Project Concern, Inc. Records, 1969-1982
Summary Information
- Repository:
- Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University
- Creator:
- Project Concern Inc.
- Title:
- Project Concern, Inc. Records
- Collection No.:
- SC 0155
- Date:
- 1969-1982
- Extent:
- 9 boxes, 3.32 Cubic Feet
- Language of the Material:
- English
- Abstract:
- The Project Concern, Inc. Records, 1969-1982, consist of documents pertaining to the organization's activities within Rockingham County. The documents include the organization's records, their relationships with other organizations and their programs and projects, including their annual summer camp.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Project Concern, Inc. Records, 1969-1982, SC 0155, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.
Administrative History
While visiting the homes of truant children to investigate their absence in school, John Honeycutt, a visiting teacher for the Harrisonburg schools, discovered much more deeply rooted reasons for their non-attendance. It was not simply that mothers were not waking their children on time, but rather Honeycutt found families in which children did not have proper shoes, clothing, or coats to leave the house. Honeycutt initially brought this information to his church's Sunday school. His activism resulted in the organization of Project Concern, Inc., which was formally incorporated in January 1969. Its purpose was to assist with projects for the needy of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. Project Concern worked in tandem with other local groups to satisfy needs in the community, including Social Services, the Salvation Army, Eastern Mennonite College, James Madison University, and local churches. Reflective of a national movement to combat poverty, specifically among children, Project Concern, Inc., provided basic needs for families and enriching experiences for children. By the early 1980s, Project Concern's funding had vastly diminished, likely due to a national economic crisis, whereby faithful donors no longer had the means to contribute financially. In 1982 the Board of Directors of Project Concern made the decision to close their doors.
Scope and Content
The Project Concern, Inc. Records, 1969-1982, are comprised of nine boxes, approximately 3.32 cubic feet of material. The collection represents the actions and activities of a local social work organization within the communities of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. The collection is topically arranged in eight series: Administrative Information, Financial Documents, Members, Other Agencies, Programs and Projects, Summer Camp, Miscellany, and Media.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into eight series:
Series 1: Administrative Information
Series 2: Financial Documents
Series 3: Members
Series 4: Other Agencies
Series 5: Programs and Projects
Series 6: Summer Camps
Series 7: Miscellany
Series 8: Media
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Collection open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu)
Acquisition Information
Donated by Greg Versen, retired James Madison University sociology professor, in June 2008.
Provenance
Prior to transfer to JMU Special Collections, the collection was in the custody of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society.
Processing Information
Bank statements, bills, insurance statements, and most receipts were discarded. A representative sample of receipts was maintained to document local businesses. In order to streamline the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in the spring of 2017. This collection was previously cataloged as SC 4011.
Location
Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University
880 Madison DriveMSC 1704Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807library-special@jmu.eduURL: https://www.lib.jmu.edu/special/
Index Terms
Personal Name
- Greg Versen
Subject
- Project Concern, Inc. (Harrisonburg, Va.)
- Honeycutt, John
- Charities -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg -- History
- Poverty -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg -- History
- Child Welfare -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg -- History
- Public welfare -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg -- History
- Charities -- Virginia -- Rockingham County -- Sources
- Charities -- Virginia -- History -- Sources
- Harrisonburg (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Rockingham County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Rockingham County (Va.) -- Economic conditions -- Sources
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Administrative Information
