Social service

Glen R. Betts Papers

abarker — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:32:46 -0400

A member of United Auto Workers Local 22, Glen Betts served as chairman of its Community Services Committee and attended the 1974 Michigan United Labor Community Services School (MULCSS) at Black Lake. Mr. Betts’ papers reflect the various concerns and interests of Local 22’s Community Service Committee and the social issues addressed at the Black Lake MULCSS, including substance abuse, unemployment, union services for the handicapped and the energy crisis.

Ernest L. Horne Papers

drice — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:17:13 -0400

Ernest L. Horne, a retired General Motors Research Laboratory Librarian and Archivist, has been a known activist in the Detroit gay civil rights movement since 1979, holding membership and leadership positions in several area GBLT organizations. His papers document the activities of the gay and lesbian liberation movement in Detroit, primarily through the records of three organizations: The Association of Suburban People (ASP), South East Gay and Lesbian Council (SEMGLA), and Detroit Area Gay and Lesbian Council (DAGLC).

McGregor Fund Records

aergas — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 11:21:48 -0400

Tracy W. McGregor (1869-1936) and Katherine Whitney McGregor (1873-1954) established the McGregor Fund in 1925 to ensure that their financial resources would continue to be used for social, educational, and charitable programs. Both of the McGregors were lifelong philanthropists, with Tracy heading a mission for the homeless from 1891 to 1936 and Katherine volunteering at numerous organizations, establishing an orphanage and facility for the aid of young mothers, and donating extensively to a number of local charities. They established the McGregor Fund to act as a grant-making organization with priorities including higher education, youth services, health care and science.

This collection consists of legal, administrative, and financial papers of the McGregor Fund, including deeds of gift that established the Fund; bylaws, articles and amendments, board of trustee minutes; annual reports; and information on its projects and grants. There is biographical information relating to Tracy McGregor in particular, the McGregor family more broadly, and other prominent Detroit philanthropists. Two series cover the establishment and history of the McGregor Library at the University of Virginia and the McGregor Memorial Conference Center at Wayne State University, including photographs. Also included are photographs relating to Tracy McGregor, his associates, family, and the McGregor Fund board of trustees.

John Musial Papers

drice — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:16:56 -0400

John J. Musial was a student at University of Michigan who later worked for the city of Detroit. He served on the Commission on Community Relations as the Research Director in 1963. Musial wrote articles related to programs and projects in the city of Detroit.

The John Musial Papers consist of reports and other published materials created by or regarding the development of the city of Detroit. As Research Director of the Commission on Community Relations, he authored some of the reports. The reports are related to housing, population, income, and community projects in Detroit during the administration of Jerome Cavanagh until the beginning of the Coleman Young administration.

United Community Services Budget Department Records

drice — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 15:05:48 -0400

The United Community Services of Metropolitan Detroit has its origins in the establishment of the Detroit Community Union in 1917. The Union was reorganized into the Council of Social Agencies of Metropolitan Detroit in 1932, and merged with the Detroit Community Chest in 1951 to become the United Community Services (UCS). UCS operated alongside the United Way for Southeastern Michigan (United Foundation until 1989), which was primarily a fundraising organization. They merged to form the United Way Community Services in 1995, which merged with the United Way for Oakland County to become the United Way for Southeastern Michigan in 2005. UCS was an umbrella organization for a wide range of social welfare agencies in the Metropolitan Detroit area, and sought to promote social services (including child care, family, health, recreation, and community planning) through the centralized planning, coordinating, and budgeting of those agencies. The Budget Department was responsible for reviewing budget requests from agencies, making an annual proposal for funds to the United Foundation, and allocating funds to individual agencies associated with UCS.

The United Community Services Budget Department Records consist mostly of reports from agencies to the UCS Central Budget Committee and reports from UCS to the United Foundation. The collection also contains some minutes from the budget committees of UCS predecessor organizations and statistical information detailing historical allocations to participating agencies.

