McClelland, Dalton F. (Dalton Finley)

Dalton Finley McClelland was born in 1890 in Cumberland, Ohio. His career with the YMCA began in 1915 when he joined the Internation Committee staff and went to India, where he was a student secretary. In 1917 he was appointed general secretary of the Madras YMCA, where he stayed until 1936. In 1936 he handed over the leadership to a completely Indian staff to become associate general secretary of the Indian National Council and became general secretary in 1940. In 1945, McClelland assumed the office of executive secretary of the YMCA International Committee, a post he held until 1952. After his retirement from this post, he was appointed Secretary-at-Large for North Africa, the Middle East and southern Asia for a period of three years. His appointment was extended for a fourth year to assist with the Buildings for Brotherhood program. In 1960 he accepted an invitation from the World Alliance of YMCAs to serve as its representative at the United Nations headquarters, a position he held until his death in 1967.

Dalton Finley McClelland was born on September 10, 1890 in Cumberland, Ohio. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1912 and then pursued graduate study at the University of Chicago. He was married to Maud Kelsey in 1916 and together they had four children: Marion, William, Harry and Dalton, Jr.

His career with the YMCA began in 1915 when he joined the International Committee staff and went to India, where he was a student secretary. In 1917, he was appointed general secretary of the Madras YMCA, where he stayed until 1936. Under his guidance, an expanded and highly effective program made the Madras YMCA the leading association in India. In 1936 he handed over the leadership to a completely Indian staff to become associate general secretary of the Indian National Council. In 1940 he was chosen as the general secretary. A colleague said of McClelland: "In Madras he had more contacts with the leading non-Christians of that city than did any other Christian worker because he was a friend of everybody."

On October 1, 1945, McClelland assumed the office of executive secretary of the International Committee, a post he held until 1952. After his retirement from this post, he was appointed Secretary-at-Large for North Africa, the Middle East, and southern Asia for a period of three years. In this role he lived and traveled overseas, guiding YMCA secretaries as they entered new fields in Liberia, Ethiopia, Lebanon and Indonesia. His appointment was extended for a fourth year to assist with the Buildings for Brotherhood program.

In 1960 he accepted an invitation from the World Alliance of YMCAs to serve as its representative at the United Nations headquarters, a position he held until his death in 1967.