Children's Bureau, Inc. - History - Roberta West Nicholson

Roberta West Nicholson
History of Children's Bureau, Inc.

I don't believe you can love your own children, unless you love all children...

Roberta West Nicholson said that often. And when she did, it usually meant she was working on a problem - some child needed help. She would not rest - or let her listener rest - until the child was helped. She pursued social justice with a zest that was contagious. Child welfare was her vocation.

Roberta became a member of the Board of Directors of the Indianapolis Orphans' Asylum in 1935, was President of the Children's Bureau Board of Directors in 1940 and 1941 and remained active during her lifetime as an Honorary Member of the Board. A devoted wife and mother, Roberta was determined to make the world a better place for children.

Mrs. Nicholson was the only woman to serve in the 1935 Indiana State Legislature where she received world press for her "heart balm" bill, which made breach of promise suits illegal and helped pass the first social security legislation in the state.

During the 1930's Depression, Roberta worked as Woman's Chair of the Marion County WPA, the job that triggered her decision to be a child advocate.

I remember women walking miles to get downtown, dragging old sewing machines and little children with them, to try to get WPA sewing jobs for $50 a month. I took one look at those children and thought of my own two warm and safe at home. That's when I decided to work for child welfare.

Tough challenges where children were involved never daunted her. Appalled by the election of unqualified judges in the Juvenile Court and their selection of relatives and other hangers-on to their staff in the late 1930's, Mrs. Nicholson and a few others fought for change.

They persuaded leaders of both political parties to nominate only qualified judicial candidates and assure that these candidates would appoint responsible persons to their staffs if elected. The Juvenile Court Bipartisan Committee became a model for judicial integrity for many years and Roberta remained constant in her support.

Mrs. Nicholson was contacted in 1932 by Margaret Sanger, leader of the birth control movement, and with friends founded the Indiana Maternal Health League, now Planned Parenthood. A leader in the fight against venereal disease and a pioneer in sex education, she established the Social Health Association in 1942 and was director of the agency until 1960.

Roberta directed the local unit of the National Youth Administration, and was a member of numerous community boards, including the State Board of Health, Indiana Congress of Parents and Teachers, Episcopal Community Services and Indiana's Girls' School Parole Board.

In 1966, the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith named her Woman of the Year and in 1973, she was elected to the Indiana Academy of Distinguished Hoosiers. She was honored for her common sense and uncommon courage, her perseverance in the fight against ignorance and prejudice, her commitment to social justice.

She is honored here for remaining true to her priority - child welfare - serving with grace, wit and wisdom. She is honored for keeping the question before us:

...after all, if we don't watch out for the children, who will?

We honor Roberta West Nicholson by giving
a Child Advocacy Award bearing her name
each year at our annual dinner.

Roberta West Nicholson Child Advocacy Award Recipients
1988 - Patti Phelps 1989 - Marc Novotney 1990 - Carol Stein 1991 - Moses Gray 1992 - Larry Dunville 1993 - Ken Chapman 1994 - Ralph Dowe 1995 - Representative Jon Day (Award Winner) Helen Daniels (Special Recognition) 1996 - National Council of Jewish Women 1997 - Lisa Smith 1998 - Kim Jacobs 1999 - Judy O'Bannon 2000 - Mary Boggs	2001 - Dave Thomas, Gene & Marilyn Glick 2002 - Judge James Payne 2003 - Cathleen Graham 2004 - Michael Patchner 2005 - Senator Connie Lawson, Representative Mary Kay Budak 2006 - Linda Hankins 2007 - The Children's Bureau Auxiliary 2008 - Michelle Clarke 2009 - Representative William Crawford 2010 - JauNae Hanger Indianapolis Star - Matthew Tully

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