4-H Girls Exhibit at First Woman’s World Fair in 1925

Posted on by

The following story is from the National Compendium of 4-H Promotion and Visibility on the National 4-H History website at

http://4-HHistoryPreservation.com/History/4-H_Promotion/

Women's Worlds Fair, 1925 Souvenir Program

Women’s Worlds Fair, 1925 Souvenir Program

On April 25, 1925, the First Woman’s World Fair closed a successful 8-day run at the Furniture Mart on North Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. The fair, which highlighted women’s achievements in art, commerce and industry, attracted more than 200,000 visitors. The fair was the brainchild of Helen Bennett, author of “Women and Work,” and a pioneer of the women’s movement. In an age when women in the workplace were still considered a novelty, she was demanding comparable pay for comparable work. In the Women’s Republican Club of Chicago Bennett found kindred spirits to support her pioneering ideas – including the Woman’s World Fair. The fair was officially opened by President Coolidge by radio, at that time an almost unheard of feat.

The 4-H Club Girl’s exhibit at the Woman’s World Fair was in the form of a miniature household worked out in accordance with 4-H standards for Home Decoration. Miss Maude E. Wallace, Asst. State Home Demonstration agent, North Carolina, was in charge and Inez Harden, National 4-H health champion from Mississippi, Veva Divan, Wisconsin’s champion club girl and third in the national Leadership contest, and Beulah Rogers, member of the National Champion Canning team who won the trip to France in 1922, were present to demonstrate what 4-H Girls’ club work means to American farm womanhood. The exhibit was made possible by courtesy of Montgomery Ward & Company.

What the fair proposed – that women question their traditional role in society, discover themselves and seek employment if they so desired – may be commonplace today, but to the women of the 1920’s, it was quite new and radical. For 4-H to have been involved is just another one of those little nuggets of history that always comes as a surprise.

 

Please help us preserve 4-H History . . .


Looking for Fletcher the 4-H’er

Posted on by
The following story is from the October 2015 issue of the 4-H History Preservation Newsletter

The National 4-H History Preservation team is looking for information and graphics relating to Fletcher the 4-H’er comic strip appearing in the 1960s and 1970s and written by Joe Bursch, cartoonist initially with Walt Disney. We are seeking the history of this comic strip: how was it initiated? Who was behind it? When and how long did it run? We are also looking for any copies of the comic strip. Currently, we have none.

If you can help us with any of the above information on Fletcher, please let us know at Info@4-HHistoryPreservation.com

 

Please help us preserve 4-H History . . .


Hands-On History
Promoting the Health H

Posted on by

The following story is from the October 2015 issue of the 4-H History Preservation Newsletter

In the last issue we featured an article about O. H. Benson as one of the people selected by State and National 4-H Leaders as having “made 4-H great”. That article explained that he was instrumental in getting the clover adopted for our youth program. In 1911, O. H. Benson proposed four Hs that stood for Head, Heart, Hands, and Hustle. O. B. Martin suggested Health instead of Hustle. At a meeting in the spring of 1911, the 4-H leadership approved the 4-H emblem representing Head, Heart, Hands and Health.

An article by Gladys Scranage, a Girls’ Club Agent in WV, in the October 1938 issue of National 4-H Club News acclaimed that improving physical and mental health was vital to everyone. “[T]o create a desire for health, to aid in developing right attitudes, to encourage physical improvements, to help in establishing health consciousness in the community, to improve food habits, to aid in disease prevention, to study community health problems, and to continually set health standards are goals that seem to me to be entirely in the province of a 4-H club.”

Handles_Turn

Good safety habits contribute to good health. In the October, 1945 issue, safety cartoons by Utah 4-H member Ruth Louise Noall were featured. “Each pictured a warning, done in colored crayon and with its whimsical rhyme, occupied a full page in her [safety] book.” For example, a sketch of a child reaching for a pot on the stove warns, “Turn those handles toward the stove, If you will; And baby is not the only one Who might spill.”

Miss Scanage’s article lists some suggested activities for 4-H clubs that could be good hand-on projects for today’s 4-H clubs. She suggested that 4-H clubs should develop and promote a health program. This could include appointing a permanent health committee to direct health activities of the club. They would study local health problems, present health information as part of each 4-H club meeting, help in promotion of health in the community and encourage members to have regular checkups and make a personal health plan.

