THE INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF WOMEN. OCTOBER 12th - 20th, 1946. Riverside - the home of Alice T. McLean - Founder - President of the American Women's Voluntary Services. South Kortright, Delaware Co. New York [cover title]

[Delaware Co. NY, 1946. The World We Live In. The World We Want." A homemade scrapbook, presumably created by one of the participants. 27 x 25 cm., approx. 43 leaves of manilla paper (browned, especially cover title), bound at left margin with strips of coated cardboard and metal brads; some wear and chipping to page edges. Items include contemporary news articles (35, many written by women journalists), a printed program (1), photos (4), and reproduced typescripts and hand-outs from the assembly (20, some multi-page), all laid in loose or taped to pages with old cello tape at corners.
The printed program, "The World We Live In. The World We Want," (truncated) is a single sheet, folded to 21 x 9 cm., offering a nine point plan for the international assembly of women, and listing steering committee members, and the names of sponsoring organizations. It is accompanied by a typescript version [a mock-up?] of the program's text. A piece of letterhead stationery for the International Assembly of Women (unused) is laid in loose. A single page typescript introduction, with one manuscript addition, sets out the purpose of the assembly: "The nervous and spiritual exhaustion of women in war-torn lands makes a deep impression on American women visitors to Europe. All during the nightmare of World War II these women have been cut off, isolated.... To bring women leaders of the world together, therefore, is the outstanding object of the International Assembly of Women." Invitations to women leaders in nearly 55 countries were extended. They were to be chosen as individuals, not as representatives of their governments. For ten days they were to meet and exchange ideas for creating a more "just and peaceful world," and translating their ideas into action.
The attendees were to be housed on the grounds of the estate, or at several of the small hotels in the nearby town. Their meals were to be provided for at the local Ashridge Inn. In a nod to the difficulties many of the women might have in traveling so far, the organization also thought of this: "For those who have not been able to bring sufficient heavy country clothes from their countries there will be a selection of such clothes from which they may borrow." Other typescripts and hand-outs from the conference include: Method of Choosing Delegates to Attend (1 p.); a welcome letter, signed in ink by Alice T. McLean; Information letter for the conference regarding accomodations, meals, etc. (1 p.); Information for Members of the International Assembly of Women, re: entry into the U.S., clothing and currency recommendations, passport and visa requirements, etc. (4 pp.); a list of members of the steering committee and of the American delegates (3 pp.); outline of the daily program (3pp.); event programs for specific days (7 pp.); Outline for Panel Discussion Leaders (3 pp.); TLS from a local woman reporting on the conference to a friend, dated Oct. 28, 1946 (2 pp.); alphabetical listing of the delegates to the International Assembly of Women (3 pp., A - P only, ie: lacking the end of the alphabet).
The black & white photos are of Lady Stella Reading, Founder of the Women's Voluntary Services; four women at the Assembly, including Alice T. McLean; eight women at the Assembly (unidentified); and Elsie Solomon, of Ceylon. A newspaper article laid in here describes Alice McLean's efforts to gather women from all over the world at Riverside, her 6000 acre farm in Delaware County, New York: "Working closely with women of other countries, she was fired with a dream of an international assembly of women in which women from all nations might meet to discuss the political, economic, social and spiritual problems of the postwar world and the part women might play in helping solve them." The approximately 200 women delegates from some 53 countries, (including Germany, Italy, and Japan), gathered in October 1946, among them politicians, journalists, professors, business women and heads of orgainzations. The four keynote speakers included Dr. Vera Dean of New York, of the Foreign Policy Association, on politics; Congressman Chase Woodhouse of Connecticut, on economics; Dr. Hanna Rhyd of Sweden, on the social world; and Elsie Solomons of Ceylon, on spiritual needs. Eleanor Roosevelt, a co-sponsor, spoke at the conclusion of the conference. Other sponsors included the American Assoc. of University Women, American Legion Auxiliary, American Medical Women's Assoc., Girls Scouts, National Council of Jewish Women, National Council of Negro Women, National League of Women Voters, etc.
Alice T. McLean (1886-1968) founded the American Women's Voluntary Services organization (AWVS) shortly before the start of World War II. Modeled on the Women's Voluntary Services group founded by Lady Reading, the AWVS grew to a membership of 325,000 women across America "dedicated to the armed forces and civilians during the war years." The group taught its volunteers "how to administer First Aid, how to take photographs, read maps, practice conservation, salvage materials, operate military canteens, help with soldier rehabilitation efforts and drive motor transport." They served as "cryptographers and switchboard operators and served as fire watchers and crop pickers." They also raised significant funds selling war bonds and stamps. McLean, often using her own fortune, continued her efforts following the war, with this international conference for women. She eventually "donated her estate house [in South Kortright] to a foundation established to aid Europe's displaced children." [see: Bradley Harris' article on her printed in the Smithtown, NY publication "Smithtown Matters,: July 25, 2012; and Henrietta Noyes' article on the International Assembly of Women, published in the Pi Lambda Theta Journal, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 86 - 91, Dec. 1946]. (Inventory #: 69433)