Massachusetts Society for Social Health

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The Massachusetts Society for Social Hygiene, founded in 1911 and incorporated in 1915, worked to "help people understand and manage sex in its relation to health, good citizenship, marriage, parenthood and family life." In the early years the Society focused on medical and protective measures to combat venereal diseases but in 1928 reorganized to put greater emphasis on educational activities. Through counseling and discussion groups, lectures, a library and visual aids the Society offered information on marriage and family life, as well as on venereal diseases. MSSH also worked toward the elimination of prostitution and pornography for "the maintenance of wholesome community life and the protection of youth." The Society was affiliated with the American Social Hygiene Association (later the American Social Health Association) and in 1962 followed the lead of the parent organization by changing its name to the Massachusetts Society for Social Health.

Many Bostonians served the MSSH as officers, on the Executive Committee and on the Board of Directors. Dorothy W. Miller was Executive Secretary for 22 years (1936-1958) and Maida H. Solomon was vice-president for 28 years (1928-1956). Presidents include:

Dr. Cecil K. Drinker (1928-1929) Dr. Wilson G. Smillie (1929-1932) Dr. E. Granville Crabtree (1932-1937) Dr. William Leroy Fleming (1949-1951) Dr. Chester North Frazier (1952-1953) Gilbert H. Roehrig (1954-1956) Dugald Arbuckle (1956-1959) Dr. Guy W. Brugler (1959-1965)

Other Executive Secretaries (later Executive Directors) include:

Dr. Helen I.D. McGillicuddy (1928-1930)

Frank Kiernan (1930-1936) William Y. Bell (1958) H. Frederick Brown (1959-1960) Rheable M. Edwards (1961-1963)

Among the many prominent members of the Board of Directors were Dr. Nicholas J. Fiumara, Miriam Van Waters and Eva Whiting White.

From the guide to the Papers, 1915-1965, (Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Papers, 1915-1965 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Massachusetts Society for Social Health. Records, 1915-1965 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Solomon, Maida H. (Maida Herman), 1891-1988,. [Oral history interview with Maida Solomon] [sound recording]. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers, 1901-1988 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Solomon, Maida H. (Maida Herman), 1891-1988. Papers, 1901-1988 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Affiliates and Association of Social Hygiene Executives corporateBody
correspondedWith Alfred C. Kinsey person
correspondedWith American Public Health Association corporateBody
associatedWith American Social Health Association. corporateBody
correspondedWith Boston University corporateBody
associatedWith Clayton C. Hones person
correspondedWith Cooperative Extension Service corporateBody
associatedWith Dearborn, Lester W. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Lester W. person
correspondedWith Dr. Anne L. Clark person
correspondedWith Dr. George Gilbert Smith. person
correspondedWith Dr. Guy W. Brugler. person
correspondedWith Elizabeth Peabody House corporateBody
associatedWith Elizabeth S. Force person
correspondedWith Essex County Homemaking School corporateBody
associatedWith Family Service Association of Greater Boston. corporateBody
associatedWith Fiumara, Nicholas J., 1912- person
correspondedWith Framingham Reformatory. corporateBody
correspondedWith Friends of the Framingham Reformatory corporateBody
associatedWith Governor Christian A. ; Herter person
correspondedWith Hodder Hall Institute corporateBody
associatedWith Institute for Chaplains. corporateBody
correspondedWith Kansas City Social Hygiene Society. corporateBody
correspondedWith Knutson, Andie person
correspondedWith Massachusetts Public Health Conference corporateBody
associatedWith Massachusetts. Reformatory for Women, Framingham corporateBody
associatedWith Massachusetts Reformatory for Women (Sherborn, Mass.) corporateBody
associatedWith Miller, Dorothy W. person
associatedWith Miller, Dorothy W. person
associatedWith National Council on Family Relations. corporateBody
correspondedWith Ohio Social Hygiene Council corporateBody
correspondedWith Rep. Kathryn E. Granahan person
correspondedWith report person
correspondedWith Simmons College. corporateBody
associatedWith Solomon, Maida H. (Maida Herman), 1891-1988 person
correspondedWith United Prison Association of Massachusetts corporateBody
correspondedWith United Service Organization. corporateBody
correspondedWith University of Massachusetts corporateBody
associatedWith Van Waters, Miriam, 1887-1974. person
associatedWith White, Eva Whiting, 1880-1974. person
associatedWith White, Eva Whiting, 1885- person
associatedWith William F. Benedict person
correspondedWith William Y. Bell person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Boston MA US
Massachusetts MA US
Subject
Health education
Exhibits
Family life education
Homosexuality
Sexual health
Marriage counseling
Pornography
Prisoners
Prostitution
Sex instruction
Sexually transmitted diseases
Social hygiene
Venereal disease
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Active 1911

Active 1965

Americans

English

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