mums056 Hampshire Community Action Commission Records, 1965-1984 Finding Aid Finding aid prepared by Ruth Owen Jones. Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA
2003

University of Massachusetts Amherst. All rights reserved.

 Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Eric Cartier. 2003-07-28 Finding aid written in English. 2005-09-23 mu196 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02-5c.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst Hampshire Community Action Commission Records, 1965-1984 Finding Aid Manuscript Number 56 Compiled by Ruth Owen Jones November 1985 Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

2003 University of Massachusetts Amherst. All rights reserved.

 Collection Overview Hampshire Community Action Commission Hampshire Community Action Commission Records 1965-1984 MS 56 25 boxes (12.5 linear ft.) Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst A private, non-profit corporation founded in 1965 in Northampton, Massachusetts to finance community action programs for eliminating poverty and assisting low income people. Programs included day care centers, Neighborhood Youth Corps, Summer Head Start, a drug addiction clinic at the jail, Legal Services, and the Foster Grandparent Program. Records comprise bylaws and organizational charts, annual reports, board of directors minutes; adminstrative directors' records, including correspondence with the federal agencies and state agencies granting funds, grant applications and awards, program plans, financial and legal documents, personnel records and staff training directives; the agency newsletter County Voice, Noticero Latina; and newsclippings about welfare programs. English. Historical Note

Hampshire Community Action Commission, Inc. (HCAC), a private, non-profit corporation, was founded in 1965 in Northampton, Massachusetts, as a response to Lyndon Johnson's Great Society aims and the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 which offered cities and towns grants to finance community action programs for eliminating poverty and assisting low income people. The 1964 Act stipulated that there be maximum participation by the low-income recipients in the program's administration.

The 1964 Act established the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO), a federal bureau which allocated monies and coordinated the programs with other governmental agencies. The OEO operated separate staffs for the Job Corps, VISTA, Head Start, and Community Action Programs. HCAC is a Community Action Program under this agency. In the 1970s the OEO ceased to exist, succeeded by the Communities Services Administration (CSA), which then became the federal bureau overseeing local Community Action Programs. Under federal auspices, there were also special programs, such as one for migrant workers. The federal agency also granted funds to existing agencies to administer programs funded by the 1964 Act. For example, work training programs were run by the Labor Department; rural antipoverty programs were under the Department of Agriculture.

The Hampshire Community Action Commission began in 1965-1966 with programs including day care centers, Neighborhood Youth Corps, Summer Head Start, and a drug addiction clinic at the jail. Soon they added a Legal Services program with neighborhood law offices primarily aimed at educating the poor in preventive law, and teaching them their legal rights and obligations. Another early program was the Foster Grandparent Program, which recruited low-income people over sixty to serve neglected and deprived children who had no close adult contacts.

With the 1970s and new presidential administrations, some funding sources were cut, while a few others appeared, causing the HCAC to drop some programs and to focus on new areas. Programs in after-school day care, family day care (where the child is taken care of in the home of the caregiver) and the energy/weatherization/fuel assistance programs are examples of newer HCAC programs.

A 1975 fact sheet stated the emphasis of HCAC: "To serve as an incubator for developing community-based and community supportive projects which will eventually stand on their own." Measured effectiveness was said to be not just by the provided services, but by the changes the program achieved in the attitude of the community toward the poor, and the refocusing of public and private resources for anti-poverty purposes it effected.

 Scope and Contents of the Collection

The records comprise bylaws and organizational charts; annual reports (1974-1984); board of directors minutes (1969-1982); the Administrative Director's records, including correspondence with the federal agencies and state agencies granting funds, grant applications and awards, program plans, financial and legal documents, personnel records and staff training directives; the agency newsletter County Voice, Noticero Latina; and newsclippings about welfare programs.

The records are inconsistently kept, depending on the staff, which had a rapid turnover rate. There are noticeable gaps; some programs are more represented than others. For example, the Hispanic Center is seen through a small lawsuit with the landlord of the center, and the Legal Services Program is only a list of lawyers. But, in the other series, such as the correspondence and the financial documents, the Hispanic Center and the Legal Services can be documented.

This collection, which could be updated periodically, should be a good source for historians interested in the 1960s and the promise of the Great Society legislation; for researchers in social service areas, such as early childhood education, programs for the elderly, preventive alcoholism programs; for researchers in Hispanic immigration; and for people studying the long range effects of federal programs on the poverty in Hampshire County.

 Organization of the Collection

This collection is organized into four series:

Series 1. Agency Administration Records, 1965-1982 Series 2. Administrative Director's Records, 1971-1981, n.d. Series 3. Programs, 1970-1981, n.d. Series 4. Printed Material, 1968-1980

The collection is open for research.

 Preferred Citation

Cite as: Hampshire Community Action Commission Records (MS 56). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Acquired from Kerrie Clark, Executive Director of HCAC, 1985. Also, 1965 minutes and by laws from files of Harvey Finison.

Processed by Ruth Owen Jones, November 1985.

