USA > North Carolina > History of the North Carolina State Division American Association of University Women, 1927-1947 [1948] > Part 3
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Chief speaker was Dr. Harriet Elliott of Woman's College who discussed the perplexities of the AAUW's legislative program, and gave much food for thought as to where we should begin and end when it comes to promoting certain legislation. She pointed out that the "machinery for lobbying is the State Legislative Council, and the state legislative chairman for the AAUW should be a member of this council, for branch resolutions through this representative can be translated into action."
The meeting went on record as opposed to any attempt to militarize boys of high school age; approved the state's proposed plan for a twelve-year public school program; endorsed the four point program of the N. C. Education Association for: (1) re- tirement plan for teachers and tenure guaranteed after a proba- tionary period; (2) the strengthening of certification laws and recognition for the master's degree; (3) the allotment of teachers based on enrollment, and a reduction of the teacher load by ten per cent; (4) the appointment by the State Department of Public Instruction of a Physical Education Director to coordinate the work in the public schools.
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Resolutions were passed to encourage nursery schools, kinder- gartens and special classes for ungraded and atyical pupils; to support the State Board of Health in its fight against venereal disease.
1938-39.
The autumn meeting of the Board of Directors held in High Point October 1, 1938, was characterized by a large gathering with emphasis on plans for the legislative campaign to be waged in favor of more money for schools.
The membership chairman reported 553 members with hopes for 650. She reported 30,000 women in the state eligible for membership in the Association.
The Shelby branch was recognized as a new branch. State Convention 1939.
The State Division met in its annual convention at Duke Uni- versity March 31-April 1, 1939 in connection with the Women's Symposium being held there.
Mrs. Wanzer presided and discussed in the Board Meeting the results from the use of the little booklet entitled "North Caro- lina's Children" which she had issued and sent to the branches as a means of checking in their own communities on the provi- sions for caring for children.
The meeting approved a motion to contribute $50.00 to the expense of the Women's Symposium with permission to hear all the Symposium speakers without charge and thus save on the usual expenses of speakers.
The Nominating Committee proposed Mrs. Wanzer for re- election as president and Miss Virginia Bryan as secretary. Both were unanimously elected.
CHAPTER X-THE YEARS 1939-1941
The autumn Board of Directors meeting was held in Winston- Salem October 7, 1939 with Mrs. Wanzer presiding.
The Board voted to have all branches study "Federal Aid for free tax-supported public education, including libraries" and to study the Retirement Plan for Teachers, and also voted to provide the necessary funds for promoting the State Educational project which consisted of a questionnaire to be used in the various high schools of the state as a survey on curriculum.
February 17, 1940, the Executive Committee met in special session at the Washington Duke Hotel in Durham, for the pur- pose of making plans for the State Convention to be held in Raleigh April 26-27.
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Convention.
At the State Convention held at the Sir Walter Hotel in Raleigh April 26-27, 1940, the business session of the Executive Board was much concerned with the probable dissolution of the Win- ston-Salem branch.
Nominated and elected were Mrs. L. B. Tannenbaum as vice- president and Mrs. J. E. Winslow as treasurer.
The following is quoted from the minutes: "The presidents of individual branches then reported the progress and plans of each. Attention should be called to the Dramatic Arts Work of the Alamance Branch, the Clinic Work of the Greenville branch, the Fellowship report of $126.00 from the Raleigh branch, and the Library Project and Bookmobile Drive of the Western N. C. branch." Programs had centered around 'The South' in Char- lotte, 'Woman's Place' in Greensboro, 'International Problems' in Greenville and Durham."
Membership was reported as 656.
Dr. Lucille Delano, Fellowship Chairman, reported $470.00 raised during the year and explained that the $30,000.00 sec- tional fellowship was already assured and that the North Carolina State Division must decide soon if it would undertake a state fellowship or continue to help with the sectional funds.
Dr. Elizabeth Jackson, regional vice-president, appeared as general counsellor at the business meeting on Saturday morning.
Legislative report included support of the retirement and tenure plan for teachers, better enforcement of the compulsory school attendance law, the addition of the 12th grade, a nine months school term, and the allotment of teachers on an attendance rather than enrollment basis.
The study of high schools now underway was to be continued.
A vote of approval was given for rejoining the State Legisla- tive Council. A very strong resolution endorsing Federal Aid to education was approved. Warrenton was reported as a new branch.
