History of Idaho PTA

In September, 1905, the following notice appeared in the Idaho Daily Statesman—

“The National Congress of Mothers invites all who are interested in the welfare of children, whether in the home, school, church or state, to meet in Boise September 12. The Idaho Congress of Mothers will be organized, and address on “The Juvenile Court,” “Cooperation of Home and School,” and “The Work of the National Congress of Mothers” will be given by the national president, Mrs. Frederick Schoff, and the national secretary, Mrs. Edwin C. Grice. They have been in Oregon and Washington, where state organizations were formed, and will go from Idaho to Denver…and to Omaha.”

Mrs. Schoff and Mrs. Grice apparently had made contacts over the state which resulted in the organizations of a number of Mothers’ Circles, the first of which is said to have been at Nampa. In Pocatello, Dr. Minnie Howard seems to have been the one who “sparked” the organization of eight Circles; she wrote their by-laws, patterning them after those of the National Congress of Mothers, and later started what was the forerunner of study groups. Delegates came from Idaho Falls, Moscow, Payette, Nampa, Wallace, and Lewiston with Pocatello sending thirty-five to the organization meeting in Boise.

The Boise committee responsible for arranging this historical meeting were: Mrs. E.J. Dockery of the Statesman newspaper, Mrs. S. H. Hays who was prominent in the Federation of Women’s Clubs, and Mrs. W. H. Ridenbaugh, a civic leader. The three-day sessions were held in the First Methodist Church.

Idaho’s first state president to be elected was Mrs. James McGee of Nampa. Three vice presidents were Mrs. J. H. Farney of Moscow, Mrs. J. C. Pence of Mountain Home, and Mrs. Ridenbaugh of Boise. Treasurer was Mrs. Campbell of Boise, secretary was Mrs. Charles Brooks of Pocatello, and auditor was Mrs. H. T. French of Moscow. Almost immediately a central committee was formed in Boise for the purpose of organizing Mothers’ Circles in each school district.

During this early period, the Idaho Congress of Mothers studied diligently through lectures, pamphlets, group discussions, and the use of the official magazine. The mothers considered legislation important from the beginning and it was largely through their concerted efforts that the Mothers Pension Law came into being, as well as a “Scientific Temperance” law, a medical inspection in the schools. By 1915, the Mothers’ Circles helped the Congress financially by making “special gifts” and securing “sustaining memberships” (at $1.00 each) from such friends of the movement as Senator and Mrs. W. E. Borah. By the end of 1915, one decade after the Idaho Congress of Mother’s had been formed, membership had grown 25 circles comprising 400 women

Between 1915 to 1925

The Idaho Congress of Mothers focused on: health for children and their welfare, home gardening, school fairs, father’s nights, child welfare legislation, immigration and citizenships, kindergarten extension, and dividing the state into five geographic areas as the state membership had grown to over 5,000. In 1924, fathers and teachers were permitted to join the national organization and thus Idaho’s name changed officially to the “Idaho Congress of Parents and Teachers.” (We use Idaho PTA for short).

By 1946, membership had grown to over 15,000. The “Idaho Parent-Teacher” was a new publication, edited by Mrs. Vic Goertzen of Twin Falls. The state president continued to publish an official message in the Idaho Education News. The state was divided into seven districts, to correspond with those of the Idaho Education Association. For decades, the Idaho Education Association building was the location for the Idaho PTA headquarters.

Idaho PTA president Anna B. Hayes of Twin Falls, from 1932-1936, later became National PTA president from 1949-1952. Under her leadership, was the establishment of the U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, a cabinet department devoted to the concerns of children.  Hayes participated in the National Conference of Citizens Committee for the (first) Hoover Report on reorganizing the U. S. government.

National PTA’s website on Anna

By the end of 1955, the Congress was comprised of 46,810 members in 335 local units; there were 53 members of the state board of managers including seven district presidents. Additionally, there were nine city councils, five area councils, and eight county councils. There was a scholarship program divided into:

1. Life Memberships: Focused on teachers who wish to take additional training for teaching exceptional children. These grants varied from $150-$300 depending upon the amount of the fund.

2. Idaho PTA Teacher Education Scholarships: A grant that was established in 1954 to qualifying high school graduates or students already in training who sought financial aid to complete teacher training.

3. The Anna H. Hayes Award: A grant established in the 1930’s whereby a gift of $25 is presented to qualified graduating students sponsored by their respective colleges.

This history was taken from experts from the 1955 Annual Idaho PTA Convention in commemoration of the Jubilee Celebration. Current members of Idaho PTA are in the process of reviewing association and other historical documents to complete the history.