Album page: portraits of Louisa and John FitzSimons with two 1937 clippings about Miss Louisa de Berniere FitzSimons of the Georgia Division of Public Welfare

Upper-left photograph

A small oval vignetted studio portrait of a young woman with dark hair pinned softly back, wearing a high-necked white blouse with a dark sash or ribbon, looking slightly to her left. A small artist’s signature is visible in the lower right of the print. Caption in pencil beneath:

Louisa F.S.

Lower-left photograph

A full-length studio portrait of a young man standing at attention in a U.S. Navy enlisted-sailor uniform of the World War I period: white middy blouse with dark scarf, white bell-bottom trousers, the round white sailor cap held in his right hand at his side. Caption in pencil beneath:

John F.S. World War I

Centre clipping — “10,000 Pensions Checks Her Task”

A clipped newspaper feature, accompanied by a photograph of an older woman in glasses bending over papers at a desk, captioned beneath the photograph:

MISS LOUISE FITZSIMONS

10,000 Pensions Checks Her Task

By NANCY BRANYON

How would you like the responsibility of seeing that 10,000 persons in Georgia receive an age pension by the end of July?

That is just one of many things that must be handled by Miss Louisa de B. FitzSimons in her job as director of the Public Assistance Division of the Welfare Department.

Miss FitzSimons is doing a pioneering job in this branch of social welfare. She not only is in charge of old-age pensions but the new project for Georgia’s dependent children and the blind comes under her supervision.

38,000 APPLY

“There are 38,000 persons who have made application for the old-age pension,” Miss FitzSimons pointed out, "and so far we find that 25,000 of these are eligible.

"That is our main job, you know, to see that each is eligible, and that is why we have a trained personnel in every county welfare board.

“For that reason, each of the directors of county boards must have some experience in social welfare, or must attend the training classes which are now in session at the University of Georgia. Members of these classes will complete their work in September and will go immediately into office. Those who finished in June are now doing county investigation work.”

BORROWED FROM U. S.

Miss FitzSimons was “borrowed” from the federal government as a specialist in her line.

She began work in Georgia for the State Welfare Department in 1927.

In 1931 she was representative for the nine Southeastern states, with headquarters in Atlanta, for the Family Welfare Association of America. In 1933 she became Assistant State Administrator for the Federal Emergency Re-employment Administration and the Works Progress Administration.

Right clipping — “Miss L. B. FitzSimons Heads Georgia Unit”

A clipping from The News and Courier, Charleston, S.C., Monday Morning, April 26, 1937, with the masthead strip glued across the top of the page.

Photograph (left of headline): two women in dark suits standing in conversation; the older woman at left is gesturing as she speaks; the younger at right wears spectacles. Caption beneath, with a Macon dateline (“MACON, WEDNESDAY MORNING, APR[IL] …”):

TWO LEADING FIGURES in activities of the Georgia Conference on Social Work gathering here yesterday were chatting in front of the Mulberry Street Methodist church when this picture was snapped. Miss Gay B. Shepperson, Georgia Works Progress Administration director, spoke at the morning session. Miss Louisa deB. FitzSimons, Atlanta, is talking with Miss Shepperson. Miss FitzSimons is president of the conference. (Staff photo by Coke).

Headline and article (right):

Miss L. B. FitzSimons Heads Georgia Unit

Former Charlestonian Named to Direct Division of State Welfare Work

Miss Louisa de Berniere FitzSimons, formerly of Charleston, has been appointed head of the division of public assistance of the Georgia department of public welfare. Miss FitzSimons is a niece of Miss Ellen M. FitzSimons, librarian for the Charleston Library society.

Commenting on the appointment of Miss FitzSimons, the Atlanta Journal in an editorial in a recent edition, under the heading, “A Fortunate Selection,” says:

"A peculiarly important province of Georgia’s new department of public welfare is that having to do with old-age assistance, aid to the needy blind and aid to dependent children. The use of funds for these purposes in such a way that the largest possible measure of social good and of individual justice shall result calls for experienced and highly efficient direction. Thus administered, these vital parts of the social security program will serve the humane and constructive ends for which they are designed, without waste and without the confusion of unwarranted with really merited claims.

“The director of the department of public welfare, Mr. Lamar Murdaugh, who drafted the bills creating it, has shown excellent judgment in appointing as head of the division of public assistance Miss Louisa de Berniere FitzSimons. Ten years ago she became associated with the former state welfare department, being in charge of child welfare study and of services to under-privileged children. Since 1933 she has been assistant administrator of the FERA in Georgia and assistant WPA administrator, in employment and labor relations. Before coming to Georgia, where she has many family connections, she was director of the social welfare bureau of her native city, Charleston, South Carolina. Nationally distinguished as a thinker and worker on social security problems, Miss FitzSimons is especially well qualified to direct this state’s old-age assistance and aid to the needy blind and dependent children. Her appointment is a happy indication of the type of talents that will be enlisted for Georgia’s greater welfare program.”

Lower-left snapshot and handwritten note

Beneath the John F.S. photograph, a small snapshot is mounted showing four people: an older woman seated at left, two young women standing close behind her (one with a large hair-bow), and a girl seated in front. The image looks early-20th-century.

A pencilled note in cursive runs across the lower-left margin around the snapshot. The hand is hurried but legible:

Dear Ellie — We had these taken yesterday. They are not good but they are funny. That is Caroline & Thomas with Susie, Jo & I. I had some taken by myself but they are awful. I sent one to Uncle Will. ma & le Aunt [Posy?] will show it to you. We are having a good time. Jo is not going down before the middle. We are all well. I don’t know Mrs Brown’s add. so I will send this to the library. I weigh 111 lbs. fr. 102.