Brewer, Clarence E., 1892-1964.

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Pioneer in the public recreation movement, Detroit (Mich.) Recreation Commissioner.

From the description of Clarence E. Brewer papers, 1914-1964. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34423211

Clarence Brewer was one of the leading pioneers of the public recreation movement in the United States during the first half of the twentieth century. He is known in Michigan primarily for his recreation work in Detroit where he served as Commissioner of Recreation (1920-1940) and General Superintendent of Parks and Recreation (1920-1942). From 1943 to 1961, Brewer served as a field representative with the National Recreation Association (first in New York and later in the Great Lakes area). During his tenure with the N.R.A. he gained national prominence for his work in promoting community, industrial, and military recreational programs.

Prior to arriving in Detroit in 1920, Brewer held posts in the recreation departments of a number of cities, including Columbus, Ohio (1910, 1914-1917) and Racine, Wisconsin (1917). He also worked for two years (1919-1920) as a community recreation organizer with the War Camp Community Service (W.C.C.S.), which was organized during World War I (May, 1917) by the Playground and Recreation Association of America at the request of the United States War Department. The original purpose of the W.C.C.S. was to provide constructive leisure time activities for servicemen by developing the recreation facilities of communities near the training camps in which they were stationed. Within a short time the program was expanded to include service to civilian defense workers. At the height of the war period, the W.C.C.S. operated in more than six hundred communities. With the end of the war period (June 1919) the emphasis of the W.C.C.S. (now shortened in name to "Community Service") shifted to developing recreation activities for the general public.

In 1930 the Playground and Recreation Association of America merged with several other recreational organizations to form the National Recreation Association. Community Service continued operations under the auspices of the NRA during the depression years. It was also quite active in developing recreation programs for both military and civilian personnel during World War II.

From the guide to the Clarence E. Brewer papers, 1914-1964, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Clarence E. Brewer papers, 1914-1964 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Brewer, Clarence E., 1892-1964. Clarence E. Brewer papers, 1914-1964. Bentley Historical Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Detroit (Mich.). Recreation Commission. corporateBody
associatedWith National Recreation Association. corporateBody
associatedWith War Camp Community Service (U.S.) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Recreation
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1892

Death 1964

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