Hands-on History

Tools_Fools

How can your club benefit from Miss Scanage’s suggested activities? You could create a health officer or committee to suggest physical activities during your club meeting recreation time or recommend healthier refreshments. Your group can study local health issues and make plans to inform the community.

 

Please help us preserve 4-H History . . .


Historical Stories of 4-H Promotion

Posted on by
First National Poster bearing the 4-H Clover in 1924.

First National Poster bearing the 4-H Clover in 1924.

The National Compendium of 4-H Promotion and Visibility is a history project started a year ago and placed on the National 4-H History Preservation Program website earlier this year. It is one of this year’s priority activities for those National 4-H History Team members working on the website.

Rather than being a chronology of 4-H promotion history, the Compendium is a collection of short stories, so far gleaned mostly from historical issues of National 4-H News, covering a broad array of national approaches to 4-H promotion, marketing, public relations and branding. Added to this are anecdotes, some from the local level but which received national visibility, that are simply special vignettes that should not be lost to history. These stories are often the ones which convey the true meaning of what 4-H is all about: chronicles of inspiration, of achievement, leadership, and goals; accounts of failures and having the strength, ability, and desire to pick oneself up and try again.

As one of the major sponsors of 4-H National Youth Science Day in 2009, DuPont provided some extra visibility extending to a massive audience; in the NASCAR circuit, the DuPont-sponsored car driven by Jeff Gordon prominently carried the 4-H emblem with the 4-H.org website on the back of the vehicle.

As one of the major sponsors of 4-H National Youth Science Day in 2009, DuPont provided some extra visibility extending to a massive audience; in the NASCAR circuit, the DuPont-sponsored car driven by Jeff Gordon prominently carried the 4-H emblem with the 4-H.org website on the back of the vehicle.

This Promotion Compendium is meant to document and preserve these stories of 4-H history before they get lost. It has immense value as a resource tool for new professional and volunteer staff development. Even more important, perhaps, it is also offered as a collection of short stories to be read for inspiration and enjoyment.

As of August, 2015, the National Compendium of Promotion and Visibility had over 160 stories posted, and over 150 photos or illustrations. The Compendium is an ongoing project with stories being researched and added regularly. While most of these stories illustrate national 4-H promotion history, if you have a story from the state or local level which received national publicity, please tell us about it. We will consider it for inclusion in the Compendium. Write to Info@4-HHistoryPreservation.com

 

Please help us preserve 4-H History . . .


4-H History Preservation Newsletter
October 2015

Posted on by

‘Tis the season for pumpkins, goblins, corn mazes and (apparently) pumpkin-spiced lattes. Whether your 4-H Club is in a rural area or in town or city, these long-honored traditions can be a part of your October. Even corn mazes are near many towns.


Speaking of corn well before mazes became popular, the Otwell corn-growing competition garnered great publicity in Illinois in 1905. But the parade! What a spectacle!


The Health H was the last to be added to the four-leaf clover symbol. But you can build many educational activities around that important part of 4-H education. Do you have more ideas of how to celebrate the Health H in your programs?



Surely you’ve heard of “Mulligan Stew,” and maybe you participated in it. Can you recall what year it premiered as a 4-H educational series?


Who is Chris Clover? Rumor has it that he or she is a long-honored spokesperson for 4-H around the country. Tell us whether he or she has shown up in your county yet.



We again feature one of the several people who “made 4-H great;” this one is credited with starting a hot lunch program in schools, pretty significant in 1907!


We’re pushing the “Map Your 4-H History” this year at NAE4-HA. Think of historic sites in your area that you want to be documented on the internet-based, publicly-accessible atlas of 4-H History. Easy to do, and your site will be recorded forever.


Haven’t got your Halloween costume ready yet? How about going as Chris Clover! If not, stay home and take pictures of the Trick-R-Treaters while you sip your pumpkin-spiced latte and enjoy this issue.


4-H_Week_1942


4-H_Week_2015


A local store window display for National 4-H week in 1942 resembled one we saw on Twitter this year in that both referred to the growing of 4-H. The 1942 version was “4-H, Strong and Growing” whereas 2015 is more individually oriented with “4-H Grows Teamwork, Curiosity, Resilience, Courage and so much more!

