COMMITTEE FILES, 1927-1974

Summary: Documents generated by committees and subcommittees of the Council for Human Services in New Jersey.

Document types include minutes, correspondence received, copies of correspondence sent, resolutions, reports, memoranda, committee membership lists, pamphlets, copies of actual and proposed legislation, news clippings, and agendas.

Subjects covered include adoption, child welfare, juvenile delinquency, rehabilitation of the elderly and the handicapped, drug addiction, civil rights, public health, public assistance, and migratory labor.

The Mental Health Committee (1944) was created to help coordinate mental health activities throughout the state, leading to the organization of the New Jersey Association for Mental Health in 1948. The Committee on Rehabilitation (1955) was concerned with assisting the physically and mentally handicapped. The Committee of Individual Services (1960-1967) was charged with representing the Council at public hearings and developing long range programs with public and private agencies. The Committee on Rural Problems (1967-1968) was formed to make the public aware of the needs of rural areas and worked with the Governor's Task Force on Migratory Labor and the Consumers League of New Jersey. The Public Welfare Committee (1949-1964) was formed to keep abreast of current legislation concerning public assistance. It was also charged with educating the public and promoting reorganization of public assistance. The Human Rights and Human Relations Committees (1948-1953, 1962-1963) were concerned with civil rights and conducted a study of hiring practices and democratic attitudes in private social agencies. The Committee on the Aged (1952-1954) was concerned with custodial care, housing, and employment opportunities for the elderly. The Child Welfare Committee files (1941-1956) contain material concerning adoption, licensing of foster homes, illegitimacy, vocational facilities for retarded children, and employment of minors. The Child Neglect Law Committee (1956) was formed to study the 1944 amendments to the Child Neglect Law of New Jersey. The Family Court Committee (1959) was set up to study the feasibility of establishing a family court system in New Jersey.

Of particular interest are the files of the Interracial Committee (1932), which was set up to conduct a "Survey on Negro Life in New Jersey" in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Institutions and Agencies, and includes survey material and several reports. Also of interest is the Displaced Persons Committee (1949-1953) which concerns immigration to New Jersey from Europe during and after World War II, leading to the establishment of the New Jersey Resettlement Project for Eastern European Refugees. The Narcotics Addiction Committee (1959-1968) contains material concerned with efforts to combat rising drug use.