Mrs. Keltner's letter to Dr. Doggett and his reply (1915)

Item Information

Title:
Mrs. Keltner's letter to Dr. Doggett and his reply (1915)
Description:
A letter from Mrs. Keltner, the mother of Harold Keltner, to Dr. Doggett, president of Springfield College (back then known as the International YMCA College) dated August 11, 1915. Mrs. Keltner extended her appreciation for the commencement dinner in 1915. The last page is a handwritten response signed by Laurence Locke Doggett, president at that time, thanking and wishing her son to have a life of increasing service. Mr. Harold S. Keltner, was part of the class of 1915 of Springfield College. Mr. Keltner was described as “one of Indiana’s best products, a friend of all, full of sympathy and happiness, and noted for [his] love of natural science and Indian life (The Massasoit, 1915). After graduating from Springfield College, Mr. Keltner founded the YMCA Indian Guide program, and devoted his entire career to YMCA service. The Y Indian guide program was born in St. Louis, Mo. in 1926, as a result of Mr. Keltner’s interest in the character development of boys through their father-son relationships. The idea came to be as a consequence of many long conversations between Mr. Keltner and Mr. Joe Friday, an Ojibwa Indian, regarding the differences between modern day American and Indian father-son relationships. Mrs. Keltner played a major role in developing the first concrete steps to implement her husband’s idea and the organization of the first Y Indian Guide tribe. The program was finally adopted nationally by the YMCA in 1935. The Y-Indian Guides program was modified in 2003, out of sensitivity to Native Americans. The Y decided to drop Indian themes from their programs after an Indian civil rights group raised awareness on how the program could perpetuate offensive stereotypes about Indian cultures. The Y adventure guides program survives with Mr. Keltner’s main idea as its main purpose, “to foster father/child relationships”. For more information on L.L. Doggett, see https://springfield.as.atlas-sys.com/agents/people/589.
Creator:
Doggett, L. L. (Laurence Locke), 1864-1957
Date:
August 11, 1915
Format:
Documents
Location:
Springfield College Archives and Special Collections
Collection (local):
College Archives Digital Collections
Series:
Student Files
Subjects:
Springfield College
Springfield College--presidents
International Young Men's Christian Association College
Keltner, Harold S.
Doggett, L. L. (Laurence Locke), 1864-1957
Correspondence
Places:
Massachusetts > Hampden (county) > Springfield
Extent:
6 pages
Link to Item:
http://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/16336
Terms of Use:
Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
Springfield College
Language:
English
Identifier:
keltner-mother-letter-1915-08-11