with God. Mason authored 18 books and established a union of parents with chapters across the world (Parents’ National Education Union), a teacher’s college (now part of the University of Cumbria in the UK), an educators journal and a curriculum.
Mason, along with her philosophy of education, has recently grown in popularity and is having a significant influence on a new generation of educators, particularly in the worlds of classical Christian and homeschooling education.
Researchers, scholars and writers will find a treasure trove of rare books, original journals and academic works exploring Mason’s approach to a liberal arts and science education for all.
As the institution responsible for creating the popular Charlotte Mason Digital Collection, Redeemer University is a natural home for a physical resource site. The Charlotte Mason Institute is pledging a one-time gift toward the purchase of these resources.
“A Charlotte Mason Resource Hub on this side of the Atlantic has long been a dream—and now it is a reality!” says Dr. Deani Van Pelt, board chair for the Charlotte Mason Institute. “Researchers, scholars and writers will find a treasure trove of rare books, original journals and academic works exploring Mason’s approach to a liberal arts and science education for all. At the same time, educators, teachers, parents, grandparents and librarians can confidently browse and borrow from a curated collection of beautiful children’s classic and living books. Together, these offerings will nurture a richer understanding and a more thoughtful practice of relational education for students today.”
“Redeemer University is delighted to partner with the CMI to engage students, scholars, educators, and members of the classical and homeschooling communities with these resources,” says Armen Svadjian, library director. “We are especially excited to see how Master of Education students will make use of the hub.”
Construction on a physical space for the resource centre will commence this summer and is expected to be accessible by the end of 2026.