 Search Terms Community organizations--Massachusetts--Hampshire County. Poor--Massachusetts--Hampshire County. Hampshire Community Action Commission. Hampshire County (Mass.)--Economic conditions. Hampshire County (Mass.)--History. Hampshire Community Action Commission. Series I. Agency Administrative Records1965-1982

Includes the bylaws, fact sheets, history, organizational charts, and annual reports. In addition there are records of the Board of Directors: lists of board members, orientation materials from the federal agency or earlier boards, as well as minutes of meetings (1965-1982, with gaps).

 Series 2. Administrative Directors' Records1971-1981, n.d.

Comprised of the various director's planning reports to the federal agency, grant proposals and awards, other fundraising material of a more local nature, correspondence with the federal agency, Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) and Office for Children material, job descriptions, employee union and health plan material, staff orientation and salary information, as well as program directors' meeting minutes. There is also a section of legal documents related to the agency: legal correspondence, agreements, and lawsuits. Here (Box 11) are also some records of the Hampshire (County) Council of Social Agencies and HCAC's part in that coordinating group, which evolved from a loose confederated to a more formal organization with a Hampshire County Coordinator of Human Services at the head.

 Series 3. Programs1970-1981, n.d.

In alphabetical order.

Includes material related to the sub-agencies administering the programs, from the Alcohol Prevention Program through the Youth Employment Service Program. Within each program can be found correspondence, and financial and legal records.

 Series 4. Printed Material1968-1980

Contains the agency newspaper, County Voice, Noticiero Latino, 1971-1980, as well as a set of mounted newspaper clippings from Massachusetts newspapers in 1968-1969. These clippings reflect the 1968-1969 public welfare program statewide including strikes by recipients for more aid, and letters to the editors criticizing public welfare programs.

