Article 8: The Radical Reforms: A Historic Shift in the National Council for the Social Studies

The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS or Council), founded in 1921, is the premiere professional association in the social studies field. From the beginning, the Council has served as a “big tent” for various social studies related constituencies, disciplines, and philosophical orientations. Over the first half century of its existence, the NCSS developed into a “stable,” “solid,” and “traditional” organization (Mehlinger 2009; Marker 2009). The organizational structure of the Council included the Council officers, the Board of Directors, and, belatedly, the House of Delegates. However, it was the administrative position of Executive Secretary (created in 1940) that largely shaped the Council during its second quarter of a century. Merrill F. Hartshorn, who served as Executive Secretary for 31 years (1943-1974), was responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Council. This organizational design produced an annual meeting, a modest publications program, and a modicum of other member services.