United Community Services Communications Department Records

drice — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 15:29:47 -0400

The United Community Services of Metropolitan Detroit has its origins in the establishment of the Detroit Community Union in 1917. The Union was reorganized into the Council of Social Agencies of Metropolitan Detroit in 1932, and merged with the Detroit Community Chest in 1951 to become the United Community Services (UCS). UCS operated alongside the United Way for Southeastern Michigan (United Foundation until 1989), which was primarily a fundraising organization. They merged to form the United Way Community Services in 1995, which merged with the United Way for Oakland County to become the United Way for Southeastern Michigan in 2005. UCS was an umbrella organization for a wide range of social welfare agencies in the Metropolitan Detroit area, and sought to promote social services (including child care, family, health, recreation, and community planning) through the centralized planning, coordinating, and budgeting of those agencies. The Communications Department, previously known as the Public Relations Department, was responsible for promoting UCS and member agency activities to the public, through press releases, newspaper, radio, and television advertisements, promotional brochures, and other advertising campaigns. The department also counseled other UCS departments and member agencies on their promotional campaigns.

The United Community Services Communications Department Records consist of correspondence, reports, press releases, promotional brochures, and newspaper clippings related to the publicity efforts of UCS. The collection documents the promotional strategies used by UCS to promote its activities, seek volunteers, solicit funds, and increase public knowledge of UCS and its member agencies. The collection also contains information pertaining to internal UCS administrative functions, including the UCS Assembly nominating committee and the organization’s annual meetings.

United Community Services Executive Office Records

drice — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 15:24:57 -0400

The United Community Services of Metropolitan Detroit has its origins in the establishment of the Detroit Community Union in 1917. The Union was reorganized into the Council of Social Agencies of Metropolitan Detroit in 1932, and merged with the Detroit Community Chest in 1951 to become the United Community Services (UCS). UCS operated alongside the United Way for Southeastern Michigan (United Foundation until 1989), which was primarily a fundraising organization. They merged to form the United Way Community Services in 1995, which merged with the United Way for Oakland County to become the United Way for Southeastern Michigan in 2005. UCS was an umbrella organization for a wide range of social welfare agencies in the Metropolitan Detroit area, and sought to promote social services (including child care, family, health, recreation, and community planning) through the centralized planning, coordinating, and budgeting of those agencies. The Executive Office oversaw the various departments within UCS, and was headed by the Executive Vice President, who was the managing director of the organization.

The United Community Services Executive Office Records consist of materials from the tenure of three Executive Vice Presidents: Richard Huegli, John MacInnes, and Geneva Williams. The collection demonstrates the administrative functions of UCS, including correspondence with the directors of other UCS departments, correspondence concerning social welfare agencies, minutes documenting the proceedings of UCS committees, reports concerning UCS programs and special projects, and budgetary proposals to the United Foundation. The collection also contains some photographs of UCS leadership and of the founders of the Detroit Community Union.

United Community Services Community Information Service Records

drice — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 15:37:43 -0400

The United Community Services of Metropolitan Detroit has its origins in the establishment of the Detroit Community Union in 1917. The Union was reorganized into the Council of Social Agencies of Metropolitan Detroit in 1932, and merged with the Detroit Community Chest in 1951 to become the United Community Services (UCS). UCS operated alongside the United Way for Southeastern Michigan (United Foundation until 1989), which was primarily a fundraising organization. They merged to form the United Way Community Services in 1995, which merged with the United Way for Oakland County to become the United Way for Southeastern Michigan in 2005. UCS was an umbrella organization for a wide range of social welfare agencies in the Metropolitan Detroit area, and sought to promote social services (including child care, family, health, recreation, and community planning) through the centralized planning, coordinating, and budgeting of those agencies. The Community Information Service (CIS) Department, formerly known as the Central Services Department, was established to assist the community in making more effective use of health, welfare, and recreational resources. It served as a central source for authentic information to direct members of the community to relevant social service agencies, by the use of telephone, correspondence, or in person visits. The department also published social service resource directories and oversaw the Central Volunteer Bureau. Funding for the CIS came from the United Foundation’s annual Tribute Fund Campaign.

The United Community Services Community Information Service Records consist of correspondence, minutes, reports and scrapbooks from CIS and its precursor, the Central Services Department. The materials demonstrate the functions of the CIS, including its efforts to connect members of the community with social service resources, its centralized administration of UCS’ volunteer efforts, and its involvement in Tribute Fund campaigning. The collection also contains statistical data about the services provided by participating UCS agencies, mostly in the Social Statistics Project series.

