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American Country Life Association (ACLA; originally, National Country Life Association; est. 1919) was a a national agency of the United States devoted to rural progress. Its field was broadly that of rural social improvement, embracing among others the following country life interests: the rural home, rural education, morals and religion, rural government, and rural recreation.

History

President Theodore Roosevelt appointed the Commission on Country Life in 1908 to address concerns raised by the country life movement. One of the commission's objectives for the improvement of rural life was accomplished in 1919 through the creation of the ACLA.

The First National Country Life Conference was held at Baltimore in January 1918. It was attended by 175 persons from 30 states, who represented 25 national organizations and five federal bureaus engaged in country life work. The conference was such a distinct success that the National Country Life Association was formed and a committee on a permanent constitution was authorized to report at the next conference. By 1919, the association had nearly 500 members. The work already accomplished by the association, demonstrated its usefulness for bringing together the various national and state organizations and agencies engaged in the improvement of country life. World War I and the social situation ensuing gave a new vision of the importance and needs of country life. Many organizations and agencies were extending their work to rural communities. At such a time, the conference of all these forces to consider their common problems and responsibilities was valuable. The National Country Life Association had no administrative program of work. It aimed "to facilitate discussion of the problems and objectives of country life and the means of their solution and attainment; to further the efforts and increase the efficiency of agencies and institutions engaged in this field; to disseminate information calculated to promote a better understanding of country life, and to aid in rural improvement."

Preamble

The American Country Life Association is maintained to facilitate discussion of the problems and objectives in country life and the means of their solution and attainment; to further the efforts and increase the efficiency of persons, agencies, and institutions engaged in this field; and to disseminate information calculated to promote a better understanding of country life and to aid in rural improvement.

Membership

The Association existed to assemble and integrate the active workers and forces in the country life field for the accomplishment of the purposes stated in the preamble. It invited executives and other representatives of national, state and local organizations working in any part of its field. Any person interested in its program could become a member on the payment of the membership fee. National, state, district and local associations or conferences could become affiliated with the Association by vote of the Association on the recommendation of its executive committee.

Standing committees

• Committee on the Rural Home
• Committee on Rural Education
• Committee on Morals and Religion
• Committee on Rural Government
• Committee on Communication
• Committee on Rural Health and Sanitation
• Committee on Rural Recreation
• Committee on Rural Charities and Corrections
• Committee on Country Planning
• Committee on the Teaching of Rural Sociology in Schools and Colleges
• Committee on Investigation of Rural School Problems
• Committee on the Enlistment and Training of Country Life Leaders
• Committee on Public Information
• Committee on Country Life Organization
• Committee on International Relations of the Country Life Movement
• Committee on the Economic Relations of Country Life Affairs

References

1. ^ American Country Life Association Conference (1919). Proceedings of the Second National American Country Life Conference, Chicago, 1919. College City Press. Retrieved 8 December 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
2. "Commission on Country Life". Liberty Hyde Bailey: A Man For All Seasons. Cornell University Library. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
3. Sculle, Keith A.; Michael Ward (September 1983). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Pine Grove Community Club" (PDF). National Park Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-19. Retrieved December 17, 2013.

• 1919 establishments
• Rural community development
• Non-profit organizations