Evening star., 1938-10-16
Miss Harlean James Serues
T,u0 Masters in PIannin @
Executive Secretary oj
Both Bodies Has
achieved Much.
By JESSIE FAINT EVANS,

Inc OLD 4dAge CnAt one can't serve
two masters ia defied by Miss Harlean
James, executive secretary for two
great national organizations with joint
administrative headquarters here.
In their combined headquarters in
the Union Trust Building. Miss James
not only serves both the American
Planning and Civic Association and
the National Conference on State
Parks rs their executive secretary, but
prefers the dual role to any other
business or professional job she has
held.
The two masters whose executive
representative she Is in Washington
are Horace M. Albright Of New York
city, former director Of the National
Park Service and president of the
American Planning and Civic Associa-
ton, Of whose board Of directors Fred
eric A. Delano is chairman. The board
also includes Col. Richard Lieber Of
Indiana, president of the National
Conference on State Parks, who is
widely known as the father Of In
diana's State parks"
This past summer Miss James, act
ing for both organizations, was a dele
gate to the International Congress on
Housing and Planning, which met in
Mexico City.
She was likewise q member Of Amer
ica'S Joint Planning Conference in
Minneapolis, and 4 visitor to Yellow
stone National Park, Rainier, Crater
Lake and the Southwestern National
Monuments. For the National Park
Service she gave two sets OF lectures
on Camping in the Back Country" :"
illustrating them with 4 demonstration
OF the equipment and proper clothing
for such expeditions. These we can
testify, from seeing the models, may
be chic rs well As utilitarian.
A Travelling Field Office.
Interesting is Miss James field
ONCE" which accompanies her wher-
ever she may 60 on her missions. It
consists of portable typewriter and
compact filing compartment for
necessary records and, papers. The
latter is so constructed that it forms
part Of the typewriter case and pre-
sents no transportation difficulties At
= city conference or on 4 mountain
hike.
Her work, she says, is significant for
the cooperation it is possible to secure
from others for community and ma
tional objectives that have to deal with
the common veal and woe. IN our
particular fields OF endeavor"
No one. in her opinion, has a greater
contribution to make to her COM
munity and to the Nation than the
middle-aged woman. With her family
reared and her earlier responsibilities
lessened. hers may be a time of fruit
full service. Usually she has acquired
common sense Is to how her aims and
ideals may be realized with q minimum
of friction and a maximum OF ex-
pediency and efficiency.
Loves Outdoors.
Erect, dynamic, Miss James ruddy
coloring and sparkling blue eyes are
testimony in themselves to her love Of
the outdoors. So much has walking
meant to her as pastime that her
humorous comment Is. Il send up a
daily prayer that may be vouchsafed
the active use of my walking ap-
paratus Is long as live"
Her home, at 2744 Twenty-second
street NV, is the French provincial
type and overlooks an arm of Rock
Creek Park.
There is nothing" she continues,
which makes you feel 30 far away
from petty problems and seemingly
insurmountable difficulties As perspec-
tives from mountain tops over distant
vistas Through the auspices Of the
National Park Service these are now
being made available to thousands Of
Americans who previously have been
unaware Of the treasures Of nature
which are theirs fof the seeking"
Illinois born and bred, Miss James
comes by her fair for public service
naturally, for her mother, 4 woman
Of culture and education, WAS one OF
the first volunteer probation ofhcers
IN the United States during the daugh-
ter's high school years in Denver, Colo
After getting her A. B. degree she
specialized at the University OF Chi
cago and at Columbia in public rela-
tions. Then came in rapid succession
the series Of secretaryships and special
executive positions which were to form
the background for her present dual po-
sition which is not only an administra.
tive one, but educational. The work OF
the organizations with which she Is
connected Is part Of the fabric OF
national planning.
Experience Varied.
The range OF Miss James first Jobs Il
. far flung one, from court reporter in
Honolulu, and private secretary to its
collector Of customs, to her hrst execu-
tive secretaryship with the Woman'a
Civic League Of Baltimore. This last
position marked the return Of James
after more than 4 hundred years, to
the State Of her forbears. Her great
grandfather had moved then to Ohio
from his home near Mount Airy.
A letter from her grandfather
Pinckney James. to relatives In Mary
land, still in her possession, comments
none too enthusiastically on William
Henry Harrison, destined to be Presi.
dent. but Is eloquent in praise of hii
pretty daughter. -.
| Upon America s entry into the World