United Community Services Research Department Records

drice — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 15:41:26 -0400

The United Community Services of Metropolitan Detroit has its origins in the establishment of the Detroit Community Union in 1917. The Union was reorganized into the Council of Social Agencies of Metropolitan Detroit in 1932, and merged with the Detroit Community Chest in 1951 to become the United Community Services (UCS). UCS operated alongside the United Way for Southeastern Michigan (United Foundation until 1989), which was primarily a fundraising organization. They merged to form the United Way Community Services in 1995, which merged with the United Way for Oakland County to become the United Way for Southeastern Michigan in 2005. UCS was an umbrella organization for a wide range of social welfare agencies in the Metropolitan Detroit area, and sought to promote social services (including child care, family, health, recreation, and community planning) through the centralized planning, coordinating, and budgeting of those agencies. The Research Department was responsible for analyzing and evaluating information about community conditions to aid other UCS departments in determining their programs and policies. The department collected statistical data regarding population trends, land use, agency services, and other areas related to the overall functions of UCS.

The United Community Services Research Department Records consists of reports and statistical data, mostly related to the services of UCS agencies. The reports contain information regarding agencies that fell under the UCS umbrella, including the names and locations of agencies, the types of services they provided, and the amount of certain services provided to members of the community. The collection also contains reports related to special projects undertaken by UCS, including the Harper-Gratiot Multi-Service Center, and statistics relating to UCS’ participation in the United States Children’s Bureau Social Statistics Project. In addition to reports and statistics, the collection also contains some correspondence, mostly related to Research Department Director James H. Norton, detailing the administrative functions of the Research Department.

United Community Services Special Programs Department Records

drice — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 15:47:16 -0400

The United Community Services of Metropolitan Detroit has its origins in the establishment of the Detroit Community Union in 1917. The Union was reorganized into the Council of Social Agencies of Metropolitan Detroit in 1932, and merged with the Detroit Community Chest in 1951 to become the United Community Services (UCS). UCS operated alongside the United Way for Southeastern Michigan (United Foundation until 1989), which was primarily a fundraising organization. They merged to form the United Way Community Services in 1995, which merged with the United Way for Oakland County to become the United Way for Southeastern Michigan in 2005. UCS was an umbrella organization for a wide range of social welfare agencies in the Metropolitan Detroit area, and sought to promote social services (including child care, family, health, recreation, and community planning) through the centralized planning, coordinating, and budgeting of those agencies. The Special Programs Department oversaw UCS program initiatives and programs that were not necessarily related to other existing UCS departments or which were not permanent additions to UCS programs, such as temporary initiatives and special summer programs. The Special Programs Department consisted of, at various times, the Metropolitan Camp Council, the Volunteer Action Center, the Metropolitan Detroit Coalition for Blood Pressure Control, the Summer Programs department, and unemployment and work experience projects.

The United Community Services Special Programs Department Records consist mostly of correspondence, minutes, and reports related to the Metropolitan Camp Council and general campership initiatives, in addition to information regarding special summer programs. Included in the collection are materials from participating camp agencies, such as the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Camp Fire Girls, as well as materials from UCS administrative committees.

United Community Services Board of Directors Minutes

drice — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:44:32 -0400

The United Community Services of Metropolitan Detroit has its origins in the establishment of the Detroit Community Union in 1917. The Union was reorganized into the Council of Social Agencies of Metropolitan Detroit in 1932, and merged with the Detroit Community Chest in 1951 to become the United Community Services (UCS). UCS operated alongside the United Way for Southeastern Michigan (United Foundation until 1989), which was primarily a fundraising organization. They merged to form the United Way Community Services in 1995, which merged with the United Way for Oakland County to become the United Way for Southeastern Michigan in 2005. UCS was an umbrella organization for a wide range of social welfare agencies in the Metropolitan Detroit area, and sought to promote social services (including child care, family, health, recreation, and community planning) through the centralized planning, coordinating, and budgeting of those agencies. The Board of Directors was the central governing body of UCS, and oversaw the administration and operation of the organization and its component departments. Members of the Board of Directors were responsible for determining the programs, policies, and organization of UCS.