Series 1, Administrative Information, consists of twenty folders of material related to the administrative operation of Project Concern. Of particular interest are the History, Bylaws and Articles of Incorporations folder and five folders of Secretary's Minutes and Records. Also included in this series are client profiles, which identify needs of particular individuals and families and Project Concern's actions on their behalf, Project Concern newsletters, and news clippings and press releases highlighting Project Concern events and accomplishments. |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Title/Description | Instances | ||
| History, Bylaws, and Articles of Incorporation | box 1 | folder 1 | |
| Annual Meeting/Reports | box 1 | folder 2 | |
| Board of Directors | box 1 | folder 3 | |
| Comprehensive Employment Training Act (CETA) Information | box 1 | folder 4 | |
| Client Profiles/Documents (Folder 1 of 4) | box 1 | folder 5 | |
| Client Profiles/Documents (Folder 2 of 4) | box 1 | folder 6 | |
| Client Profiles/Documents (Folder 3 of 4) | box 1 | folder 7 | |
| Client Profiles/Documents (Folder 4 of 4) | box 1 | folder 8 | |
| Executive Committee | box 1 | folder 9 | |
| Executive Director | box 1 | folder 10 | |
| Miscellaneous Planning Documents | box 1 | folder 11 | |
| National Council on Voluntary Action (NCVA) Publications | box 1 | folder 12 | |
| National Council on Voluntary Action (NCVA) Organizational Profiles | box 1 | folder 13 | |
| Newsletters | box 2 | folder 1 | |
| News Clippings/Press Releases | box 2 | folder 2 | |
| Secretary's Minutes and Records: Charter, Bylaws, and Initial Meeting Minutes | box 2 | folder 3 | |
| Secretary's Minutes and Records: Minutes (Folder 1 of 2), 1969-1981 | box 2 | folder 4 | |
| Secretary's Minutes and Records: Minutes (Folder 2 of 2), 1969-1981 | box 2 | folder 5 | |
| Secretary's Minutes and Records: Public/Group Meetings | box 2 | folder 6 | |
| Secretary's Minutes and Records: Miscellaneous | box 2 | folder 7 | |
Series 2: Financial Documents
Series 2, Financial Documents, primarily consists of eighteen folders, the majority of which are receipt books from 1970-1981, with some gaps. This series also includes financial reports, donor correspondence, and a representative sample of receipts from local businesses, 1972-1981. |
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| Title/Description | Instances | ||
| Financial Statements | box 2 | folder 8 | |
| Correspondence (Folder 1 of 2) | box 2 | folder 9 | |
| Correspondence (Folder 2 of 2) | box 2 | folder 10 | |
| Sample of Receipts | box 2 | folder 11 | |
| Receipt Book, September 5, 1970 - September 15, 1971 | box 2 | folder 12 | |
| Receipt Book, September 20, 1971 - December 30, 1972 | box 2 | folder 13 | |
| Receipt Book, December 30, 1972 - August 14, 1974 | box 3 | folder 1 | |
| Receipt Book, August 14, 1974 - May 14, 1976 | box 3 | folder 2 | |
| Receipt Book, May 28, 1976 - July 27, 1977 | box 3 | folder 3 | |
| Receipt Book, July 18, 1977 - December 15, 1978 | box 3 | folder 4 | |
| Receipt Book, February 17,1977 - April 23, 1979 | box 3 | folder 5 | |
| Receipt Book, December 22, 1978 - August 5, 1970 | box 3 | folder 6 | |
| Receipt Book, September 8, 1980 - May 11, 1981 | box 3 | folder 7 | |
| Receipt Book, July 5, 1973 -February 17, 1977 | box 3 | folder 8 | |
| Receipt Book, 1979 - 1981 | box 3 | folder 9 | |
| Records of Accounts, 1971 | box 3 | folder 10 | |
| Records of Receipts, 1972-1982 | box 3 | folder 11 | |
| Miscellaneous | box 3 | folder 12 | |
Series 3: Members
Series 3, Members, consists of three folders of applications for membership from individuals, organizations and volunteers. Membership involved a small financial donation and/or volunteer service. |
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| Title/Description | Instances | ||
| General Members | box 4 | folder 1 | |
| Organizational Members | box 4 | folder 2 | |
| Volunteers | box 4 | folder 3 | |
Series 4: Other Agencies
Series 4, Other Agencies, consists of seven folders, each of which represents a local, state or national organization with which Project Concern consulted to sustain their non-profit status. In addition, Project Concern worked with Madison College (James Madison University) and Eastern Mennonite College (Eastern Mennonite University) faculty and students to facilitate programs such as Saturday Adoption, which is highlighted in the following series. |
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| Title/Description | Instances | ||
| Commonwealth of Virginia Resources | box 4 | folder 4 | |
| Community Service Newsletters | box 4 | folder 5 | |
| Local (Rockingham County) and JMU | box 4 | folder 6 | |
| U.S. Federal Resources | box 4 | folder 7 | |
| United Methodist Council on Ministries | box 4 | folder 8 | |
| United Way | box 4 | folder 9 | |
| Virginia Council on Social Welfare | box 4 | folder 10 | |
Series 5: Programs and Projects
Series 5, Programs and Projects, consists of ten folders containing documentation about the different programs and projects Project Concern facilitated, organized or participated in. Some of the programs figuring most prominently are the Annual Christmas Party, the Clothing and Furniture Room, and Saturday Adoption. These programs brought members of the community together to help others in the community in need. |
