Mari Ruef Hofer

Mari Ruef Hofer (1858/59-1929) was an American educator, composer, writer, and lecturer. Along with her sisters, she was a pioneer in the kindergarten movement. She gained familiary with discipline through her work in music rhythms and games. Hofer was the author of song books and books about dance.

Early life and education Mari Ruef Hofer was born July 18, 1858/9, in Iowa. (According to Leonard (1914), Mari was born in James, Iowa, She was of German ancestry.) Her collection entitled, Popular Folk Games and Dances, came after years of devotion to the service of song and play, their affect in the developing life of childhood, and the need of extending their influence to those of mature years. The selections were made with a judgment that came after long familiarity with the subject. She published valuable compilations of music for use in the kindergarten, Sunday School and the playground. She contributed to the "Playground" number of Charities and the Commons.

Hofer's special interests included was interested in the settlement movement, playground work, and public recreation for people in the form of festivals, pageants, and civic music. She devoted all her leisure to the arranging of plays and games for festivals and playground work. Her interests also included internationalism and less conceit in Americanisms, believing we would gain in culture by knowing other people better. She read and translated German and credited her interest and large acquaintance with folklore and traditions to this source. Her recreations included singing folk songs and folk dancing. She felt that the resources of other eras and countries brought enrichment of life in our own country; and now we are trying to possess ourselves of the joy and spirit in the folk games and dances of many nations.

Hofer was a member of the Chicago Woman's Club, Ridge Woman's Club, City Club of Chicago, and Fellowship House Club.

Death Mari Ruef Hofer died in 1929.

Selected works

Camp Recreations and Pageants (1927) (text) Children's Messiah (1908) Children's Singing Games, Old and New, for vacation schools, play grounds, etc. (1901) Christmas in Peasant France (1915) Christmasse in Merrie England: With Old Carols, Dances and a Masque (1915) (text)] Music for the Child World (three vols.). Music editor of Vols. I. and II., Calvin B. Cady; music editor of Vol. III., Fannie L. Gwinner Cole. (1900-1902) (text) (text) Old Tunes, New Rimes, and Games for Kindergarten and Primary Grades (1917) (text) Polite and social dances; a collection of historic dances, Spanish, Italian, French, English, German, American; with historical sketches, descriptions of the dances and instructions for their performance (1917) Popular Folk Games and Dances (1923) (text) Seasonal Festivals and Pageants: Harvest Festival (1916) (text) The Story of Bethlehem, a Beautiful Nativity Play (1916)