By the People Singular and Significant Impact Volunteers Have Had on American History Is Now Thoroughly Revised and Updated for the New Millennium!
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The only comprehensive documentation of the By the People singular and significant impact volunteers have had on American history is now thoroughly revised and updated for the new millennium! “Until I read this book I did not appreciate the he newest edition of impact volunteers had on US history in general . By the People: A History Post offices, fire departments, public health, nursing A History of Americans as Volunteers of Americans as Volunteers is are all institutions or professions founded originally a lively and authoritative exami- nation of how volunteers have by volunteers. Going forward, it makes me pause to T think that how we motivate and engage volunteers pioneered community action and social change from colonial days to will truly impact the social fabric of our country.” the present. From historical mass movements for abolition, women’s —Kate Forbes suffrage, and civil rights to modern National Chairman of Volunteers, American Red Cross movements for AIDS awareness, reproductive rights campaigns, and international relief efforts, “Ellis and Campbell have given a gift to the this one-of-a-kind book shows Nation—by reaffirming our belief that every citizen how various groups have continu- can play a role in shaping the American Experiment ally arisen in response to current Volunteers Americans as of A History events, social problems, and com- and by inspiring future generations to volunteer to munity needs that volunteers are serve their country.” usually the first to identify. —John M. Bridgeland former Assistant to the President, Shattering common stereotypes of volunteers, the authors illustrate Director of USA Freedom Corps and how volunteer involvement is Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council crucial to a functioning democ- racy—volunteers mobilize energy to shape neighborhoods, govern- “I am so thrilled at this new edition of By the People! ment, institutions, professions, and I built my course, ‘The Social Evolution of Contem- social events. The authors have porary Volunteerism,’ on the previous edition and added a new chapter covering the many volunteer actions elicited am looking forward to assigning this new edition since 1990 by developments such as the major textbook in my class, part of a Univer- as the introduction of the Web sity-based Certificate in Volunteer and Community and international terrorism. By the People also examines volunteer Resource Management. During the last five years, administration as an evolving over 600 students have enjoyed and benefited from profession, with a thoughtful the meticulous and rich history of volunteerism discussion of what lies ahead for volunteers and the people who found in this book.” work with them. —Phyllis Newman, Ph.D., Lecturer, Center for Public Service, School of Public Affairs and Community Service, University of North Texas Susan J. Ellis and Katherine H. Campbell By the People A History of Americans as Volunteers New Century Edition Susan J. Ellis and Katherine H. Campbell Philadelphia 2005 By the People: A History of Americans as Volunteers, New Century Edition Copyright © 2005 by: Energize, Inc. 5450 Wissahickon Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19144 USA www.energizeinc.com Hardcover, ISBN-10: 0-940576-43-0, ISBN-13: 978-0-940576-43-0 Paperback, ISBN-10: 0-940576-41-4, ISBN-13: 978-0-940576-41-4 This edition is also available in electronic form, (ISBN 0-940576-42-2), at www.energizeinc.com New Century Edition (Third): Energize, Inc., 2005 First Edition: Energize, Inc., 1978 Second Edition: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1990 All rights reserved. No part of this edition of this book may be reproduced in any form, or by electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the pub- lisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-iin-PPublication Data Ellis, Susan J. By the people: a history of Americans as volunteers / by Susan J. Ellis and Katherine H. Campbell.--New century ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and indexes. ISBN 0-940576-43-0 -- ISBN 0-940576-41-4 (pbk.) 1. Voluntarism--UnitedStates--History. 2. Volunteers--United States--History. I. Campbell, Katherine Noyes. II Title. HN90.V64E43 2005 302'.14--dc22 2005054673 Cover Design by Diane Jacobs PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Once again... To all the volunteers we have known and respected Photo/Image Credits: “A Minute Man.” Copyright, The Early American Digital Library. “NAACP youth and student members marching with signs protesting Texas segregation laws.” Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Visual Materials from the NAACP Records [LC-USZ62-84483]. “Young boy receiving pail of soup in kitchen of city mission. Dubuque, Iowa” by John Vachon, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, FSA-OWI Collection, [LC-USF34-060596- D]. “Barn erection. Gable panel at corn crib end is raised into place and nailed. Southeast Missouri Farms Project” by Russell Lee, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, [LC-USF33-011577-M2]. “Fire department demonstration” by Harry M. Rhoads, Western History/Genealogy Department, Denver Public Library, [Rh- 1200]. “Faith Hope Action” by Jolynn Desch, Director of Teams and Volunteers, Komen National Race for the Cure®. Special thanks to Eva Martorell and Edda Ashkenazi, present in the photograph, and the other ladies of the Latin Ladies Express team. “Voter registration drive, Chinatown, San Francisco” by Russell Lowe. Table of Contents Preface vii Introduction: Volunteering in Perspective 1 Part 1: Accomplishments in Our History 1 Volunteers Found a Nation: 1607-1781 15 2 New Citizens and New Frontiers: 1782-1850 43 3 Facing Crisis and Civil War: 1851-1865 87 4 Rebuilding and Moving On: 1866-1899 113 5 The Progressive Spirit and World Conflict: 1900-1919 157 6 Volunteering amid Shifts of Fortune: 1920-1945 187 7 Protest and Change: 1946-1969 219 8 Volunteers Move into the Spotlight: 1970-1989 243 9 A Millennium Ends and a New One Begins 287 10 A Nation of Volunteers: The 21st Century 313 Part 2: Implications for Our Future 11 Volunteer Leadership as a Profession 335 12 The Past Is Prologue 353 The Authors 363 Name Index 365 Organization Index 367 Subject Index 379 Preface What makes individuals worthy of historical note? Traditionally, it has been their political power; their literary, artistic, or scientific genius; their willingness to take unusual risks (which are usually only remembered if successful); or their creation of large and lasting enter- prises. Fame comes from impact. Our position is that the individual and combined volunteer actions of thousands of unnamed citizens have had an impact on American society. These actions were of citizens who became involved, not because of coercion or profit, but because they recog- nized a need and were willing to take responsibility for meeting that need. But because they assumed this responsibility in addition to their everyday duties, and because they did not seek monetary reward, the volunteers themselves may have underestimated the impact of their work. Traditional historians, too, have overlooked the magnitude and diversity of volunteer activities. However, the cumulative effect of many such voluntary actions, occurring as they do in every part of the country and in every decade, makes it apparent that our history has been shaped by everyone. The historical chapters of this book present an overview of the involvement of volunteers in every area of American life and trace the effect of this involvement on American institutions, professions, and social events. We describe the accomplishments of group action rather than the singular efforts of famous individuals. Others have written comprehensive histories of the United States; By the People is meant as a companion volume that proposes a new frame of reference from which to view how things happened. It provides some of the viii By the People between-the-lines material necessary to form a more complete appre- ciation of our democratic heritage. Just about everyone, at one time or another, is a volunteer. Volunteering is so pervasive in the United States that it can be observed daily in almost every aspect of life. The problem is that volunteering, because it is so pervasive, often goes unrecognized. For instance: Who donates blood? Who runs the parent-teacher organizations in schools? Who goes caroling in hospitals? Who serves on school boards? Who works to preserve historic landmarks? Who appears on fundraising telethons? Who passes out political campaign leaflets? Who uses ham radios to relay calls for help? Who leads 4-H Clubs? Scout troops? Youth sports teams? Who supports community orchestras? Who advocates for less violence on television? The above list only touches the surface, but it serves to illustrate the diversity of possible volunteer activity. “To volunteer” does not mean only the formal commitment of being a Candy Striper or a Big Brother but includes all the ways people choose to become involved in their communities and help themselves. Despite general acceptance of the activities of volunteers, the word volunteer has been associated with certain negative stereotypes. Volunteers have at times been perceived as do-gooders, meddlers, rad- icals, or those foolish enough to work for nothing. Volunteering has also often been perceived as “women’s work’’ or as work done by untrained people. It is our premise that not only are such stereotypes unfair, they are historically and currently inaccurate. Volunteerism is