Joseph Lee (recreation advocate)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Lee was a wealthy Bostonian, trained as a lawyer but who never practiced law, who is considered the "founder of the playground movement." He was the son of Henry Lee, a Boston banker, and Elizabeth Perkins Cabot Lee of Brookline, Massachusetts
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He was a social worker, author, and philanthropist. Lee believed that community life could be strengthened by playgrounds and play.
In 1897 Lee was married to Margaret Cabot. They had four children. Margaret Cabot Lee died in 1920 and Lee remarried his secretary, Marion Snow, in 1930.
Lee founded the Massachusetts Civic League and served as its President from 1897-1937. He was an active officer in the Immigration Restriction League
from 1905 until his death in 1937. He served as president of the National Recreation Association
from 1910 until the time of his death. Lee was among the first recipients of the Boy Scouts of America Silver Buffalo Award
in 1926.
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
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He was a social worker, author, and philanthropist. Lee believed that community life could be strengthened by playgrounds and play.
In 1897 Lee was married to Margaret Cabot. They had four children. Margaret Cabot Lee died in 1920 and Lee remarried his secretary, Marion Snow, in 1930.
Lee founded the Massachusetts Civic League and served as its President from 1897-1937. He was an active officer in the Immigration Restriction League
Immigration Restriction League
The Immigration Restriction League, was founded in 1894 by people who opposed the influx of "undesirable immigrants" that were coming from southern and eastern Europe. They felt that these immigrants were threatening what they saw as the American way of life and the high wage scale...
from 1905 until his death in 1937. He served as president of the National Recreation Association
National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association provides information and services to communities in the United States attempting to make them conscious of the environment around them. It supports the construction of parks and recreational facilities around the United States...
from 1910 until the time of his death. Lee was among the first recipients of the Boy Scouts of America Silver Buffalo Award
Silver Buffalo Award
The Silver Buffalo Award is the national-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. It is presented for noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth on a national basis, either as part of, or independent of the Scouting program...
in 1926.