Social Action Secretariat at Manhattanville

Manhattanville was elected the Seat of the Social Action Secretariat during the annual N.F.C.C.S. conference held in Louisville, KY from August 29-September 3, 1960.


To see selected items from the exhibits please explore the sections below.

View Sections:  SAS Publications    SAS Events    SAS Activism 

 

 

This personal account discusses the thoughts and feelings experienced by the Manhattanville participants.

"The most amazing speaker of the afternoon was Martin Luther King. He spoke at the end of the afternoon, at a time when most of us were exhausted and fatigued emotionally as well as physically. But King transformed all that in just a few moments…His effect was incredible unless you yourself could be there to experience. The people were finely tuned to his emotions. As his rose, theirs rose, spontaneously, as if King were voicing all the hopes, all their dreams in himself."

Social Action Secretariat students march on washington
 

President Eleanor O'Byrne with March on Washington Participants. August 28, 1963.

Left to right: Marcia Stifle (class of 1962), Rosalie Mazur (1965), President O'Byrne, Sam Shea (1965), Margot Mulvehill (1964)

Left to right: Marcia Stifle (class of 1962), Rosalie Mazur (1965), President O'Byrne, Sam Shea (1965), Margot Mulvehill (1964)

The Social Action Secretariat - Publications (1960)

Immediately following the placement of the Social Action Secretariat at Manhattanville, members of the group began to compose a series of booklets to keep N.F.C.C.S. members informed of the most recent developments in social action issues. Racial discrimination was the first topic tackled by the Social Action Secretariat (S.A.S.).

 

Booklet cover - Social Action Secretariat vol 1

 

   

Letter, from John LaFarge, S.J. to Mary T. Clark, R.S.C.J.,  Faculty Advisor of the S.A.S., offers suggestions on establishing a strong organization on campus.

Discrimination Today, Booklet 1: Student Action, 1960.

Discrimination Today, Booklet 2: Ethics and Religion, 1960.

Discrimination Today, Booklet 3: Education, 1960.

Discrimination Today, Booklet 4: Employment, 1960.

Discrimination Today, Booklet 5: Housing, 1960

Discrimination Today, Booklet 6: Transportation, 1960.

Discrimination Today, Booklet 7: Lunch Counters, 1960.

Discrimination Today, Booklet 8: Tools for Research, 1960.

The Social Action Secretariat - Events (1960-1966)

In addition to keeping member colleges updated on developments in social issues, the S.A.S. hosted countless lectures, discussions, workshops, and conferences.
Social Action Secretariat Member Photo
 

"NFCCS Social Action Secretariat to Hold Workshop Weekend On Racial Relations." The Centurion.

In addition to keeping member colleges updated on developments in social issues, the S.A.S. hosted countless lectures, discussions, workshops, and conferences.

Social Action Secretariat, left to right: Patricia O'Grady, Denise Illig, Lani Phelan, Gail Goudey. 1960.

Interracial Justice Week to feature Film, Formum Smoker on Negro Problems
 

Interracial Justice Week to Feature Film, Forum, Smoker On Negro Problems." The Centurion.

Interracial Justice Week was reinstated on campus in 1961. The S.A.S. created "kits" of articles, study booklets, posters, press releases, and other promotional materials for interested colleges to utilize for their own Interracial Justice Weeks.

Human Relations Conference Features Ogden Reid, Rev. John laFarge, S.J.
 

Human Relations Conference Features Ogden Reid, Rev. John LaFarge, S.J." The Centurion, October 25, 1961.

 

Centurion Headline: Students Promote Racial Justice Week
 

"Students Promote Racial Justice Week." The Centurion. February 7, 1962.

 

Centurion Headline: NFCCS to Sponsor Interracial Seminar
 

"NFCCS to Sponsor Interracial Seminar." The Centurion. February 13, 1963.

This seminar on Race and Religion included guest speakers of both Jewish and Christian faiths.

President Eleanor O'Byrne with Interracial Forum participants George Hunter and Roy Wilkins
 

President Eleanor O'Byrne with Interracial Forum participants George Hunter and Roy Wilkins. February 17, 1963.

 

Cover image of Manhattanville Alumnae Review - Civil Rights and Us
 

Manhattanville Alumnae Review. Fall 1963.

This publication features several articles describing Manhattanville's various Civil Rights projects and endeavors.

NFCCSSA Program typewritten copy
 

Social Action Secretariat Program for 1965-1966. 1965. 

Once a year the S.A.S. reported accomplishments as well as outlining upcoming goals. This is a cumulative report, noting achievements from 1960-1965.

Manhattanville Alumnae Review cover with graduates and professors marching. Winter 1966
 

Mary T. Clark. "Campus Involvement in Social Action." Manhattanville Alumnae Review. Winter 1966.

This article describes the motivations and accomplishments of the Social Action Secretariat during its first six years.
"Members of the Secretariat considered that a student's approach to social problems should consist in an effort to understand them through lectures, seminars, discussion, and research."

The Social Action Secretariat - Activism (1960-1966)

 
 
 

"An Experience in Charity." Student Account of Participation in Sit-ins. 1961.

"Baltimore, Maryland and the student sit-in movement were merely words on a type-written page for me until late in November when a call from Yale and the Northern Student Movement Co-Ordinating Committee invited Manhattanville to join… in actually participating in one of the demonstrations."
 
 

"Students Manifest Sympathy at Saturday Baltimore Sit-ins." The Centurion. December 13, 1961.

"Athalie Joy summed up the effect it had on her by saying, 'You leave with the conviction that lip service to Civil Rights is not enough. You can only know how important your individual support is by active participation.'"
 
 

President Eleanor O'Byrne with Professors David Dilworth and Raymond Langley. August 1963.

At 2:30am on August 28, 1963 a group of six students and two faculty members departed Washington D.C. to take part in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. 
President Eleanor O'Byrne with March on Washington Participants. August 28, 1963.
 

President Eleanor O'Byrne with March on Washington Participants. August 28, 1963.

 
President Eleanor O'Byrne with March on Washington Participants. August 28, 1963.
 

President Eleanor O'Byrne with March on Washington Participants. August 28, 1963.

 
Left to right: Marcia Stifle (class of 1962), Rosalie Mazur (1965), President O'Byrne, Sam Shea (1965), Margot Mulvehill (1964)
 

President Eleanor O'Byrne with March on Washington Participants. August 28, 1963.

Left to right: Marcia Stifle (class of 1962), Rosalie Mazur (1965), President O'Byrne, Sam Shea (1965), Margot Mulvehill (1964)

For more information please contact:

  • Lauren Ziarko, Archivist and Special Collections Librarian

    Lauren.Ziarko@mville.edu

    914.323.5422

    Manhattanville University Library
    2900 Purchase St. 
    Purchase, New York 10577