The Rayfield Archives collects materials related to the educational philosophy known as Herbartianism. The pedagogical theory was first introduced to the United States by Charles DeGarmo at Illinois State Normal University upon his return from obtaining his doctorate at the University of Halle in 1886. At its core, Herbartianism focused on strengthening the morality of a child by using moral influences in the child's education. Herbartianism practitioners also used repetition in their educational methods, repeating core principles each year while adding new educational objectives.