The Convention adjourned to meet in Asheville the next spring. The Board of Directors accepted Burlington's invitation to meet there in the fall.
1940-41.
Special guest speaker at the Board meeting held in Burlington, October 5, 1940, was Mrs. Harriett Houdlette of the national headquarters staff.
The chairman of social studies distributed a booklet on educa- tional findings issued by the Chapel Hill branch as a state project.
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Mrs. Wanzer proposed three questions for consideration for the year as follows:
1. How may we guard against unwise school economy under the guise of emergency?
2. How can we protect the consumer against profiteering?
3. Must we sacrifice individualism and independence to meet this emergency?
The Asheville branch reported that a check for $1000.00 had been sent to National Headquarters for use in the program of war relief abroad.
The annual Convention met in Asheville April 25-26, 1941.
Mrs. Ernest B. Hunter of Charlotte, publicity chairman, was instructed to have the booklet, "Our North Carolina Children" revised and reprinted and distributed to branches.
In the business meeting on Saturday all branches were repre- sented with a total of 37 delegates. Membership was reported as 730.
Excellent branch reports included Asheville's Refugee Shop which had cleared more than $2000.00; Alamance's sending six underprivileged girls to camp for two weeks from money cleared on Clare Tree Major productions presented during the past two years as a dramatic arts contribution to Burlington school chil- dren; Charlotte's survey of 5000 women in the national project of finding abilities of women for war work; Chapel Hill's addi- tion of $900 to their continuing loan fund project for women students at the University of North Carolina; Durham's work with the social agencies in Durham, and emphasis on interior decoration with displays in an uptown furniture store; Green- ville's presentation of the Clare Tree Major Children's Theater; High Point's work with Girl Scouts; Shelby's cooperation with the men's civic clubs in providing high school band uniforms and public playground.
Reidsville, one of the youngest branches, reported entertaining the girls of the high school graduating class and giving them in- formation on the AAUW.
Richard Tewkesbury, refugee explorer and school teacher, was chief speaker at the banquet. Dr. Katherine Gallagher of the Headquarters staff was luncheon speaker.
Legislative Council membership was again given approval and approval was also given to the Council's program which included raising the compulsory school law from 14 to 16 years, state supported nine months school term, a uniform work week for
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women of 48 hours instead of the present 55-hour schedule, establishment of a training school for delinquent Negro girls, pro- viding institutional care and treatment of mentally ill and de- fective children of both races.
International Relations chairman reported that National had sent more than $20,000.00 as aid to foreign countries devastated by war.
The group agreed to continue to send its Fellowship collections to the Sectional fund rather than establish a state fund.
Mrs. Clarence Blackstock of Asheville was elected president, Mrs. Fred Terrell of Raleigh, vice-president, and Miss Nora Raysor of Asheville, secretary.
CHAPTER XI
WAR COMES-A.A.U.W. CARRIES ON-1941-45
The Chapel Hill branch entertained the Board of Directors meeting on Saturday, September 27, 1941 with the new state president, Mrs. Blackstock, presiding. All branches except Shelby had representatives.
Consumer problems were reported as the chief work of the Social Studies Chairman.
Plans were made to hold the spring Convention in High Point.
Dr. Franklin of the national headquarters staff was guest speaker. She pointed out the very valuable work done through the social studies program during the past five years and stressed particularly the responsibility of the AAUW in consumer studies and problems.
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A letter was read from the United States Treasury Depart- ment requesting The North Carolina Division to actively cooper- ate in the Defense Savings Bond program. The Board approved this request.
The Convention of 1942 was held in High Point Friday and Saturday, April 17-18 with Mrs. Blackstock, president, presiding.
Highlight speaker for the banquet on Friday evening was Dr. Aase Gruda Skard, refugee from Troudheim, Norway, now living in New York, who gave a vivid talk on "Norway Today".
The question of whether or not the Bulletin could or should be continued during the war resulted in a vote to publish only one bulletin a year for the duration of the war.
Reports from branch presidents revealed that Alamance had sent one girl to camp during the preceding summer, that the theme for 1942-43 was "For Today and Tomorrow Too", and centered
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on a study of the nation, that an arts exhibit had been sponsored at the library and that plans were in the making for a children's museum to be included in the proposed community building.
