Kaufman, Rhoda, 1888-1956.

Rhoda Kaufman was born in Columbus, GA, Oct. 26, 1888, the daughter of Leo Kaufman and Bettie Friedlaender. She attended Columbus public schools and graduated as valedictorian of her class in 1906. Soon afterwards, the family moved to Atlanta. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vanderbilt University in 1909 with a B.S. degree. Kaufman was a social worker, author, and organization executive who was an active leader in many social welfare groups.

From 1913 to 1915, she served as president of the Atlanta Association of University Women, during which time she organized Georgia women into a successful legislative campaign to build a state training school for girls. While serving as assistant secretary of the Atlanta Associated Charities, she was appointed by the Governor to his Commission for the Feeble-Minded, where she served as executive secretary from 1918 to 1919. The Commission was successful in getting legislation passed and money appropriated to build the Georgia Training School for Mental Defectives. Miss Kaufman served as assistant secretary of the newly formed State Department of Public Welfare from 1920 until 1923 when she was appointed Executive Secretary. During her tenure in office, the Department made several studies of social problems and published recommendations for improvement. THE STUDY OF CRIMINAL STATISTICS was financed by the American Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology and acclaimed by Dean Roscoe Pound of Harvard Law School. THE HANDBOOK OF STANDARDS FOR CHILDREN'S INSTITUTIONS was adopted by the United States Children's Bureau. THE JUVENILE COURT HANDBOOK was adopted as an official guide for juvenile work in France.

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