Memorandum from Grace Langdon to Dr. L. R. Alderman Regarding the Waterbury, Connecticut Situation
Record Group 69: Records of the Work Projects AdministrationSeries: General Administrative and Operational CorrespondenceFile Unit: 211.4 Dr. Grace Langdon 41
March 29, 1941 211.4 written in red pencil
MEMORANDUM
TO: Dr. L. R. Alderman
FROM: Grace Langdon G.L.
SUBJECT: Waterbury, Connecticut situation
The following are my recommendations relative to the Waterbury request for help in care of the young children of working mothers:
1. That WPA take the responsibility of assisting Waterbury in providing the needed care since the situation is directly related to defense.
2. That a group be organized known as a Child Development Defense Group.
3. That it be definitely understood that this group is organized on a temporary demonstration training basis "for the duration" to be taken over locally as soon as possible.
4. That admissions be solely conditional upon the employment of the mother in industry directly essential to the completion of some defense contract, and that satisfactory evidence of this employment or promise of employment be provided.
5. That the fees to be charged be determined by the local social service agency or agencies and that they be in accord with those charged by the regular day nursery.
6. That any fees charged by handled by a local community group, preferably by the social service agency determining the fee to be charged, or if this is not possible by a committee representing agencies satisfactory to them.
7. That volunteer assistance be provided locally on such a basis that it can be depended upon to give the needed service regularly.
8. That the WPA employ the head worker and such other workers as shall be decided upon, depending upon the number of children to be served, and that the child development defense group be supervised by the nursery school supervisor.
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9. That the age range of children correspond to the age range for the local day nursery with the understanding that no child of school age will be served during the hours when public school is in session.
10. That all conditions of sponsorship pertaining to nursery schools be effective in the Child Development Defense Groups.
I suggest that it might be well for Miss Robinson to go to Waterbury to help work out the details of this group since it is the first of its kind and can serve as a pattern for others.
