National Home Library Foundation

 “The Love of learning, the sequestered nook, and all the sweet serenity of books.”                               Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The National Home Library Foundation funds books and other learning materials to encourage the development of reading skills and a love of learning for all ages. 

HISTORY

The National Home Library Foundation was incorporated in 1932 under the laws of the District of Columbia. The founder, Sherman F. Mittell, declared: “The particular business and objects of this corporation are to promote and inculcate in more people the desire to read good literature; to make home libraries more easily available to great numbers of our population; to urge the reading of good literature through printed announcements, radio broadcasts and newspapers; and to these ends to provide for the delivery and holding of lectures, exhibits, public meetings, classes and conferences, calculated to advance the cause of education and promote the general culture of the nation.”

In keeping with these purposes, the Foundation over the next several years, under a Board of Trustees headed by Mr. Mittell, published and distributed books of wide interest at nominal prices.  The foundation also sponsored distinguished authors and public figures in so-called “Fireside Talks” on the NBC network, and in other lectures.

Following the untimely death of President Mittell in 1942, the Foundation’s substantive program came to a halt and its assets became the subject of protracted litigation. 

On May 9, 1963, United States District Court Judge Burnita Shelton Matthews appointed three interim trustees, with John J. Wilson serving as counsel, ordering that they take “all action which they consider necessary to permit the resumption of the regular and normal affairs of the National Home Library Foundation.” Upon resignation of the interim trustees in due course, a newly constituted Board of Trustees met for the first time on May 24, 1963 with membership suggested by Judge Matthews as follows:  Huntington Cairns, Oscar Chapman, Charles G. Dobbins, India Edwards, William Y. Elliott, Leonard H. Marks, and John J. Wilson.

Mr. Marks was the last original member of this board to serve, remaining involved until around the year 2000. Members of this Board and their duly elected successors now administer the Foundation. Its previously existing tax status was reinstated.

Now in the 50th year of its renewed mission, the Foundation has given away more than $3,100,000.00.

OBJECTIVES

-To assist in the distribution of books and other forms of reading materials to libraries and community groups with limited resources or abilities to otherwise procure these materials. 

-To assist in the support, promotion and development of programs with the goal of combating illiteracy and/or encouraging an interest in reading and the literary arts for all ages.

-To encourage the development of programs relating primarily to literary or cultural topics that utilize various means of communication.