Robert Bondy papers
Summary Information
Robert E. Bondy
papers
1917-1946
Bondy,
Robert
1.25 linear
feet
Language: English
sw0043
The Robert Bondy papers
consist of personal correspondence; committee reports, minutes, and working
papers; and newspaper clippings, journal articles, and photographs related to
his professional career from his first post in 1917 until he assumed
directorship of the National Social Welfare Assembly (NSWA) in 1946. The
records are primarily concerned with Bondy's work for the American Red Cross
and the District of Columbia Defense Council during the 1930s and 1940s.
Bondy's papers do not include records from his tenure at the NSWA.
University of
Minnesota Libraries. Social Welfare History
Archives
Access and Use
The papers of Robert Bondy were included in a shipment of records from
the National Assembly of National Voluntary Health and Social Welfare
Organizations (formerly the National Social Welfare Assembly) that was received
by the Social Welfare History Archives in February 1981. Mr. Bondy served as
executive director of the Assembly for twenty years; his papers pertaining to
his earlier career apparently remained at the Assembly after his retirement in
1967. He subsequently approved the placement of his papers in the Social
Welfare History Archives.
Open for use in Social Welfare History Archives reading room.
Please contact the Archivist for copyright information.
The Robert E. Bondy papers were arranged and described in 1981.
Newspaper clippings have been placed in a separate folder at the end of each
series.
Biography
| August 13, 1895 |
Born in Dover, Minnesota.
|
| 1917 |
Graduated from University of Chicago. Married Ruth
Dunn.
|
| 1917-1918 |
Columbus Chamber of Commerce: Manager, Social Service Bureau
(Columbus, OH).
|
| 1918 |
U.S. Army: Private, Infantry
|
| 1919-1920 |
American Red Cross: Director of Field Service, Department of
Civilian Relief, Lake Division (Cleveland, OH).
|
| 1920-1922 |
American Red Cross: Assistant Manager, Southwest Division (St.
Louis, MO). Involved in 1921 Colorado flood relief.
|
| 1922-1927 |
American Red Cross: National Director, War Service
(Washington, DC) and member of American Legion National Rehabilitation
Committee. Bondy's work related to helping World War I veterans return to
civilian life.
|
| 1927-1931 |
American Red Cross: Manager, Eastern Area (Washington, DC).
Directed flood relief for Mississippi Valley area in 1927 and drought relief
for eastern states in 1930-1931.
|
| 1931-1939 |
American Red Cross: National Director, Disaster Relief.
Responsibilities included:
1932-1933, Executive Director,
Cotton Distribution Program.1936, Director of relief operations
for spring flood, including Johnstown Flood.1937, American delegate to League of
Red Cross Societies, International Conference on Disaster Relief and
Nursing.1938, Director of relief, New
England Hurricane.
|
| 1933-1935 |
Montgomery County, Maryland, Civic Federation:
President.
|
| 1939-1941 |
Washington, DC: Director of Public Welfare.
|
| 1940-1941 |
District of Columbia Council of Defense: Chairman, Welfare and
Consumer Interest Committee. Worked to address problems of transient armed
forces personnel.
|
| 1940 |
American Association of Social Workers: Chairman, Public
Welfare Discussion Group.
|
| 1940-1945 |
National Social Work Council: Chairman (New York, NY)
|
| 1944-1946 |
National Social Work Council: Chairman, National Committee on
Service to Veterans
|
| 1941-1946 |
American Red Cross: Administrator, Services to Armed Forces.
|
| 1947-1967 |
National Social Welfare Assembly, formerly National Social
Work Council: Director.
|
| 1948 |
Second marriage, to Marjorie Knapp Workman
|
| 1948-1953 |
American Immigration Conference: Board Member
|
| 1959 |
AFL-CIO: Chairman, Health and Welfare Advisory Council,
Community Services Committee.
|
| March 1990 |
Death in Tampa, Florida
|
Collection Scope and Content Note
The Robert E. Bondy papers include correspondence; committee reports,
minutes and working papers; and newspaper clippings, journal articles, and
photographs related to Bondy's professional career, from his first post in 1917
until he assumed the directorship of the National Social Welfare Assembly
(NSWA) in 1946.
Series 1, Columbus and Early Years, consists primarily of
correspondence regarding the Columbus Chamber of Commerce "War Chest" campaign
to raise funds for the war effort during World War I. Bondy's ambitions for the
future are also evident in this correspondence.
Most of Series 2, American Red Cross, documents Bondy's administrative
duties related to disaster relief and his role as national director of disaster
relief. Of special interest are the photographs, newspaper clippings, journal
articles, pamphlets, memorabilia, and texts of Bondy's speeches related to the
spring floods of 1936, including the Johnstown Flood. Also of note is material
related to the 1937 International Red Cross Conference in Paris that reflects
Bondy's role in this event. An article, "The Inside of a Hurricane," written by
Bondy in response to the 1938 hurricane that damaged parts of New York and New
England, illuminates the nature of his professional activities and the extent
of his knowledge of natural disasters.
