Historical Highlights

1920's:

Societal Events/Trends
  • Women vote for the first time
  • Prohibition legislated
  • Popular pastimes: marathon dance contests, bunion derbies, flagpole sitting
  • Stock Market crashes

Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.

  • The Junior League of Chicago pioneers Children's Theater; idea taken up by more than 100 Leagues across the country
  • AJLA forms in 1921

The Junior League of Morristown, Inc.

  • In 1927, The Junior Aid League of Morristown was founded

Fashion Notes

  • Dress hemlines raced upwards from the ankles to the knees
  • Cake makeup used previously only by prostitutes
  • Dresses were loose/skimpy; swimsuits tight/skimpy--result of both changing morality and an explosion in new industrially fabricated synthetic materials such as rayon

1930's:

Societal Events/Trends

  • The Great Depression 
  • FDR's Fireside Chats
  • The famous Dick and Jane books first published in 1931

Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.

  • 119 Leagues in the AJLA
  • Responds to Depression by opening nutrition centers and milk stations
  • Operates baby clinics, day nurseries for working mothers, birth control clinics and training schools for nurses
  • Establishes volunteer bureaus to recruit, train and place volunteers in the community
  • SPAC started

The Junior League of Morristown, Inc.

  • Became The Junior League of Morristown, Inc. in 1936
  • The Depression leads the League to focus on human services
  • Largest Project was the Social Services Exchange
  • Gave time and effort to Neighborhood House, Madison Settlement House, The Church Mission of Help, Morristown Memorial Hospital, Visiting Nurses, Girls Scouts, and the Woman's Exchange
  • Children's Theatre began

Fashion Notes

  • Styles did not change every season; clothes had to last a long time
  • Simple print dress with waist line and longer hem length replaced flapper attire
  • For the first time: different hem lengths for different times of day (mid-calf for day wear; long for evening)

1940's:

Societal Events/Trends

  • World War II; War production pulls the country out of the Depression
  • Scrap drives for steel, tin, paper and rubber
  • The first great exodus of women from the home to the workplace
  • Returning GIs create the Baby Boom

Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.

  • Plays major role in war effort by chairing hundreds of war-related organizations in virtually every city where Junior Leagues operate

The Junior League of Morristown, Inc.

  • With Community Agencies short on help, the League helped to fill their manpower shortages
  • Assisted the Red Cross with war emergencies
  • Financed and Staffed the Social Planning Council of Morristown
  • Hard for Children's Theatre to troupe during this time--the League provided playback equipment to bring recordings of books to schools and libraries and settlement houses
  • Donated funds to the Morris County War Chest, and to the Station Hospital at Camp Kilmer

Fashion Notes

  • Restrictions in amount of fabric that could be used led to popularity of the convertible suit (jacket, short skirt and blouse)
  • At work, as women took on men's work, slacks became acceptable attire for women
  • When war's restrictions ended, the New Look came into vogue--feminine dresses with long full skirts and tight waists, high heels
  • The sweater look became popular

1950's:

Societal Events/Trends

  • American industry expands to meet peacetime needs of thousands of young servicemen with new families, jobs and homes
  • McCarthy hearings televised
  • Bomb shelter plans became widely available
  • "Separate but equal" educational opportunities for blacks; in 1954, integration began across America with Supreme Court decision

Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.

  • 198 Leagues with 72,00 members
  • Remedial reading centers, diagnostic testing programs and programs for gifted and challenged children
  • Collaborates in development of educational TV and promotes quality programming for children
  • By 1959, more than 300 arts projects and multiple partnerships in many cities to establish children's museums

The Junior League of Morristown, Inc.

  • Board Manuals were written, Sustainers Organized, and Newssheet was in printed form, Placement was reorganized, a Project Finding Committee was developed (today's CPC), and the Summit Unit of the Junior League of Morristown was formed
  • Children's Theatre was reactivated
  • Largest Project was with Neighborhood House
  • The Junior League of Morristown received the Eleanor Roosevelt Community Service Citation and an award from the Urban League of Morris County because of the work with Neighborhood House

Fashion Notes

  • Blue jeans, poodle skirts, pony tails and bouffant hairstyles

1960's:

Societal Events/Trends

  • 70 million children became teenagers and young adults
  • Civil Rights Movement

Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.

  • Adds environmental issues to agendas
  • Establishes programs addressing the education, housing, social services, and employment needs of urban residents

The Junior League of Morristown, Inc.

  • The Nearly New Shop opened for business in 1962
  • The Summit Unit became The Junior League of Summit in 1965
  • The Men's Advisory Committee was formed--later known as the Community Advisors
  • Visiting Homemaker Service was cited in the "Ladies Home Journal"
  • Initiated a Cultural Arts Program for Children and Larks began touring
  • In 1968, 7 King Place was purchased

Fashion Notes

  • By mid-decade, miniskirt and hot pants, body wear
  • Hair either very short or long and straight
  • By late 60s, peasant skirts and granny dresses, chunky shoes
  • Unisex dressing was popular:  bell bottomed jeans, love beads, embellished t-shirts

1970's:

Societal Events/Trends

  • Women's Lib is born
  • Congress guarantees educational access to the handicapped with the Education of All Handicapped Children Act of 1975
  • By 1974, economy in worst recession in 40 years

Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.