 

Please help us preserve 4-H History . . .


Hands-On 4-H. 4-H Electrification Projects: Then and Now

Posted on by
The following story is from the February 2014 issue of the 4-H History Preservation Newsletter
Oregon 4-H'ers in the 1950s demonstrate how to re-wire lamps at a club meeting.

Oregon 4-H’ers in the 1950s demonstrate how to re-wire lamps at a club meeting.

Many of us take electricity for granted at home, at work, and at local stores and businesses. But that wasn’t the case seventy-five years ago, especially in rural areas. An article in the 1939 National 4-H News invited 4-H members to participate in the 4-H Rural Electrification Project. Members and clubs were “encouraged to study wiring plans, safety practices, and operation of electrical equipment.” Members were encouraged to complete activities to help them learn to make basic electrical repairs and additions at home and on the farm. Project records were submitted to compete for county medals, trips to National 4-H Congress, and $200 scholarships.

Early electrical club work even inspired a novel to be written. “Dynamo Farm” by Adam Allen, and published by J. B. Lippincott Company, NY in 1942 tells the story of a boy from the city who moves to a farm and learns to love being there because he gets involved in an electrification project in 4-H and saves the family poultry business.

Electricity is still an important 4-H project. Members learn the principles of electricity, circuits, magnetism and safety. These days, energy conservation is also emphasized.

You and your club members can learn about electricity like the 4-H members did in the 4-H Rural Electrification project many years ago. A club member or guest speaker can do a demonstration or lead a club activity to learn about electricity. Club members can do a home energy audit and share their results at a future club meeting. Or you could try to find a copy of the novel mentioned above and share a report about it or act out some of the scenes for the club.

 

Please help us preserve 4-H History . . .


4-H and Radio: Early Days Growing Up Together

Posted on by
The following story is from the February 2014 issue of the 4-H History Preservation Newsletter
Carroll Brannon, Clemson, South Carolina, the Moses Leadership trophy winner at the 1930 National 4-H Club Congress, during an NBC interview (from November 1937 National 4-H Club News

Carroll Brannon, Clemson, South Carolina, the Moses Leadership trophy winner at the 1930 National 4-H Club Congress, during an NBC interview (from November 1937 National 4-H Club News

When the National Committee on Boys’ and Girls’ Club Work (now National 4-H Council) was started in late 1921, it basically consisted of a staff of one person – Guy Noble – working at a “desk on loan” in the Chicago headquarters offices of the American Farm Bureau, with the assistance of a part-time secretary (also on loan). In addition to the overwhelming burden of raising funds in unchartered waters and, planning and managing the major national 4-H event, National 4-H Congress, Guy Noble also knew that it was critical to promote the concept of 4-H to broader audiences if it was to grow.

As early as 1922, before it was even a year old, the National Committee on Boys’ and Girls’ Club Work became a radio pioneer. Arrangements were made that year with the Westinghouse Radio Service of Chicago for news of Boys’ and Girls’ Club Work to be presented each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6 PM. In 1922 there were only 30 radio stations in the country and a quarter million receiver sets scattered across the nation.

The decades of the 1920s and 1930s became a growth period for both radio and for 4-H together. At one point all the major radio networks were carrying 4-H radio programs. And, there was the National 4-H Music Hour on NBC which featured the United States Marine Corps Band and highlighted music appreciation for young people. The National 4-H News magazine carried a regular column of upcoming radio programs in their monthly publication.

David Sarnoff, president of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), and one of the corporate giants in the communications industry, partnered with 4-H. He became a board member of the National Committee on Boys’ and Girls’ Club Work and RCA would become a national sponsor, funding a new activity for 4-H Club leaders and members. It was the National Program on Social Progress which helped to train and encourage 4-H members and adults in their communities to make the community more pleasant and improve the quality of living. This included: being more “neighborly,” and more resourceful, as well as stressing more education and creative community social activities. The program placed heavy emphasis on using the radio for communications.

