Use Restrictions

The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu)

Access Restrictions

Collection open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Provenance

Prior to transfer to JMU Special Collections, the collection was in the custody of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Project Concern, Inc. Records, 1969-1982, SC 0155, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Greg Versen, retired James Madison University sociology professor, in June 2008.

Processing Information

Bank statements, bills, insurance statements, and most receipts were discarded. A representative sample of receipts was maintained to document local businesses. In order to streamline the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in the spring of 2017. This collection was previously cataloged as SC 4011.

Administrative History

While visiting the homes of truant children to investigate their absence in school, John Honeycutt, a visiting teacher for the Harrisonburg schools, discovered much more deeply rooted reasons for their non-attendance. It was not simply that mothers were not waking their children on time, but rather Honeycutt found families in which children did not have proper shoes, clothing, or coats to leave the house. Honeycutt initially brought this information to his church's Sunday school. His activism resulted in the organization of Project Concern, Inc., which was formally incorporated in January 1969. Its purpose was to assist with projects for the needy of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. Project Concern worked in tandem with other local groups to satisfy needs in the community, including Social Services, the Salvation Army, Eastern Mennonite College, James Madison University, and local churches. Reflective of a national movement to combat poverty, specifically among children, Project Concern, Inc., provided basic needs for families and enriching experiences for children. By the early 1980s, Project Concern's funding had vastly diminished, likely due to a national economic crisis, whereby faithful donors no longer had the means to contribute financially. In 1982 the Board of Directors of Project Concern made the decision to close their doors.

Scope and Content

The Project Concern, Inc. Records, 1969-1982, are comprised of nine boxes, approximately 3.32 cubic feet of material. The collection represents the actions and activities of a local social work organization within the communities of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. The collection is topically arranged in eight series: Administrative Information, Financial Documents, Members, Other Agencies, Programs and Projects, Summer Camp, Miscellany, and Media.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into eight series:

Separated Material

Published items removed from the collection have been cataloged and are housed within Special Collections' rare book holdings. Records for separated material note that items form part of the Records of Project Concern.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Charities -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg -- History
• Charities -- Virginia -- History -- Sources
• Charities -- Virginia -- Rockingham County -- Sources
• Child Welfare -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg -- History
• Harrisonburg (Va.) -- History -- Sources
• Honeycutt, John
• Poverty -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg -- History
• Project Concern, Inc. (Harrisonburg, Va.)
• Public welfare -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg -- History
• Rockingham County (Va.) -- Economic conditions -- Sources
• Rockingham County (Va.) -- History -- Sources