Marsh, Leo B.

Leo Bergman Marsh was born in Camden, Alabama in 1903. He graduated from Knoxville College in 1928 and later did graduate work at the University of Chicago, Ohio State College, Columbia University, and George Williams College. While in college at Knoxville, he met and eventually married his wife Bessie. The couple and their two daughters, Frances and Gayle, settled in Montclair, New Jersey.

Marsh began his YMCA career in 1928 in Detroit, where he served as assistant youth work secretary, transferring to the same position in Chicago in 1929. From 1930 to 1945 he was the director of two branch YMCAs, first in Toledo, Ohio and then in Columbus, Ohio. In 1945 he became associate executive secretary of the Atlantic Area, a position which he held until 1948. Marsh joined the National Board as director of Interracial and Counseling Services in 1948. While with the Board, he was U.S. delegate to the 1952 World Conference of Christian Youth in India and a delegate to the 1945 World Council of YMCAs in Japan. In 1954 he had the distinction of becoming the first black president of the Y's National Association of Secretaries (AOS).

In 1967 Marsh became assistant executive of the Board and executive of the Committee for Interracial Advance. He was one of the founders and the first general chairman of the National Conference of Black and Non-White Laymen and Staff (BAN-WYS). In 1969, After retiring from the National Board in 1970, he served for a year as associate development director of the New York City YMCA, where he was instrumental in establishing a successful Black Achievers in Industry program for the Harlem YMCA.

In addition to his work with the YMCA, Marsh was also active with a number of other organizations and agencies. He was chairman of the Task Force on Communications of the Urban Coalition in Montclair, N.J.; a member and former president of the New Jersey State Prison Board of Managers; a member of the National Council of United Negro College Fund, Inc.; a former vice-president of the Montclair Human Relations Council; and a former member of the Montclair Town Planning Board. His church work included membership on the boards of the National Presbyterian Church and the American Bible Society, as well as service as moderator of the Newark Presbytery and as a member of the Organizing Commission of the Northeast Synod of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. At the time of his death, he was a member of the development staff of the Presbyterian Homes of the State of New Jersey. Marsh was a charter member of the Mu Boule of the Sigma Phi Phi Fraternity, and was also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and the Masons.

Biographical information was taken from the collection.

From the guide to the Leo Marsh papers., 1920-1979, (bulk 1959-1969)., (University of Minnesota. Kautz Family YMCA Archives. [ymca])