In introducing a symposium on Kensington School (Missouri), an innovative elementary school in Milford School District, this paper discusses the origins of the restudy of Kensington 15 years after its creation and narrates the story of 2 key years in the district's history. The authors describe how a revisit to the district uncovered new historical data--many years of board minutes--and led to the followup study's expansion into a seven-volume study of innovation in American education aimed at finding why Kensington began as well as what happened to it. The 2 key school years, according to the authors, were 1961-62 and 1965-66. In the first key year, the Milford board attempted to oust its long-time superintendent, the National Education Association became involved, and the result was the hiring of a new superintendent, who was committed to educational innovation. Kensington was created as an innovative school soon thereafter. The second key year, the authors record, included board-superintendent conflict, a new Kensington principal, an electoral change in the board's membership, the superintendent's resignation, and the choice of a new superintendent. The authors' conclusion emphasizes the importance of history in studying educational change. (RW)