By the 1930s, many rural stations were hiring farm broadcasters; first to announce the grain and livestock markets each day, but then to support rural community activities and events. Four-H fit nicely into this pattern as well; with farm broadcasters becoming strong friends of 4-H. At the same time Extension at every level – federal, state and county – were embracing the use of radio. A decade later, by the end of the 40s, over half of the radio stations in the country were regularly carrying Extension programs, including much coverage of 4-H. The radio was playing in the house, the barn, the car; no longer a novelty, it was a part of our everyday lives.

A new segment – 4-H and Radio – has just been posted in the National 4-H History section of the 4-H History Preservation website. We hope you enjoy it. Take a look at it at: http://4-HHistoryPreservation.com/History/Radio/. If you have comments about 4-H and radio please contact: Info@4-HHistoryPreservation.com.

 

Please help us preserve 4-H History . . .


Modeled for Norman Rockwell Painting

Posted on by

The following story is from the National Compendium of 4-H Promotion and Visibility on the National 4-H History website at

http://4-HHistoryPreservation.com/History/4-H_Promotion/

4-H alum Jama (Steed) Fuller shows the Rockwell original painting in which she stars. (She's the one showing the calf). Photo courtesy of March/April 1989 issue Country Woman

4-H alum Jama (Steed) Fuller shows the Rockwell original painting in which she stars. (She’s the one showing the calf). Photo courtesy of March/April 1989 issue Country Woman

The artist used real people as models, and in this case it was a real County Agent named Herald K. Rippey who served as agent in Jay County, Indiana.

A Nebraska 4-H Development Foundation pamphlet written by Clarice Orr provides an interesting piece of history. It follows, in part: “Artist Rockwell followed County Agent Herald K. Rippey around Jay County, Indiana, and, according to the story, ended up ‘worn to a nubbin,’ but chock-full of farm cooking, tips on how to cull chickens and test soil and warm admiration for his subject.”

Clint Hoover, director of the Nebraska Center Hotel, spotted Mr. and Mrs. Rippey, one summer day, standing in the lobby in front of the painting. Enroute home from a West Coast vacation, they stopped to see the painting in its permanent home at University of Nebraska/Lincoln. Rippey reminisced about 4-H and his brush with fame with Norman Rockwell. Purdue’s School of Agriculture had picked Herald Rippey as the county agent and Rippey selected the Don Steeds, an active 4-H family of Portland, Indiana, as subjects. When Mr. and Mrs. Rockwell arrived in Indiana, he was well pleased with the plans for the setting except for the barn – it was white and he wanted a red one. Although he planned for a spring scene on the canvas, preparations were actually done in the fall. Faithful to detail, Rockwell changed the boy’s winter cap to the proper spring attire. And after Rockwell’s farmer neighbor reminded him that all calves have heavier coats than spring calves, Rockwell repainted the calf.

In 2010, Gama Fuller, the model for the 14 year old 4-H girl in the painting, recalled the experience in an interview with Portland, Indiana’s The Commercial Review. Gama, now 73, a resident of Redkey, Indiana, and her sister, Sharon Smith (also a former 4-H’er), are the only two surviving models portrayed in the painting. Gama’s brother, Larry Steed, is in the painting, as is County Agent Herald Rippey and hired hand Arlie Champ. All three Steed children were active in 4-H, members of the Jefferson Livewires 4-H Club.

The original painting is now housed in the lobby of the Nebraska Center for Continuing Education at the University of Nebraska/Lincoln.

Two hundred full color collotype proof prints were made and 60 were signed in pencil by Norman Rockwell. The National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland, has a numbered signed print, a special gift to the Center.

 

Please help us preserve 4-H History . . .


Connecting with 4-H History

Posted on by

The 4-H National History Preservation website, located at History_Logo http://4-HHistoryPreservation.com, contains historical information on 4-H from its’ beginning at the start of the 20th century through today.

The History Program uses multiple social media sites to help make it easier to research 4-H History.

Social Media

Twitter

As mentioned above, when a new article is released to the News Service, it is automatically posted on the @4H_History twitter account. You will receive a tweet from @4H_History within minutes of the article being released.

Subscribing to the Twitter feed is as easy as clicking on the ‘Follow 4H_History’ button found on the right margin of all of the News Service pages.

Facebook

A Facebook presence was established in July of 2015 at https://Facebook.com/ /4H.History. Like the Twitter feed, anytime an article is released to the News Service, it is automatically re-posted on the Facebook page.

