Scope and arrangement
The records of the National Self Government Committee, Inc contains correspondence, minutes, reports, replies to questionnaires, writings, financial documents, printed material, scrapbooks and photographs, including twenty photographs (mostly duplicates) of boys practicing self government, 1911-1913.
The National Self Government Committee records are arranged in eight series:
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Contains incoming correspondence to Welling's from educators, schools concerned with citizenship, students, universities and colleges and educational associations. Subjects covered are responses to literature published by the N. S. G. C.; ongoing civic activities; progress on self government for young adults; and samples of constitutions of self government in schools. Outgoing correspondence is mainly from Richard Welling, the founder.
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(partial), contains Richard Welling correspondence with the Directors of the N. S. G. C., 1921-1950; minutes of a meetings, 1921-1941; meetings 1942-1946; minutes, 1909-1938; reports, 1910-1933; and constitutions and charters of student government organizations.
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Contains correspondence regarding requests and reactions to the N. S. G. C. publications i. e. "Civics As It Should Be Taught" (1933); "Defend the Public Schools Against Militarism" (1930); "Your School and Its Government" (1946). Other subjects are Civilian Conservation Corps' correspondence in regard to self government in C. C. C. camps (1934-1935); Superintendents Inquiry: replies and comments from superintendents in New York State regarding the status of citizenship training in their schools (1936); correspondence relating to the efforts of William McAndrew and the N. S. G. C. to have civics taught on the college level (1936-1942); N. S. G. C. inquiry to the Regents on the status of civic and political instruction in public schools and colleges (1932-1938); "National Conference on Student participation", correspondence and data of faculty advisors interested in developing student government (1928-1946); and scattered correspondence regarding Richard Welling's opposition to military training in schools.
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Replies are mainly from elementary students, 1911-1913, and to a lesser extent high school and college students, 1911-1913. Principals were also asked to respond to questionnaires with information on race, ethnic background, sex and age level of students; the effects of self government in schools both positive and negative; and teachers reaction. There are also some assorted replies from other individuals and list of members receiving student government literature.
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Richard Welling's diaries, 1922-1947; address book and various other notebooks; mail records (1912); speeches by Welling and others and notes.
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Miscellaneous bills and receipts.
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Correspondence, circa 1948-1969; Associate Council correspondence; minutes of meetings, 1956-1971; and projects; proposals funded and rejected, 1980-1985; proposals of high school students, 1980-1985 and minutes, 1980-1985.; video cassette: Core Project- Satellite Academy (Chambers Street, NYC).