THE TWENTIETH CENTURY FUND
330 West Forty-Second Street
New York 18, N.Y.

February 2, 1951

Mr. Robert Ritchey
18 Ten Broeck Street
Albany 4, New York

Dear Mr. Ritchey:

Your recent letter addressed to Mr. Ben Grauer was referred to us quite some time ago, and I am sorry in my delay in answering it. We immediately referred a copy of it to Operation Democracy, inasmuch as this organization can give you further information about European towns that have been, or can be adopted by American towns. You may have already heard from them.

I suggest you write Mrs. Velma Carson, Morganville, Kansas, as she is the person who initiated the Morganville-Feves project and probably knows more about this particular situation than anyone else. I am sure she will be glad to write you about it.

I think you might also like to have a script of �A Prairie Noel,� the December 23rd broadcast, and I am delighted to enclose it.

You ask how the Twentieth Century Fund is interested in the Morganville, Feves story. As you will note from the enclosed folder the entire �The People Act� series is concerned with outstanding examples of democracy in action across the United States wherein typically American communities get together to solve some of the often crucial, economic and social problems that confront them. The Morganville-Feves story is certainly an inspiring example of the democratic processes at work.

This project came to light when Mr. McKee approached Operation Democracy and asked them for information about some of their best projects, and this was one of the ones they suggested to us.

I hope you will listen to the rest of the programs in the series, and if there is any further information you would like, please let me know.

I should like to take this opportunity to advise you that as of January 27, this radio series is being broadcast from New York City each Saturday from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (instead of from 7:00-7:30).

Sincerely yours,


Mary B. Ford
Associate for Radio

cc: Mrs. Velma Carson