YouTube

Many of the videos listed in the 4-H History Preservation Film Archive are also available through our YouTube presence at https://YouTube.com/4HHistory

4-H History Preservation News Service

The News Service publishes stories about 4-H history several times a week. The stories pertain to historical 4-H persons, sites, events and programs. The New Service is located at http://4-HHistoryPreservation/News/. When a new article is released via the news service, it is automatically published to our Facebook and Twitter accounts.

When you have the News Service on your screen, you will see options on the right side of the screen to subscribe to the Twitter feed. If you don’t use Twitter, there is also an option to subscribe using your E-Mail address. The E-Mail subscription will automatically send a message the following day with all of the previous days releases. You will not see more than one E-Mail notice per day.

Tech Notes

If you are familiar with RSS syndicated feeds, you may subscribe to the 4-H History Preservation News Service using RSS. Each page on the system has the feed information built in. Depending on your web browser, you may see the ‘Subscribe’ button light up on your tool bar. If you don’t see the Subscribe button, click on ‘Bookmarks’ and look for the ‘Subscribe’ option.


Platform
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
News Feed


ID
@4H_History
4-H.History
4-HHistory


URL
https://Twitter.com/4H_History
https://Facebook.com/4H.History
https://YouTube.com/4HHistory
http://4-HhistoryPreservation.com/News/?feed=rss2


National 4-H Youth Conference Center History

Posted on by
The following story is from the August 2015 issue of the 4-H History Preservation Newsletter
Daddy Jenks Memorial Garden

Daddy Jenks Memorial Garden at the National 4-H Youth Center, Chevy Chase, MD

Did you know that there is a rustic garden at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center  where small groups can hold a quiet meeting or closing ceremony? The “Daddy Jenks” Meditation Area was dedicated on Audust 30, 1959 by the Maryland Chapter, 4-H Club All Stars. The area is known by many names: Jenkins’ Park, Jenkins’ Nature Area, Jenks Garden or Daddy Jenks Woods. The name doesn’t matter. The stone walk leading from the back parking lot at the 4-H Center is short… a matter of just a few steps, but places you in the midst of tall trees and solitude, a wonderful place to come and clear your mind on a hectic day.

Edward_Garfield_Daddy-Jenks_Jenkins

Edward Garfield “Daddy Jenks” Jenkins
Born: 18 Jun 1873, Prompton, PA
Died: 12 Jun 1956, Baltimore, MD

Edward Garfield “Daddy Jenks” Jenkins was born on June 18, 1873 in Prompton, PA. As a young boy, he gave himself his middle name of Garfield after his favorite President. As a man, he was given the Indian name meaning “a little man with a big, tender heart.” “Daddy Jenks” was called to Washington during World War I to be the Asst. Director of the Boys Working Reserve in the Labor Department. He went all over the country mobilizing young people to help on farms, producing food and fiber for war production. In 1919 he became the Maryland Boys’ 4-H Club Leader, where he remained until his retirement in 1943. Jenkins, Mylo Downey and Dorothy Emerson (past Maryland 4-H State Leaders) are acknowledged as the foundation for the Maryland 4-H Program.

“Daddy Jenks” worked closely with William Kendrick, West Virginia State Boys’ Club Agent who had started a chapter of 4-H All Stars. Jenkins invited West Virginia 4-H All Stars to establish the Maryland chapter in 1921 with 12 charter members. He commented: “I have always felt the outstanding 4-H All Stars are those who are endowed with the power of love, consecration, patience, and deeper understanding.” Today, several thousand active All Stars work in service to 4-H across the state. The Maryland 4-H All Stars presented a memorial garden at the National 4-H Center to recognize and honor this gentle man. “Daddy Jenks” left a remarkable legacy of service through his years of dedication and accomplishment.

Quote: “Daddy Jenks” was a warm and compassionate 4-H leader as evidenced by this except from a letter he wrote in 1940 to the Maryland delegates attending National 4-H Camp, “Joyful days are ahead for those who learn the great truth that ‘The only thing you really have is what you give away.’ I beg of you, my friends, face the new days with chin up, eyes front, singing on your new roads, sure in heart and soul that this highway is the safe way.”

 

Please help us preserve 4-H History . . .