The United Community Services Board of Directors Minutes collection consists of minutes from the meetings of the Board of Directors of UCS, the United Way Community Services, and its predecessors including the Associated Charities of Detroit, the Detroit Community Union, and the Council of Social Agencies of Metropolitan Detroit. It also contains meeting minutes from the Board of Directors of several of the fundraising organizations associated with UCS throughout its history, including the predecessors of the United Foundation: the Detroit Patriotic Fund, the Detroit Community Fund, the War Chest of Metropolitan Detroit, and the Community Chest. The materials in the collection demonstrate the activities of the governing bodies of those organizations, and contain information detailing their administrative functions including the decision making process behind proposed initiatives, programs, agencies, and mergers.

United Community Services Records

drice — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:27:17 -0400

United Community Services, operated in Detroit since 1878 under various names, was organized by civic leaders to coordinate the work of different charitable institutions in the area, and raise funds for community welfare needs. Gradually, it became a clearinghouse for the investigation and referral of social service cases as well as an advocate for social and health care reform. The records of the UCS reflect the concerns of professional social workers, the plight of the poor in late nineteenth and early twentieth century Detroit, and the community's attempts to improve their condition through the work of public and private social welfare agencies.

Collections Spotlight: “Out of the House: Detroit Women’s Organizations in the 20th Century”

teller — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 10:20:24 -0400

Two archivists from the Reuther presented talks at the Historical Society of Michigan's 57th annual Local History Conference in March. The joint session, entitled “Out of the House: Detroit Women’s Organizations in the 20th Century” was presented by Troy Eller English, the Society of Women Engineers Archivist, and Aimee Ergas, the Reuther's collections archivist for Jewish Detroit. Kathy Schmeling of the Reuther Library was the moderator. read more »

Eleanor Josaitis — Hands Across the Racial Divide

wlefevre — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 09:32:36 -0400

As a symbol, it is exquisite in its simplicity. Two hands inside a circle, one black and one white, almost but never quite touching across the racial divide. This has been the logo of Focus: HOPE, an organization fighting for basic human rights in Detroit and Southeast Michigan for over forty years. And until her death last week, one of the leaders of the fight was Eleanor Josaitis. read more »

The Jewish Community Archives at the Reuther Library: Additions and Revisions

aergas — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 10:33:53 -0500

The Leonard N. Simons Jewish Community Archives document the rich and varied history of the Detroit Jewish community. In 1991, the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit placed the bulk of its archival holdings in the Reuther Library. The collection dates back to the beginning of the United Jewish Charities in 1899. Through the years, the Jewish Community Archives (JCA) at the Reuther Library has expanded to include more than two million documents chronicling the growth and development of the Federation and its member agencies and Jewish communal agencies.

Recently, some new collections have been added and some revisions have been made to finding aids. read more »

United Way for Southeastern Michigan: 100 Years of Giving

drice — Thu, 18 Oct 2018 09:07:38 -0400

In 2017, United Way for Southeastern Michigan (UWSM) celebrated a major milestone: 100 years of continuous promotion of social services to those in need. In addition, the organization’s 10-year plan Agenda for Change concludes this year. Targeting the greater Detroit region, it focuses on access to education, income, read more »

Fresh Air Society, Camp Tamarack, Belle Isle, 1902

teller — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 10:24:57 -0400

Detroit children participating in a summer camp, probably on Belle Isle, organized by the Fresh Air Society, circa 1902. Records from the Fresh Air Society and Camp Tamarack are included in the JCA Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit Records.

(30430) Death of Social Services, California, 1982

aorchard — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 10:27:06 -0400

Participants pose for a picture during a Santa Clara County demonstration against layoffs and budget cuts.

(35868) Hamtramck Likes UF, 1952.

drice — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 15:52:02 -0400

Audrey Hepburn hands a little UF girl (standing on table with support from unidentified man) a trophy as the girl holds a Hamtramck United Fund torch sign.

(35890) UF; Diana Ross on camera for "It’s Happening" Torch Drive promotional film

drice — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 09:06:10 -0400

Diana Ross, in sunglasses, standing in front of backdrop featuring the United Foundation torch logo.

(35894) Shell - Care enough to share enough, 1958 Torch Drive, give once for all!, 1958.

drice — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 09:03:36 -0400

Shell oil billboard in a parking lot promoting the United Foundation fundraisingcampaign.

(35906) Torch Drive, United Foundation torch lighting, 1953.

drice — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 11:55:21 -0400

Night view of crowd around the lit torch (original wooden).