 Series I. Agency Administrative Records1965-1982 1 1 Bylaws, fact sheets, history, organizational charts 1965-1980 1 2 Annual Reports 1974-1978 1 3 Board of Directors' Orientation and Procedural Material 1966-1977 1 4a-c Board of Directors' Minutes 1965-1969 1 5 Minutes 1970 2 6-10 Minutes 1973-1982 Series 2. Administrative Directors' Records1971-1981, n.d. 3 11 Job Descriptions n.d. 3 12 Salary Policy and Review Committee 1975 3 13 Personnel Practices and Orientation of New Employees n.d. 3 14 Blue Cross Blue Shield 1977 3 15 Valley Health Plan 1977 3 16 Union Contract 1977 3 17 Employees Eligible to Join Union 1978-1979 3 18 Union Correspondence 1977-1979 3 19 Overhead Task Force 1980 3 20 Office Equipment Purchases or Leased 1972-1978 3 21 Northampton Cable television. 1978 3 22 Project Directors, Minutes of Meetings 1977-1978 3 23 Memos to Staff 1975-1978 3 24 Making Effective Use of an Interview in a Community Action Program n.d. 3 25 Law for Reporting Child Abuse 1973, 1977 3 26 Bilingual Information 3 27 Affirmative Action Manual 1977 3 28 Affirmative Action Plan 1977 4 29 Affirmative Action Material 1978-1980 4 30 Conference on Aging 1980 4 31-34 Correspondence with Community Services Admin. 1977-1980 4 35 Program Plan 1971 5 36-43 Summary of Work Programs and Budgets 1975-1980 5 43a Fundraising Proposals 1977-1978 5 43b Financial Statements 1981-1984 5 43c CSA Instruction Manuals 1975-1976 5 43d CSA Funding Survey, Hampshire County 1977 5 43e Mass. Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy Program 1974 5 43f National Center for Community Action Update 1977 5 43g Mass. League of Cities and Towns Technical Assistance Advisory 1974 5 43h Mass. Department of Public Welfare Donated Funds Agreement 1976 6 44 Advanced State Funding for Comm. Action Agreement 1975 6 45 Mass. Dept. of Public Welfare Correspondence 1974 6 46 U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Grant Application Form 1972 6 47 Grant Proposal OEO 1972 6 48-52 Grant Proposals to CSA 1975-1978 7 53 Civil Suit #15953 1976 7 54 Correspondence with Attorneys 1976-1978 7 55 Hispanic Center v. Western Mass Theaters 1977 7 56 Hispanic Center Suit, Correspondence 1977-1978 7 57 HCAC v. Department of Public Welfare 1977 7 58 HCAC Lease, 80 Main Street 1978 7 59 HCAC Sublease, 15 King Street 1978 7 60 Office for Children material 1975-1977 7 61 Childhood Lead Poisoning Program Proposal 1977 7 62 CETA Proposal Request 1977 7 63 CETA Correspondence 1977-1978 7 64 CETA Title Agreement 1977 7 65 CETA Contractor Budget 1978 8 66 Hamp. Council of Social Agencies (HCSA): Bylaws, inc. letters, list of members 1980 8 67 HCSA, Human Services Contract info. n.d. 8 68 HCSA, Coord. of Human Services 1976-1979 8 69 HCSA, Executive Committee Correspondence 1977-1978 8 70 HCSA, Correspondence 1979 8 71 HCSA Professional Advisory Comm. Corres. 1980-1981 8 72 Mass. Comm. Action Agency and New England Comm. Action Agency 1977-1978 8 73 National Comm. Action Agency, Exec. Directors' Association Correspondence 1977 Series 3. Programs1970-1981, n.d. 9 74 Alcoholism Prevention Program (APP), Facts 1970-1979 9 75 APP Personnel Policy Manual 1976 9 76-81 Grant Applications 1974 9 82 APP, Hispanic Section, Correspondence 1974-1975 9 83 APP, Hispanic Section, Renewal by HEW 1976-1977 9 84 APP, Grant Application 1973 9 85 APP Budget 1979-1980 9 86-89 APP Correspondence 1975-1980 10 90 Energy/Winterization Program, Bylaws, Fact Sheet and Proposal 1977-1980 10 91 Enabling Legislation 1976-1980 10 92 Policy and Application Forms 1980 10 93 Personnel Practices, Job Descriptions 1977-1980 10 94 Program Account Budget 1977-1981 10 95 Grant Model 1975 10 96 Grant Application, Awards 1975-1977 10 97 Grant Application, Awards 1978-1980 10 98 CETA Energy Programs, Title VI 1979 10 99 Crisis Intervention Grants 1980 10 100 Button Up Northampton 1979-1980 11 101-104 Correspondence 1980 11 105 Crisis Program Agreement 1979 12 106-107 Correspondence 1980 13 108 Family Day Care, Org. Chart, Bylaws, Inc. Papers 1977 13 109 Policies, Forms n.d. 13 110 Advisory Board 1977-1978 13 111 Application Forms n.d. 13 112 Evaluation Committee 1978 13 113 Grant Proposals 1974-1979 13 114 Grant Proposals 1977-1978 13 115 Contracts 1974-1978 13 116 Correspondence 1974-1979 14 117 Group Day Care, Advisory Board Bylaws, Minutes 1977-1978 14 118 Newsletter 1978 14 119 Correspondence 1977-1978 14 120 Budget 1975-1976 14 121 Grant Proposal, Contract 1974-1976 14 122 Grant Proposal 1977-1978 14 123 Grant Proposal 1979 14 124 Proposal for Protective Services Daycare 1978 14 125 Protective Daycare Agreement 1977-1980 14 126 Loan Documents 1977-1978 14 127 License to Operate 1974 14 128 After-School Day Care Proposal, Marks Meadow School, Amherst 1974-1975 14 129 Rural Early Assistance to Children (REACH) Contract 1980 15 130 Foster Grandparent Project, Bylaws, Project Narr., Work Plans, Program Reports 1976-1978 15 131 Advisory Board 1977-1979 15 132 Evaluation of Project 1978 15 133 Budgets 1978-1979 15 134 Grant Applications, Awards 1975-1977 15 135 Grant Applications, Awards 1977-1979 15 136-139 Correspondence 1975-1979 15 140 Great Barrington Project 1979 16 141 Head Start, County Policy Council Bylaws, Minutes 1976-1978 16 142 Personnel Policy n.d. 16 143 Planning Goals 1980 16 144-149 Grant Proposals, Awards 1974-1980 16 150 Budgets, Financial Statements, Audits 1973-1981 16 151 Evaluation 1978-1980 16 152 Parent Newsletter 1980 16 153 Brochure, Press Releases 1979-1980 16 154-157 Correspondence 1977-1980 17 158 Handicapped Headstart Grant Proposals, Awards 1975-1979 17 158a Housing Assistance Program 1974-1975 17 159 Housing Rep., Job Applicants 1975 17 160 Legal Services list 1975-1977 17 161 Neighborhood Centers Program, Summary of Work Programs 1975 17 162 Food Stamps Program 1975 17 163 Food and Nutrition Proposal 1976-1977 17 164 Canning Center 1976-1977 17 165 Food and Nutrition Program 1977-1978 17 166 Program Summary 1977 17 167 Grant Proposal 1978 17 168 Summer Youth Recreation Program 1976 17 169 Summer Youth Recreation Program 1976 17 170 Summer Youth Recreation Program 1977-1979 18 171 Ret. Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), Bylaws, Org. Chart, Min. of Adv. Council 1978-1979 18 172 Budgets 1976-1978 18 173 Grant Proposals, Awards 1974-1976 18 174 Grant Proposals, Awards 1977-1980 18 175 Newsletter 1978 18 176 Correspondence 1977-1978 19 177 Youth Work Experience Program, Proposal 1975 19 178 Proposal 1976-1977 19 179 Youth Programs 1978-1979 19 180 Contracts 1976-1977 19 181 Proposal 1977-1978 19 182 Youth Employment Service 1978 19 183 Summer Contract 1978 19 184-186 Youth Employment Service 1979 Miscellaneous Programs Material 20 187 Hampshire Association for Mental Health 1976 20 188 Medical Services Improvement, Project Mainstream 1975 20 189 Right to Read 1977 20 190 Small Farms 1978-1979 20 191 Commonwealth Service Corps, Department of Community Affairs 1977-1978 Series 4. Printed Material1968-1980 21 192 Newspaper, the County Voice, Noticero Latino 1971-1980 21 193 Clippings: Mass. newspapers; welfare articles, and letters to editors 1968-1969