This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Decline of Volunteerism Across American Institutions
Val Farmer reports on a 1995 study by Robert Putnam showing sharp drops in church attendance, volunteer activity, and organizational memberships across U S society. He notes declines in PTA, women and men’s groups, fraternal orders, Boy Scouts, and bowling leagues while education levels rise, and discusses causes such as family breakdown, mobility, economic scale, and media leisure. Readers are invited to share ideas by writing to The Preston Connection in Rapid City SD.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Robert Putnam
United States
National Federation of Women’s Clubs
League of Women Voters
Boy Scouts
Putnam
Preston Connection
P.O. Box
Rapid City
Val Farmer