Edgar F. Allen

Edgar "Daddy" Allen founded Easter Seals in 1919. Inspired by his vision and passion, Easter Seals creates solutions that change lives and assures that children and adults with disabilities can live with equality, dignity, and independence.

"Your life and mine should be valued not by what we take... but by what we give."

— Edgar F. Allen

Born: May 8, 1862 Newton, Massachusetts
Died: September 20, 1937 Elyria, Ohio

A life changing experience led Edgar Fiske Allen to found an organization which, ultimately, became the Easter Seals. From the construction of one hospital in a small town in Ohio, Easter Seals has grown into an organization which now serves over one million clients a year in every state and the country of Puerto Rico. Allen's continued efforts to identify need, and his persistent pursuit of the best means to meet that need initiated a philosophy that is reflected in the scope of Easter Seals services today. These services include programs for children, vocational training, and employment and medical rehabilitation. Easter Seals continues the task set forth by Allen's selfless dedication.

Edgar Allen was born of patrician stock, directly descended from Revolutionary war hero, Ethan Allen. The Allen family left New England in 1876 and settled in Cleveland, Ohio.

Employed at the age of sixteen by the W. Bingham Hardware Company, at age 26 he was able to invest all his savings to form the Cleveland Cedar Company. Although in competition with two large established lumber companies, Allen's company was awarded the entire cedar log contract from AT&T (American Telephone and Telegraph). This acquisition launched a highly successful business career.

By 1907, Allen, now married and the father of two sons, semi-retired and moved his family to Elyria, Ohio. As a respected businessman he became involved with several community organizations. As a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Allen attended a meeting on May 28, 1907 to discuss the need for adequate medical facilities in Elyria, which had only a makeshift hospital staffed by a single nurse. Two days later, Allen and his family would become the victims of Elyria's inadequate medical resources.

On May 30, Allen's 18-year-old son, Homer, was killed in a streetcar accident which claimed nine lives. Both of Homer's legs were amputated and his father was told that if Elyria had emergency medical care, the boy could have been saved. In the days following the accident, Allen took the leadership role in a city-wide campaign to raise funds for a medical facility. He sold his business and devoted himself to raising the funds needed. Elyria Memorial Hospital opened October 30, 1908 with 36 beds.

Allen's journal reflects his own feelings about his life's turn of events. "I had spent up to that time all my life with the thought of two things: business success and money making, and my family. This was the turning point of my life."

While volunteering as treasurer of Elyria hospital, Allen met 8 year old Jimmy Bodak, brought to the hospital in an effort to help straighten his legs. Jimmy developed quite an affection for Allen and began to call him by the name for which Allen would come to be known, "Daddy". His relationship with Jimmy and the doctors treating him moved him to survey neighboring communities. Allen became aware of the magnitude of the need for a facility for crippled children. Through his fund raising efforts enough money was raised, and Gates Hospital for Crippled Children was opened on April 15, 1915. It was the first facility of its kind in the nation.

"Daddy" Allen was surprised he had to convince parents that Gates Hospital could offer a chance for correction and rehabilitation and a hope for a fuller and more normal life. By speaking to church groups, civic groups and parents, Allen and the hospital social workers persuaded many parents to send their children to Gates. Many children came for extended stays of two to three years and the hospital met their medical, emotional, spiritual, social and academic needs. Gates Hospital became a home away from home for those children in residence. But Allen realized that what parents wanted was community-based care and he knew he needed a support network to fill this need.

In 1919, at the urging of Allen, several Rotary Clubs of Ohio met and formed the Ohio Society for Crippled Children, the predecessor to the Easter Seals. Allen was chosen President. The commitment of the Rotarians was threefold: compile information, assist in fund raising and assist in the building, equipping, and maintaining of the hospitals. Allen's partnership with the Rotarians also led to political action. Two bills, previously stalled in the legislature, which secured funding for children in need, were passed with involvement from Allen and the Rotary. Those bills led to development of an agency, which coordinated public and private resources in Ohio. These bills revolutionized the way children with disabilities were cared for. The success of Ohio's efforts became the catalyst for other states and countries to become involved.

In 1921 the National Society for Crippled Children was formed. Allen was elected first president of the organization. By 1922 it was the International Society for Crippled Children. Allen was spending much of his time speaking at state meetings to raise awareness, advocacy, and funds. By 1929, 23 affiliated state societies had been founded, and Allen was chosen to keynote the opening of the First International Conference attended by 100 delegates from 12 countries. In 1930 the Society supplied data for the White House Conference of Child Health and Protection. As a result of that conference, a sub-committee assigned to specifically study the problems of those with disabilities was established. A Bill of Rights for the Handicapped Child was adopted, from a resolution offered by Allen, stating through its ten tenets that children with disabilities have a right to a full life.

In February of 1933 Allen suffered a heart attack from which he never fully recovered. Although back at his desk after several months, in May of 1934 he tendered his resignation as president.

Despite the fact that other influential service clubs and organizations had joined forces with the Rotarians to help fund and support the efforts of the Crippled Children's Society, money was still in short supply. As the impact of the Depression slowed the pace of the Society, board members considered new methods of raising funds. At the 1933 National Convention, Paul King, Allen's eventual successor, championed the idea of selling seals as a means of raising funds. He suggested that Easter be the time for the sale. Although only eight affiliates chose to participate, the first campaign was launched in 1934.

In September of 1937 Allen was laid to rest in Elyria's Ridgelawn Cemetery. His marker reads simply, "Edgar Fiske Allen, known as 'Daddy' to all friends of the crippled."

Edgar "Daddy" Allen's vision and tireless advocacy for crippled children is at the core of the Easter Seal philosophy. Allen didn't stop after the first facility was built, he didn't stop when medical needs began to be met, he didn't stop when social stigmas began to subside; he never stopped at all. When he was 62 years old his own journal entry stated his philosophy best, "Keep on Keeping On."


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