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| Title/Description | Instances | ||
| Annual Christmas Party, 1974-1982, undated | box 5 | folder 1 | |
| Big Brothers/Big Sisters | box 5 | folder 2 | |
| Clothing Room | box 5 | folder 3 | |
| Food Stamp/Bank Program | box 5 | folder 4 | |
| Furniture Room | box 5 | folder 5 | |
| Harris Gardens | box 5 | folder 6 | |
| Moms & Tots | box 5 | folder 7 | |
| Saturday Adoption, Family-to-Family, Adopt-a-Grandparent | box 5 | folder 8 | |
| Standing Committees | box 5 | folder 9 | |
| Student Projects, JMU | box 5 | folder 10 | |
Series 6: Summer Camp
Series 6, Summer Camp, comprises the bulk of the collection. Consisting of forty folders of materials, this series contains documents and supporting materials relating to the USDA Summer Feeding Program, as well as documentation regarding counselor and participant applications, staff training resources, and various reports and evaluations. The series is topically arranged, then chronologically where applicable. |
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| Title/Description | Instances | ||
| Nutritional Handbooks and Information | box 5 | folder 11 | |
| USDA Summer Feeding Program Planning Documents | box 5 | folder 12 | |
| USDA Summer Feeding Program Regulations | box 5 | folder 13 | |
| USDA Summer Feeding Program, General, 1977 | box 5 | folder 14 | |
| USDA Summer Feeding Program, General, 1978 | box 5 | folder 15 | |
| USDA Summer Feeding Program, General, 1979 | box 6 | folder 1 | |
| USDA Summer Feeding Program, General (Folder 1 of 2), 1980 | box 6 | folder 2 | |
| USDA Summer Feeding Program, General (Folder 2 of 2), 1980 | box 6 | folder 3 | |
| Attendance Records | box 6 | folder 4 | |
| Counselor Resources | box 6 | folder 5 | |
| Counselor Orientation | box 6 | folder 6 | |
| General Documentation, 1970 | box 6 | folder 7 | |
| General Documentation, 1971 | box 6 | folder 8 | |
| General Documentation, 1972 | box 6 | folder 9 | |
| General Documentation, 1973 | box 6 | folder 10 | |
| General Documentation (Folder 1 of 2), 1974 | box 7 | folder 1 | |
| General Documentation (Folder 2 of 2), 1974 | box 7 | folder 2 | |
| General Documentation (Folder 1 of 2), 1975 | box 7 | folder 3 | |
| General Documentation (Folder 2 of 2), 1975 | box 7 | folder 4 | |
| General Documentation (manual) (Folder 1 of 2), 1976 | box 7 | folder 5 | |
| General Documentation (Folder 2 of 2), 1976 | box 7 | folder 6 | |
| General Documentation, 1977 | box 7 | folder 7 | |
| General Documentation (Folder 1 of 2), 1978 | box 7 | folder 8 | |
| General Documentation (Folder 2 of 2), 1978 | box 7 | folder 9 | |
| General Documentation, 1979 | box 7 | folder 10 | |
| General Documentation, 1980 | box 8 | folder 1 | |
| General Documentation (Folder 1 of 2), 1981 | box 8 | folder 2 | |
| General Documentation (Folder 2 of 2), 1981 | box 8 | folder 3 | |
| General Documentation (Folder 1 of 2), 1982 | box 8 | folder 4 | |
| General Documentation (Folder 2 of 2), 1982 | box 8 | folder 5 | |
Series 7: Miscellany
Series 7, Miscellany, consists of two folders: drug abuse awareness, which contains ca.1970s pamphlets regarding various forms of drugs; and drug treatment resources, prepared by the Commonwealth of Virginia's Division of Drug Abuse Control in 1975, which provides brief overviews of facilities throughout Virginia that provided various levels of drug treatment. |
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| Title/Description | Instances | ||
| Drug Abuse Awareness Publications | box 8 | folder 6 | |
| Drug Treatment Referral Guide | box 8 | folder 7 | |
| Official Seal of Project Concern | box 8 | ||
Series 8: Media
Series 8, Media, consists of 353 color slides, and 383 photographs (most in color). Most are undated, although one folder of negatives and contact sheets for 1974 was identified. A cassette created to accompany slide presentations, a cassette titled "Lyndale S.S. class 5th and 6th grade, May 1975," and a reel-to-reel recording containing a public service announcement are housed separately. |
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| Title/Description | Instances | ||
| Slides (Sheets 1-10) | box 9 | folder 1 | |
| Slides (Sheets 11-18) | box 9 | folder 2 | |
| Photographs (Folder 1 of 3) | box 9 | folder 3 | |
| Photographs (Folder 2 of 3) | box 9 | folder 4 | |
| Photographs (Folder 3 of 3) | box 9 | folder 5 | |
| Negatives, undated | box 9 | folder 6 | |
| Negatives and Contact Sheets, 1974 | box 9 | folder 7 | |
| Reel-to-reel Public Service Announcement | Media Cabinet 1 | ||
| Lyndale S. S. Class, 5th and 6th Grade, May 1975 | Media Cabinet 1 | Audiocassette SC0155-CS-001 | |
| Project Concern script and sound for slide presentation | Media Cabinet 1 | Audiocassette SC0155-CS-002 | |