Asheville reported the bringing of Dr. Esther Cole Franklin from National Headquarters to speak at a mass meeting of the Consumer's Defense League of Buncombe County; that the Refu. gee Shop, a continuous rummage sale, had netted $5,100.00 dur. ing the past six months ;- $3,100.00 of which had gone to head- quarters in Washington for Britain; $1000.00 to United China Relief, and $1000.00 to the Red Cross Emergency Drive; that the branch's scholarship fund was being used by a student at Woman's College of the University of North Carolina.
Bryson City reported getting off to a fine start with 20 mem- bers at the close of its first year. It had brought an art exhibit to the city, and had established an exchange book club with a re- view of one book at each meeting.
Chapel Hill reported that one of its members, Dr. Mary Claire Randolph, had been awarded a $1500.00 international fellow- ship. Their art committee had arranged a weekly series of lec- tures on comparative art, given by a University of N. C. Pro- fessor.
Charlotte was trying study groups in cooperation with P .- T. A. and Y. W. C. A. on pertinent topics, had held a four-day con- ference on Future Peace, and participated in the Children's Theater program.
Durham was busy with war work in lieu of its study groups of the past, with special emphasis upon its nursery school. Dinner meetings were held monthly with interesting topics discussed by outstanding speakers.
Greensboro had increased its membership 100%, had raised $60.00 for British relief by a bridge party, was studying national defense and had inaugurated a nutrition clinic.
Greenville had presented the E. C. T. College players in two public performances which netted a considerable sum used for various charities, broadcast two radio talks, and brought up to date a college catalog shelf in the library.
High Point had placed emphasis upon health and Inter-Amer- ican solidarity as important features of national defense. While many interesting speakers had been featured, Dr. Ester De Calne of Panama City had been outstanding in two lectures,-one to which all High Point women had been invited, and one for the teen-age boys and girls.
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Louisburg, which was still busy trying to get fully organized, had cooperated in the city's Victory Book Drive. With the pro- gram theme "Look to This Day", speakers had built their talks around present day interests. They had held a four-day Youth Forum for young people.
Oxford was reported as a new branch with Mrs. D. H. Hall, Jr., as president.
Reidsville had sponsored a movie on International Relations, had entertained high school girls of the senior class at a tea to acquaint them with schools and vocations, and had cooperated in the various drives and registrations for the city.
Shelby reported giving special assistance in vocational guid- ance, had sponsored a series of four forum talks on sex and mar- riage relations led by Mrs. E. R. Groves of Chapel Hill, for the high school students and women of the town. They were having all program meetings open to the public.
Total state membership was reported as 766, an increase of 11 over the preceding year, with twelve branches reporting.
The Convention voted to continue its membership in the Legis- lative Council and to support the council's program for the Con- stitutional Amendment to the changes in the state Education Board which would place authority under one Board.
Mrs. S. D. Foster, who had succeeded Mrs. E. B. Hunter as publicity chairman, distributed the spring bulletin which she had edited so well that she heard many complimentary remarks about her fine work.
Mrs. Fred Terrell was re-elected as vice-president, and Mrs. J. E. Winslow was re-elected treasurer.
The president introduced the matter of future conventions dur- ing the war period. Cancelling such meetings would mean an amendment to the constitution. It was decided to submit the necessary amendment to the branches to empower the Board of Directors to elect officers and carry on the business of the organi- Zation.
1942-43.
The Board of Directors meeting for the fall of 1942 was held October 10 in Greensboro with Mrs. C. E. Blackstock presiding. The meeting was much concerned with plans for furthering the work of the Women's Division of the War Savings Staff in N. C.
The Board voted to dispense with the annual convention for 1943 and to hold two autumn meetings of the Board of Directors, one for the east and one for the west, and agreed that the presi-
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dent and vice-president would share the responsibility of attend- ing these meetings.
Louisburg branch was reported as inactive for the year.
Branch members were urged by the president to teach in the public schools if possible, since so many teachers were deserting the profession, and would be replaced by sub-standard teachers if educated women were not available for replacements.
