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Leadership in 1951-52

In the Fall of 1951, Msgr. John O’Grady became NCFR’s ninth president and served 15 months, through Summer 1953. He had authored a book, Catholic Charities in the USA, and was a scholar and historian. He served for 32 years as Director of National Conference of Catholic Charities. He was also a sociology professor at the Catholic University of America and Trinity College in Washington, DC. He was a pioneer in the development of public housing policy in the United States and was also known for his work on aging. He was appointed to the President’s Commission on Immigration and Naturalization. The following […]

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Membership in 1951–52

In 1952, NCFR lost 220 members, leaving a total of 2,406.

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Leadership in 1950–51

Nadina R. Kavinoky, the first female President of NCFR, was a Swiss-born gynecologist who received her MD at University of Buffalo (New York) and was a visiting lecturer at the University of Southern California. During her presidency, NCFR participated officially in several important national conferences: the Mid-Century White House Conference on Children and Youth, the Federal Civil Defense Conference, the National Commission on Teacher Education and Professional Standards, the National Conference on Aging, the National Education Association, and the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO. The following is an excerpt from Kavinoky‘s Presidential Address: Fortunately in the last few years we are beginning to appreciate the […]

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1951 Conference: Family Roots for Mature Living

The 1951 Annual Conference was held at College Camp, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, August 27–31. The theme was “Family Roots for Mature Living,” and the emphasis was on normal, positive values in family life and the development of resources within the family for meeting stresses and strains in an uncertain world. Meals and lodging were reasonably priced on a special sliding scale for children: Children under 2—$1.00/day; children ages 2 through 5—half the adult rate, which was $4.75–$10.25/day; and children ages 6 through 9—three quarters of the adult rate. The National Committee on Religion and Families was reactivated by Sylvanus Duvall, bringing the number […]

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Journals and Publications in 1950–51

David Mace was selected as International Editor in August 1951. He was responsible for foreign copy. Thus, he translated an article submitted from the International Union of Family Organizations by Robert Boudy. That year also raised the question of whether the journal Marriage and Family Living (MFL) should be the voice of NCFR and its affiliates or whether there should be a newsletter to carry organizational news. The cost of maintaining two editorial offices was too expensive, and loss of internal control was cited. Receipt and allocation of payments to MFL belonged to the headquarters office. Additional conflicts between the journal […]

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Sections in 1950–51

In 1951 the following sections were functional: Economic Basis of the Family Teacher Preparation Education for Marriage and Family Living In Colleges, in the Schools and in the Community Marriage and Family Counseling Marriage and Family Law Marriage and Family Research Mass Media Parent Education Religion and the Family The first two were eventually replaced by “Housing and Family Welfare” and “Family Development Through Cooperative Nursery Schools.”

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Structure and Governance in 1950–51

Robert Foster was chair of the committee to appraise and revise the NCFR Constitution and thus was responsible for defining the function and relationship of NCFR to its committees and crafting guides for future development. In October 1951, Nelson Foote was authorized to conduct a survey of the objectives and programs of NCFR and the organization’s place in the total picture of family life education and NCFR’s relationship to other organizations and to analyze executive duties. This was completed in January 1952. The report led to dissent among leaders. Some believed in expanding NCFR’s membership and scope and that it should serve as an action group on public […]

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