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. 1. Histories of American Mothers Committee
      
      Rules and Qualifications
      
      Instructions for State Chairmen

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

1. 1. 1944

1. 1. 1945

1. 1. 1946

1. 1. 1947

1. 1. 1948

1. 1. 1949

1. 1. 1950

1. 1. 1951

1. 1. 1952

1. 1. 1953

1. 1. 1954

1. 1. 1955

1. 1. 1956

1. 1. 1958

1. 1. 1959

1. 1. 1960

1. 1. 1961

1. 1. 1962

1. 1. 1963

1. 1. 1964

1. 1. 1965

1. 1. 1966

1. 1. 1967

1. 1. 1968

1. 1. 1969

1. 1. 1970

1. 1. 1971

1. 1. 1972

1. 1. 1973

1. 1. 1975

1. 1. 1976

1. 1. 1977

1. 1. 1978

1. 1. 1978 Nominee

1. 1. 1979 Nominee

1. 1. 1979 Nominee

1. 1. 1979 Nominee

1. 1. 1979 Nominee

1. 1. 1979 Nominee

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

1. 1. 1980 Nominees

1. 1. 1981 Nominee

1. 1. 1981 Nominee

1. 1. 1981 Nominee

1. 1. 1981 Nominee

1. 1. 1981 Nominee

1. 1. 1981 Nominee

1. 1. 1982 Nominee

1. 1. 1983 Nominee

1. 1. 1984 Nominee

1. 1. 1984 Nominee

1. 1. 1984 Nominee

1. 1. 1984 Nominee

1. 1. 1984 Nominee

1. 1. 1985 Nominee

1. 1. 1985 Nominee

1. 1. 1985 Nominee

1. 1. 1985 Nominee

1. 1. 1985 Nominee

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

1. 1. 1988 Nebraska Mother of the Year – Betty Louden

Series 3 – Miscellany

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

1. 1. Miscellany continued

Series 4 – Bicentennial Project files

1. 1. Bicentennial Project reports, correspondence, etc.

1. 1. Certificate – Bess Armstrong

1. 1. Certificate – Sarah Joslyn

1. 1. Certificate – Eliza Merrill

1. 1. Certificate – Mary Mullen

1. 1. Certificate – Hettie Painter

1. 1. Certificate – Laura Pound

1. 1. Certificate – Julia Sheldon

1. 1. Certificate – Olga Stastny

1. 1. Certificate – Esther Warner

1. 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