The meeting adjourned to hold two separate meetings on Octo- ber 9, 1943,-one in Charlotte and one in Raleigh. (These meet- ings were later dispensed with as a result of the war emergency and so the nominating committee had to do its work by mail.) Mrs. R. A. Herring and Mrs. Robert Conner, both of High Point, were duly elected by a vote of the branches by mail, and assumed office June, 1943. 1943-44
The Executive Committee in a special meeting July 6, 1943 decided that the plan of holding two Board of Directors meetings on October 9 would result in confusion in the election of officers, and the carrying out of various business activities of the organiza- tion, and that a single Board meeting would be necessary. Raleigh was decided upon as the meeting place with the date changed to October 23, 1943.
The Board of Directors met in the Woman's Club building, Raleigh, Saturday, October 23, 1943, with Mrs. R. A. Herring, president, in charge. Every branch except Shelby was represented, and six committee chairmen were present to make reports.
Membership of 661 showed a 121/2 % loss for 1942-43.
The legislative program was outlined under four headings:
1. Compulsory school age to be raised from 14 to 16, with money allotted to enforce it.
2. Constitutional amendment to change the present state Board of Education to one with greater power and wider repre- sentation, thus doing away with various other conflicting boards that had sprung up through the years.
3. Provision for adequate care of mentally deficient children of both races.
4. Improvement of jails, with special reference to women. The Board accepted for emphasis from the national program, the Thomas Child Care Act, planning for the post-war world, and expansion of the Social Security Act.
Dr. Elizabeth Jackson, regional vice-president, who attended
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the meeting, urged further work for the admission of the Univer- sity of North Carolina to the approved list for membership. A committee headed by Mrs. Walter Patten of Louisburg, was ap- pointed to work with the national board of admission to get the University approved.
Reports from the twelve branches represented proved very stim- ulating. Shelby was not represented. Attractive yearbooks were presented by Alamance and Bryson City branches.
Mrs. Ruth Wilson Tryon, of the National office, gave a concise report on the work of the AAUW in the present emergency.
Mrs. Fred Terrell was re-elected vice-president, and Miss Sarah Nooe treasurer for two-year terms.
With no plans for a spring Convention, the meeting adjourned to meet in Charlotte the third Saturday in October, 1944.
(Through vote of the branches during September 1944, the Board meeting scheduled for October 21 in Charlotte was can- celled at the request of Federal officials.)
Under date of July 21, 1944, the auditing committee composed of Frances Lee Cory, chairman, Mary Blair Mower and Catherine King Neese reported the treasurer's books in order and accounts correct for the years, 1942-43 and 1943-44.
(The first state auditing committee composed of Lelia Wiggs, chairman, Mrs. S. J. Everett, and Marguerite Austin had reported previously for 1940-41 and 1941-42.)
1944-45
With the autumn Board meeting cancelled, the president, Mrs. R. A. Herring, had to resort to the mails for instructions to and information from the branches.
Through the mails a nominating committee was named in Sep- tember 1944, to select a state president and a secretary for the next two years.
Also by mail, Mrs. Herring quoted to branches messages from Dr. Katherine McHale, and from Mrs. Ruth Wilson Tryon, con- gratulating the North Carolina division on its ability to hold the line even without meetings, and on its 100% contributions to the Fellowship fund.
April 7, 1945, the Board of Directors met in Chapel Hill for its first meeting since October 23, 1943. Records and notes of the Executive Board's meetings by mail during 1944 were approved along with the minutes of the last meeting which had been held in Raleigh, 1943.
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Mrs. R. A. Herring was re-elected president, and Mrs. Blake Thompson was elected secretary.
A nominating committee was named to present a slate for vice- president and treasurer at the Board of Directors workshop meet- ing to be held during the fall.
Mrs. Walter Patten, chairman of the Standards Committee, re- ported progress in the work of getting the U.N.C. approved.
Mrs. Thompson reported that general publicity would be cov- ered through the Bulletins which would be sent out to all branches. Committee reports were noteworthy in that they showed all the branches active in the various fields of National.
The legislative program included: 1. Adequate provision for the enforcement of the compulsory school attendance law through the Department of Public Instruction; 2. Provision for moderniz- ing the jail system and bringing it up to minimum standards, more adequate provision for medical care and hospitalization in- cluding provision for financing cancer control clinics set up under the State Board of Health; 3. Minimum wage and hour law.
Eleven branch presidents reported, with Bryson City not repre- sented. These reports were unusually satisfying in their wide coverage of work.
