“Probably no activity is of more importance to the future standing, prosperity and social position of agriculture than the Boys’ and Girls’ Farm Clubs. Their activities warrant the belief that they will greatly aid in the solution of many of the problems of farm life, and it gives me very great pleasure to accept the Honorary Chairmanship of the National Committee on Boys’ and Girls’ Club Work.”
President Calvin Coolidge. 1927.
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National 4-H uniforms, although currently not used widely throughout the country, bring a visual message about the time when they were created and worn. In 1976 a number of states recreated 4-H uniforms to show how 4-H had grown with the country. As 4-H plans for the celebration of the act which created Cooperative Extension, it seems like a good time to bring them out again. Therefore, it’s most appropriate that the 4-H History Preservation team is beginning to writ about the history of uniforms to appear on the 4-H History Preservation website.
Jan Scholl, Pennsylvania State 4-H staff, jump-started this research when she developed a poster which was introduced at the 2009 NAE4-HA Conference in Rochester, NY. With her knowledge and experience, she was a natural to head up the creation of a written version of the program. We hope to have an abbreviated history on the website before the end of this year and the comprehensive version up by the end of 2013.
The History Preservation team is delighted that we recently found correspondence concerning the uniforms which dated from 1917 to 1971, which helps us to piece together the dates and times as well as reasons that the styles and fabrics were chosen for the uniforms during the fifty plus years that an official National 4-H uniform existed.
Sue Benedetti and Jan share leadership for this section of the website, assisted by Eleanor L. Wilson and Kendra Wells. We are also ecstatic to welcome as volunteers to the team, two former Simplicity Pattern Company 4-H Stylists; Madeleine Green and Eleanor Berry.
Any information leading to actual uniforms or patterns that are still in existence would be appreciated. Contact us at: info@4-HHistoryPreservation.com
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The National 4-H History Preservation Team is beginning to research and write the history of Urban 4-H Programs. If you were (or if you know someone who was) involved in planning and development of an urban program, we would love to hear the story.
o How did it get started?
o How did you determine what program content to offer?
o What target audiences did you intend to reach?
o How was it staffed?
o How was it funded (publically or privately)?
o Tell us about the successes the missteps, the challenges.
o What are your most proud memories relating to this urban program?
o How is the program doing today?
And, anything else you would like to share. We know many urban programs started in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. And, that many of them were very different from one another. Most have different audiences, needs, and approaches.
Part of the Urban 4-H Program segment on the 4-H History website will include short stories about specific urban programs. Therefore, please make sure that the urban programs started in your state, will be represented by sending us the details. We also know there have already been some brief histories written on urban programs, including Chicago and Indianapolis. There may be more documented histories out there which we don’t know about.
Please tell us anything that you know about urban 4-H programs or provide information on appropriate contact persons. Write: info@4-HHistoryPreservation.com
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