  • Expands participation in public affairs issues, especially in child health and juvenile justice
  • In 1973, began four-year program to improve criminal justice system
  • Membership diversity becomes a priority
  • New Name--AJLI (Association of Junior Leagues, Inc.)
  • 1972 Canada joins

The Junior League of Morristown, Inc.

  • A different perspective towards women's and children's issues, a new awareness of the problem of drugs, and a heightened consciousness about environmental problems
  • Co-sponsored with the United Way, the Voluntary Action Center of Morris County and published a new Directory of Community Resources
  • Sponsored a public meeting on violence in our society--helped fund the establishment of Jersey Battered Women's Service in 1979
  • Donated generously to the Arts Council and helped in presenting Spectrum '76 and '79
  • Helped with Restoration Projects at Vail House, Speedwell Village, Macculloch Hall and "Art Through The Ages at Morris Museum
  • A new fundraiser, P.S. Papers was initiated
  • Formed an Environmental Committee and worked with NJ Conservation Foundation in making Patriot's Path a reality
  • Received the Voluntary Action Center's Annual Citation and the Speedwell Village Annual Recognition Award

Fashion Notes

  • Fashion influence of 60's hippies was mainstreamed in the Seventies: bellbottom pants, hip huggers, colorful patches, hot pants, platform shoes, earth shoes, clogs, T-shirts, gypsy dresses
  • Knits and denims
  • Annie Hall inspired women to wear man-tailored clothing

1980's:

Societal Events/Trends

  • Reagan declares the war on drugs
  • Sandra Day O'Connor, a Junior League member, becomes the first woman on the Supreme Court
  • Volunteerism and contributions reach an all-time high ($115 billion)
  • AIDS emerges as a Health Care crisis

Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.

  • Admission of the JL of London makes Great Britain the fourth country in AJLI--becomes Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. in 1989
  • Gains recognition for national advocacy efforts to improve child welfare system
  • Helps gain passage of first federal legislation to address domestic violence
  • Develops a campaign on the impact of alcohol abuse on women

The Junior League of Morristown, Inc.

  • With the "graying" of America and the Junior League of Morristown celebrating its 50th year
  • Friend Advocate was recognized as a Model Project at the Assocation of Junior Leagues International's Annual Conference in 1987
  • Chemocare was an active project
  • The Nursing Home Guide was published
  • Sponsored CAPE (Child Abuse Parenting Education), WHO (We Help Ourselves), and the Home Alone Project, Woman to Woman Project on Alcohol abuse, and led a conference on the homeless
  • Paid off mortgage at 7 King Place--March, 1984
  • Instituted Active Associate Status
  • In 1989 A MATTER OF TASTE, the Junior League of Morristown's Cookbook, was introduced

Fashion Notes

  • Return to opulent clothing styles led by Nancy Reagan and Princess Diana
  • Revival of mini, denim remained important
  • "Flash Dance" look for young people; "Out of Africa" for older women

1990's:

Societal Events/Trends

  • The World Wide Web is born in 1992
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)
  • Gun Control Bill (1994)
  • Welfare reform

Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.

  • Public awareness campaign to encourage early childhood immunization
  • By end of decade, prepares to launch public awareness campaign on domestic violence
  • Slogan "The Junior League--Where a Woman Can Change the World"

The Junior League of Morristown, Inc.

  • Adopted a Focus Area of Women and Children at Risk
  • Born To Read--Model Project at the Association of Junior Leagues International's Annual Conference in 1993
  • Strategic Plan was Designed
  • The Junior League of Morristown celebrated 60 years honoring Community Vice Presidents
  • American Girls' Fashion Show was introduced as new Fundraiser
  • Tribute Fund was Established
  • Teams (Finance, Membership, and Community) were Established with a Community Plan and Finance Plan
  • Five new Projects/Partnerships with Deirdre O'Brien Child Advocacy Center, Rainbows, Christmas In April, Jersey Battered Women's Service, and Marrow Donor Project with over 3000 donors typed
  • The Junior League of Morristown's Logo and Tagline were revised to "A Tradition of Training Women to Build a Stronger Community", Redecorated HQs

Fashion Notes

  • Grunge vs. preppie
  • More casual dress in the workplace

2000's:

Societal Events/Trends

  • Took ___ Days to elect a new President

Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.

  •  Junior Leagues Celebrate 100 Years

The Junior League of Morristown, Inc.

  • Home For the Holidays was Introduced as new Fundraiser
  • New Member Class Established--200 Active Members--Developing Women to Develop Communities
  • Leadership Institute was Developed
  • Marketing Team and Marketing Vice President Developed
  • Community Grant of $30,000 Given
  • The Junior League of Morristown celebrates 65 Years Honoring Presidents--Past, Present and Future

Fashion Notes

  • Anything Goes
2010's
The Junior League of Morristown, Inc.
  • Little Black Dress is launched as a fundraiser.
  • Celebrated over 85 years of existence.
2020's
The Junior League of Morristown, Inc.
  • Eliminated requirements for members.