Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-02-04
THE after SCHOOL
CLUB OF AMERICA
Mrs. J. I. Kamrar a Member Miss
Elizabeth White Travelling
Representative.

"The After School Club of Ameri-
ca a comparatively new organiza-
ton, with which Miss Elizabeth
White of our city is connected as a
travelling representative, is exciting
great interest among educators, es-
pecially in the East, where the or
ganization had its birth. 1t is in
corporated as zone of the Educa-
tional Institutions of Pennsylvania
Without Profit" with headquarters
at Philadelphia. The advisory
board comprises such women as Miss
Jane Adams, Miss Patty s. Hill of
Columbia University, Mrs. Owen
Wiser, Mrs. Robert NJ. LaFollette.
Miss Mary q. Woolley, president Of
Mt. Holyoke, Mrs. Edward Biddle,
president of Pennsylvania Fedora
ton of Woman's Clubs, and others
equally as we'll known.
The club came out OF "Child's
Welfare Conference which was held
at the White House during the
Roosevelt administration. Among
the originators were DR.. James Can
field of Columbia University and DR..
Me1vil Dewey, State Librarian Of
New York. Mr.. John D.. Morris Of
Philadelphia, an educational worker
arranged the plans Of the origina-
tors, and put them into practical
working shape. Mr.. Thomas d. Pal
ton. Jr., wealthy philanthropist of
Philadelphia, furnished the money
for the initial work.
The organization has two depart
ments of primary Importance. One,
the home council department for
mothers, with Mrs. Edwin Grice as
executive director; the other, Uncle
Mats Letters to Boys and Girls"
Mr.. Nathaniel M. Dawson directs
this department. and already thous-
ands of boys and girls from Maine
to California anticipate with JOY the
arrival of Uncle Mats helpful and
interesting bi-monthly letters. The
members of the club are furnished
with a permanent set of books suit
ed to the needs of all members of the
family and which can be used con-
tinually as reference books. Also a
circulating library with the oppor-
tunity given the mother to consult
with Mrs. Grice In the selection of
books suited to her particular needs.
The club is affiliated with all other
organizations interested in child
welfare-The Congress of Mothers
Clubs, and Character Development
League, chartered the laws of con-
gress, included The latter organi-
cation has on its consulting board
such men as David Starr Jordan,
president of Leland Stanford Jr.
University; Martin G. Brimbaugh,
superintendent Of the Philadelphia
schools; James M. Greenwood, SUI
perintendent OF the Kansas City
schools; Chas. H. Judd, director Of
the department of education, Chi
cago University; Benjamin Ide
Wheeler, president of the University
of California; James NJ Taylor.
president of vassar College; Benja-
min B. Lindsey, of Denver, Judge Of
juvenile court; and Orison S. Mar
den, editor Of Success Magazine.
1t is impossible in this brief
sketch to explain the full workings
of this club, but suffice it to say that
all great educators consider it to be
one Of the principal factors which
will influence the welfare of the
child and fit him for future good
Since the state of Iowa is reserved
by the publishers for the sale of the
Hamilton Wright Mabie Library,
the permanent feature of this club,
no field secretaries are sent to Iowa
at present, though there are many
Iowans enrolled. Mrs. ]. L. Kamrar
is the only person in Webster City
who is enrolled In this club and she
is more than pleased with the lib
rary and the other privileges which
belong to her as member.