Loula Dunn Papers

This Loula Dunn papers consist chiefly of Loula Dunn's correspondence and speeches reflecting her activities as Alabama commissioner of Public Welfare (1937-1949) and as president (1944-1946) and director (1949-1964) of the American Public Welfare Association (APWA). The bulk of the material pertains to Dunn's tenure at APWA. Most of the correspondence is routine. Much of it is congratulatory letters received upon her appointment, tenth anniversary, and resignation as director of APWA.

The speeches document her philosophy on social work. Dunn addresses topics such as the need for a clearer sense of public commitment to public welfare, better intergovernmental relations, and the need for improved public welfare services. Under Dunn's direction, the APWA actively advocated for more complete welfare services, conveying its opinions and information to the public, lawmakers, and APWA members. For the most part, the attitudes and goals expressed in her speeches reflect the position of the APWA at the time.

The papers also contain clippings, correspondence, reports, and publications from some of Dunn's committee and consulting activities. Documents relating to the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (1942), War Department Representative to Great Britain (1945), participation on the Department of Health Education and Welfare report to extend Social Security Insurance (1953), the Department of Health Education and Welfare Ad Hoc Committee on Public Welfare (1961), the Wyman Report to the Secretary of Health Education and Welfare (1961), and the HEW Advisory Council on Social Security (1963-1965) are all included in her papers.

Arrangement of the collection is essentially chronological. It has been divided into her Alabama period (including the APWA presidency) and her tenure as director of APWA. In each case, records pertaining to her chief position of employment precede those of other professional activities.