Borchardt, Selma Munter (1895–1968)
Borchardt, Selma Munter (1895–1968)
American educator and labor lobbyist. Born Selma Munter Borchardt, Dec 1, 1895, in Washington, DC; died Jan 30, 1968, in Washington, DC; dau. of Newman and Sara (Munter) Borchardt; Syracuse University, AM, 1922, BS in education, 1923.
Activist who worked for legislation to raise teachers' salaries, promote adult literacy, and provide health care for children and financial aid for students; joined public schools' faculty in Washington, DC (1922) and local of American Federation of Teachers (AFT); served as vice president of AFT (1924–35, 1942–62); served as director of World Federation of Education Associations (1927–46), until it disbanded; served as secretary of Education Committee of American Federation of Labor (1929–55); was a delegate to White House Conferences on Children and Youth (1930, 1940, 1950) and to White House Conference on Education (1955); was consultant on education for American Association of University Women (1931–60); retired from teaching (1960); appointed to National Advisory board of National Youth Administration by Franklin Roosevelt (1935); served on Wartime Education Commission (1941–45); served as legislative representative of AFT (1942–62); was a member and director of Educational Planning Committee of Institute of World Studies (1946–48); named to US Commission on UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and served on committee drafting UNESCO charter (1946–51).