American Mothers Committee (Nebraska) [RG3979.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID



RG3979.AM:  American Mothers Committee. Nebraska Committee



Records:  1944-1988

Nebraska:  Organization honoring American mothers

Size:  1.0 cu.ft.; 1 box



BACKGROUND NOTE



The American Mothers Committee was organized in 1935 as a division of the Golden Rule Foundation.  Its purpose was “to develop and strengthen the moral and spiritual foundations of the American home and to give to the observance of Mothers’ Day a spiritual quality which highlights the standards of ideal Motherhood and recognizes the important role of the mother…”  Mrs. Sara Delano Roosevelt, mother of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was the first honorary chairman of the organization.  In 1950 the American Mothers Committee was incorporated under the laws of the state of New York.  Today it is recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as the official sponsor of Mothers’ Day.



As early as 1943, state committees were established to search for and screen possible candidates for the American Mother of the year.  Each state jury chooses a mother based upon specified qualifications.  Then from the fifty state mothers (and one each from the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico), a national jury selects the American Mother of the Year.



Nebraska picked its first State Mother in 1944.  Since that time, the yearly tradition has continued.



SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE



This collection consists of one box of records of the American Mothers Committee in Nebraska.  The records are arranged in four series:  1) Historical Data; 2) Nebraska Mother of the Year Files, 1944-1988; 3) Miscellany and 4) Bicentennial Project Files.  This material relates primarily to the nomination forms and qualifications of those women selected as Nebraska Mother of the Year.  Historical material about the American Mothers Committee and other items dealing with the organization’s programs are also included.



The Historical Data of Series 1 consists of brief histories of the American Mothers Committee; qualifications and rules for nomination of the Nebraska Mother of the year; and instructions provided to state Chairmen.  The bulk of this collection is comprised of the Nebraska Mother of the Year Files, 1944-1985, of Series 2.  These files contain nomination forms showing the qualifications of the Mother of the Year, photographs, letters of recommendations, tributes, and newspaper clippings.  Series 3 is comprised of Miscellany which includes a listing of Nebraska Committee members, correspondence, programs, and an annual conference booklet.  Series 4 consists of reports and correspondence of the Bicentennial Committee, as well as certificates issued to Nebraska mothers named as “Mothers of Achievement in American History” as part of the American Mothers Committee Bicentennial Project.



INVENTORY



Series 1 – Historical Data

Box 1

Folder




    1. Histories of American Mothers Committee

      Rules and Qualifications

      Instructions for State Chairmen



Series 2 – Nebraska Mother of the Year files, 1944-1988




    1. 1944

    1. 1945

    1. 1946

    1. 1947

    1. 1948

    1. 1949

    1. 1950

    1. 1951

    1. 1952

    1. 1953

    1. 1954

    1. 1955

    1. 1956

    1. 1958

    1. 1959

    1. 1960

    1. 1961

    1. 1962

    1. 1963

    1. 1964

    1. 1965

    1. 1966

    1. 1967

    1. 1968

    1. 1969

    1. 1970

    1. 1971

    1. 1972

    1. 1973

    1. 1975

    1. 1976

    1. 1977

    1. 1978

    1. 1978 Nominee

    1. 1979 Nominee

    1. 1979 Nominee

    1. 1979 Nominee

    1. 1979 Nominee

    1. 1979 Nominee

    1. Nebraska Young Mother of the Year Applications, 1978-1979

    1. 1980 Nominees

    1. 1981 Nominee

    1. 1981 Nominee

    1. 1981 Nominee

    1. 1981 Nominee

    1. 1981 Nominee

    1. 1981 Nominee

    1. 1982 Nominee

    1. 1983 Nominee

    1. 1984 Nominee

    1. 1984 Nominee

    1. 1984 Nominee

    1. 1984 Nominee

    1. 1984 Nominee

    1. 1985 Nominee

    1. 1985 Nominee

    1. 1985 Nominee

    1. 1985 Nominee

    1. 1985 Nominee

    1. 1987 Nebraska Mother of the Year – Lois (Opper) Schwab

    1. 1988 Nebraska Mother of the Year – Betty Louden



Series 3 – Miscellany




    1. Miscellany including: Listings of Nebraska Committee Members, Correspondence, Programs, Annual Conference Booklet

    1. Miscellany continued



Series 4 – Bicentennial Project files




    1. Bicentennial Project reports, correspondence, etc.

    1. Certificate – Bess Armstrong

    1. Certificate – Sarah Joslyn

    1. Certificate – Eliza Merrill

    1. Certificate – Mary Mullen

    1. Certificate – Hettie Painter

    1. Certificate – Laura Pound

    1. Certificate – Julia Sheldon

    1. Certificate – Olga Stastny

    1. Certificate – Esther Warner

    1. Certificate – Elizabeth Weritz



 



Subject headings:



American Mothers Committee (Nebraska)

Mother of the Year — Nebraska

Nebraska Mothers Association

Women in Nebraska



 



 



AIF/psw                05-22-1980

Revised TMM      05-14-2018

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

The Story of Omaha Police Fingerprint Expert Emily Byram

The Story of Omaha Police Fingerprint Expert Emily Byram

Marker Monday: Cather Childhood Home

Marker Monday: Cather Childhood Home

Yutan Tornado – March 23, 1913

Yutan Tornado – March 23, 1913

About History Nebraska
History Nebraska was founded in 1878 as the Nebraska State Historical Society by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed History Nebraska from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director and CEO Jill Dolberg. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for History Nebraska.
Explore Nebraska
Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast.

Nebraska Collections

History Nebraska's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

History Nebraska Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

Support History Nebraska
Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to History Nebraska help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of History Nebraska by donating to the History Nebraska Foundation today.

Volunteers are the heroes of History Nebraska. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.