Barbara McCarthy (Mrs. Henry M.) served on The Citizens Advisory Commission of the Joint Committee on the Public Education System (the Commission will from here be referred to as the CAC) from its inception in 1958 until it presented its final report to the California State Assembly in 1962. During this period she served as Chair of the Subcommittee on Teacher Training and Curriculum and was chosen as one of the California delegates at the White House Conference on Children and Youth in early 1960. Mrs. McCarthy lived in Van Nuys and taught English at Sun Valley Junior High School.

In a letter to Mrs. McCarthy dated August 25, 1958, Assemblyman Donald D. Doyle, Tenth District, summarized the charge of the CAC:

“…[to] investigate all phases of the public education system in California…to make recommendations to the Legislature for any changes necessary to strengthen the schooling program for the children of the State.”

As an original member of the CAC, Mrs. McCarthy’s papers cover the span of years during which the CAC worked; included in the papers is correspondence of the CAC members, interim and final reports, study materials, and clippings.

Researchers interested in the CAC should also consult the Robert J. Bernard Papers as he was a member of the Joint Committee and worked with members of CAC.