Dear Miss Addams:
I like the copy for the fellowship appeal more than I can say. It not only presents the matter of the appeal, but carries a number of very beautiful and moving phrases, the spirit of which will, I know, remain with those who read.
I went over the copy last night with Miss Coolidge in some detail. I should like to pass on a few suggestions which you may dispose of at your discretion. On page 1, first paragraph, it seemed to me that it might be well to be more definite about the fact that we are embarking on a joint enterprise. The statement might be phrased, "proposes to join forces with English admirers of Canon Barnett in establishing at Barnett House, Oxford, a research fellowship to be known as the Barnett Fellowship."
The statement on "alternative years" is not quite accurate as I have understood the plan. Mallon has suggested and the English statement is clear that the trustees of the Fund plan to extend the time to two years wherever it seems proper. Would it be well to say that the fellowship will be held by an American man or woman alternatively with the English appointee for periods of one or two years as may be decided. American appointments to the fellowship will be made through the executive committee of the National Federation of Settlements.
On page 2, I should like to see a half tone portrait of Canon Barnett.
In the section headed, "American Settlements and Settlements in other nations," Miss Coolidge suggests the following change: third line, "of settlements has spent the last four years in Europe with headquarters in Paris for the purpose of promoting settlement interests on the continent. In the autumn of 1924 the National Federation of Settlements sent a representative to Germany to study the present [page 2] situation in local community organization there."
"St. John Catchpool, Subwarden of Toynbee Hall, who during the war administered Quaker relief in southeastern Europe, visited the settlements there and in the Orient. Mr. and Mrs. Woods in 1921 and Miss Addams in 1923, in the course of a tour around the world, visited practically all the settlements in the East. They were all found to be most anxious for a closer fellowship."
In the paragraph which follows the above two, I would suggest special mention be made of the fact that Mrs. Barnett was elected honorary chairman of the Continuation Committee.
On page 3, under the caption, "National Federation assumes Obligations for Fund," I would suggest that the names of the fellowship committee appear. I do not quite like the idea of a committee of two making itself responsible for so considerable an enterprise. I wonder if the best way to manage this particular situation is not for you as chairman to appoint the officers and executive committee members of the Barnett fellowship committee. We could then act with the full force of the organization behind us. This would also avoid the necessity of discrimination in selecting a committee. Anyone interested could discover the full personnel of the committee by referring to the officers of the Federation whose names, it seems to me, should in any case appear upon the appeal.
I feel very strongly inasmuch as it constitutes the most considerable enterprise in which the Federation has embarked we must be sure to carry the group along with us at every point.
Under, Report of Committee, the $10,000 should be raised to $12,500. You will see by referring to [enclosed] documents that the fellowship fund was reduced from 6000 pounds to 5000 pounds. It is stated that the English group have already raised 2,500 pounds. We should not do less and the income on 5000 pounds is little enough for a travel fellowship. No one could pay [traveling] expenses and live on the stipend to be obtained from such a sum. My experience with Mr. Mallon is that he makes offhand statements which sometimes have to be revised in the issue. If it should become necessary to raise an additional $2500 after having secured $10,000 a great deal of the moral effect of the drive will be lost.
As to page 4, I should advise against printing the amounts to be asked for in the several cities. We shall probably have to make some adjustments as we go along, and that will be easier if the schedule has not been put into cold type.
As to some of the details of asking for money, it seems to me that the suggestion in your letter of the 26th of asking a selected list of people to serve on a committee of guarantors on the basis of a subscription from $100 to $500 toward the fellowship fund is a very good one. Could you not send proofs of the [folder?] to this selected list, stating that you would like to be able to use their name for the general appeal.
My instinct is against stating that fifteen people have subscribed $100. The $1000 contributed from Hull House sets a goal which it is well should be raised ↑[with] [them?]↓. It seems to [me] that Mr. Rath also deserves credit for his very spirited response to the idea of the fellowship. [page 3]
I have the feeling that it will help to publish the names of the English Barnett Fellowship Committee. Here in the East, such lists are very carefully scanned and carry a great deal of weight.
I should also like to see a statement about the possible stipend carried by the fellowship, and the fact that the holder is expected to spend some time in another country. I agree very cordially that residents should not be limited to England.
I think there might very well be an extra section on program, covering the fact that the fellow would report to the National Federation, that the results of original work would be published and that some very considerable gains might be expected to accrue to the American houses. Could we say also that in the course of a generation or two very important results in international understanding might be realized?
I have the feeling that we ought to make a special effort to reach present and past settlement residents in soliciting funds. Every resident is a very considerable spiritual debtor to Canon Barnett. The resident group should, therefore, be given opportunity to seek this heritage and to help provide this instrument which will in a very peculiar measure benefit the whole group of those who are engaged in the work of the local community organization. I am going to prepare a [description] of the enterprise based on your statement and a subscription list to be circulated among the houses in the Boston Social Union. I hope that we can have the returns on this canvass before your circular is printed in its final form. The interest of the actual resident group should constitute an important talking point in appealing to the general public.
We shall in the very near future have secured local chairmen or local committees to follow up the details of the campaign in each city. I am now trying to secure information about the best people to undertake this duty. Miss Coolidge tells me that she is willing to act in Boston and she either has or will write to this effect very shortly.
I enclose a letter from John Elliott which you will, I think, wish to act upon.
I am sorry to have to bother you with so many apparently mean and sordid details. The settlements, however, have not been educated to raise money for purposes outside of their immediate work. Many of them regard with dread anything in the nature of an outside request for interest. It seems to me that the Barnett Fellowship Fund offers a good opportunity for educational work which also may be of lasting value to the individual houses and to the National Federation. We must, however, carefully safeguard the feelings of the various executives and move only as fast as we can be sure of their personal interest and support.
While I know you will not want me to remind you of the fact, it is true that our chief asset in making this appeal is the deep loyalty and love which everyone in the settlement movement bears towards you. [This] is why I am anxious to have [you] undertake, even at the risk of some weariness, as much correspondence as possible with heads of houses, board members and large contributors.
I shall always be glad to undertake from this office any routine detail that will relieve you.
Faithfully yours,
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