A Workshop or State Board meeting was held in High Point, October 20, 1945, with Mrs. Herring presiding. Plans for a spring Convention, the first since 1942, were worked out with Durham as the place; and the time dependent upon the date Dr. Gillie Larew, regional vice-president, could arrange to be present.
Mrs. Walter Patten and her committee were given recognition for their work in finally getting U. N. C. approved by the Na- tional Board of Standards, thus at last making A.B. graduates of the University eligible to membership in the AAUW.
Thomasville branch, just newly organized, was given an official welcome.
The nominating committee's report of Mrs. J. W. Moore of Asheville for vice-president and the re-election of Miss Sarah Nooe for treasurer received a unanimous vote of approval.
CHAPTER XII-RETURN TO NORMALCY THE 1946 CONVENTION
April 12-13, 1946 marked a high light for the North Carolina State Division of the AAUW, for on these dates Mrs. R. A. Herring presided over the long awaited convention in Durham, a two-day session marked with a luncheon on Friday with Mrs.
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A. H. Gilbert speaker, a brilliant banquet Friday evening with Dr. Catherine Jeffers of the hostess branch presiding, and Dr. Meta Glass as speaker. Dr. Helen Hosp of the national head- quarters staff, and Rosamunde Wimberly, State President for South Carolina, were special guests.
At the Saturday luncheon, Dr. Gillie Larew, regional vice- president, was the featured speaker on the topic, "What Is It Thou Hast in Thy Hand?"
The proposed changes in the by-laws were read and approved by a large majority vote. These changes were as follows: Article X, to allow the branches two delegates for each 25 members; Article XII, Section 2, to make annual state dues 50 cents per member based on the current year's membership; and Section 3, that dues must be paid by December 1.
On Friday morning a nominating committee composed of Mrs. Walter Patten of Louisburg, Mrs. Roy Palmer of Charlotte, and Mrs. J. Q. Seawell, Jr. of Greensboro, was instructed to present at the fall Board meeting a slate for president and secretary. Each branch was urged to make recommendations to Mrs. Patten for these two offices.
All branches had contributed to the Fellowship fund with a total of $519.00, a gain of $110.11 over the previous year's $408.89 collection. Charlotte showed the largest contribution.
Membership was reported as 874. Alamance, Asheville, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Durham, Greensboro, Greenville, High Point, Oxford, Raleigh, Shelby, and Thomasville branch presidents gave illuminating oral reports.
1946-47.
The minutes for October 26, 1946, report that the Board of Directors met in Burlington on that date with Mrs. R. A. Her- ring presiding.
Special guest speaker was Judge Lucy B. Haworth of Wash- ington who discussed in a highly illuminating way, "Effective Citizenship". Dr. Blumenthal, member of the Secretariat of the League of Nations at Geneva, and now a member of the faculty of Louisburg College, was recognized as a special guest.
The nominating committee presented the following slate of officers: Mrs. Robert Lee Humber of Greenville as president, and Mrs. D. S. Spain, also of Greenville as secretary. Miss Catherine Sherrill of Charlotte was nominated for president from the floor.
Branch chairmen were given post cards to be used to record branch votes on officers. The president explained that the slate
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was being presented for Branch approval and possible instruction of further delegates whose actual votes would not be counted until the spring Convention.
Routine business and committee reports closed the days' sessions. State Convention-Charlotte, March 21-22, 1947.
The Charlotte Branch had planned wisely for the convention which was well attended. The theme "We Look To The Future" was well developed. Twelve branches were represented in the program presided over by Mrs. R. A. Herring. The minutes of this meeting show that it was one of the most significant pro- grams ever presented. From first to last the meeting was filled with important doings and topped with the many courtesies of the hostess branch. The minutes should be presented in full, for Mrs. Thompson's record is very complete, but space will allow only brief notes from the minutes. .
Mrs. Herring discussed and clarified during the Board meeting several controversial points including elections, two-year, office tenure, date for payment of dues, the voting privileges of associate members, the status of instructed and uninstructed delegates, and that two Board meetings and one Convention per year are required of the State Division.
Membership for 1946-47 was reported by Mrs. J. W. Moore as 917 for the year.
A committee composed of Miss Carrie B. Wilson, Dr. Lucille Delano and Mrs. S. D. Foster was appointed to send a telegram of greeting to Miss Catherine Allen, first president of the North Carolina Division. The group stood to honor Miss Allen.
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