In 1940, the focus of Bondy's career shifted from disaster relief to
services for military personnel and returning veterans. Series 2 also documents
Bondy's work as administrator of services to the armed forces for the American
Red Cross and as chairman of the National Committee to Veterans of the National
Social Welfare Council (NSWC) during the 1940s. He also worked with the
Washington, DC, chapter of the United Service Organizations for National
Defense (USO) during this time. Of particular note is the text of a USO radio
program. The records from this period of Bondy's career contain little
correspondence and consist primarily of organizational charts, charts of
benefits and services, pamphlets, and articles. The records also include
material regarding a conference on "The Veteran and the Community" and the
draft of a pamphlet entitled "Now that He's Home." The records relate to the
organization of the American Red Cross Services to Armed Forces section and the
activities of the Committee on Services to the Armed Forces to publicize Red
Cross and government services to armed forces personnel and returning veterans.
Series 3, Director of Public Welfare, District of Columbia, consists
mainly of correspondence. Series 4, District of Columbia Defense Council,
Committee on Welfare and Consumer Interest, forms a large part of Bondy's
personal papers. In particular, these records document the work of the
Committee on Welfare and Consumer Interest and its various subcommittees. The
committee, which worked to integrate the wartime influx of military personnel
into the community, was comprised of personnel from the Board of Public Welfare
as well as local religious, civic, and military groups.
Series 5, Montgomery County Civic Federation (Maryland), consists of
committee reports, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings related to Bondy's
involvement with the federation. His personal dedication to the advancement of
education and social welfare is evident from the records.
Related Material
Unpublished inventory available. Please contact the Archives for more
information.
Subject Terms
- This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog
of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Researchers desiring materials about
related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these
headings.
- Bondy,
Robert
- American Red
Cross
- District of
Columbia Defense Council
- Disaster relief United
States
- Military social work United
States
Contents List
| Location |
Title |
| |
Series 1. Columbus and Early Career |
|
Box 1 |
Early Years, Columbus, Army 1917-1918 Box 1, Folder 1
|
| |
Clippings 1917-1918 Box 1, Folder 2
|
| |
American Red Cross |
|
Box 1 |
National Convention 1936 Box 1, Folder 12
|
|
Box 2 |
United Service Organizations, correspondence 1941 Box 2, Folder 19
|
| |
Chairman, National Committee on Services to Veterans,
National Social Welfare Council 1945-1946 Box 2, Folder 20
|
|
Box 1 |
Spring Floods 1936 Box 1, Folder 13 to 14
|
| |
Early Red Cross Years 1919-1925 Box 1, Folder 3
|
|
Box 2 |
International Conference, Paris 1937 Box 2, Folder 15
|
| |
Undated Photographs Box 2, Folder 21
|
|
Box 2 |
"Inside of a Hurricane" 1938 Box 2, Folder 16
|
|
Box 1 |
Clippings 1919-1925 Box 1, Folder 4
|
| |
Manager, Eastern Area, Correspondence Box 1, Folder 5
|
| |
National Director, Disaster Relief |
|
Box 1 |
Official Releases, Personal Memorabilia 1931-1935 Box 1, Folder 6
|
| |
Official Programs, Pamphlets 1931-1935 Box 1, Folder 7
|
| |
Clippings 1931-1939 Box 1, Folder 8 to 10
|
| |
Photographs, Correspondence 1937-1939 Box 1, Folder 11
|
| |
Administrator, Services to Armed Forces |
|
Box 2 |
Reports, Charts, Correspondence 1944-1945 Box 2, Folder 17
|
| |
Ephemera 1944-1945 Box 2, Folder 18
|
| |
Director of Public Welfare, District of
Columbia |
|
Box 2 |
Personal Correspondence 1939 Box 2, Folder 22
|
| |
Official Correspondence, Reports 1940-1942 Box 2, Folder 23
|
| |
Pamphlets, Correspondence, Related Congressional Bills
and Reports 1939-1941 Box 2, Folder 24
|
| |
District of Columbia Defense Council, Committee on Welfare
and Consumer Interests |
|
Box 3 |
Clippings 1939-1941 Box 3, Folder 40
|
|
Box 2 |
Correspondence, Membership 1941 Box 2, Folder 25
|
| |
Correspondence, Reports 1941-1942 Box 2, Folder 26 to 27
|
| |
Budget Reports, Related Correspondence 1941 Box 2, Folder 28
|
| |
Subcommittees |
|
Box 3 |
Army and Navy Liaison Box 3, Folder 29
|
| |
Church and Fraternal Liaison Box 3, Folder 30
|
| |
Commercial Amusements Box 3, Folder 31
|
| |
Community Hospitality and Recreation Box 3, Folder 32 to 33
|
| |
Consumer Interest Box 3, Folder 34 to 35
|
| |
Government Employees’ Service Box 3, Folder 36
|
| |
Information Service Box 3, Folder 37
|
| |
Lodging Box 3, Folder 38
|
| |
Volunteer Service Box 3, Folder 39
|
| |
Montgomery County Civic Federation |
|
Box 3 |
Published Reports, Correspondence, Pamphlets 1926-1938 Box 3, Folder 41
|
| |
Reports 1932-1938 Box 3, Folder 42
|
| |
Clippings 1929-1935 Box 3, Folder 43
|
|
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