A Frank C. Laubach Chronology

• 1884 - Born September 2, Benton, PA. 1909 - Earned B.A. degree from Princeton University. Received McLean prize from the college president Woodrow Wilson for speech on peace among nations.
• 1912 - Earned M.A. degree in sociology from Columbia University. Married Effa Seely. 1913 - Graduated Union Theological Seminary.
• 1915 - Earned Ph.D. in sociology from Columbia University. Thesis on vagrancy among urban poor. Commissioned by Union Congregational Church as a missionary in the Philippines.
• 1929 - After 15 years of ministering to and educating Philippine Christians, relocated to Lanao to work among Muslim Maranao tribe. "Signal Hill experience" encouraged him to serve them in new ways.
• 1930-36 - Initiated literacy program in Maranao language. Devised charts, primers and a community newspaper, and discovered that new readers can teach, and literacy can help impoverished people improve their lives.
• 1935-54 - Brought "Each One Teach One" literacy program to other Philippine communities and to Southeast Asia, India, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. At Mahatma Gandhi's request, started Indian national literacy campaign. Instrumental in founding of World Literacy Committee, Committee on World Literacy and Christian Literature, and World Literacy, Inc. (now called World Education).
• 1955 - Founded Laubach Literacy and Mission Fund, now called Laubach Literacy. Continued world literacy tours during last 15 years of his life, spoke out across the U.S. on poverty and illiteracy as impediments to justice and peace.
• 1967 - With son Robert S. Laubach, founded New Readers Press to publish instructional materials for growing U.S. literacy movement.
• 1968 - Created the National Association for Literacy Advance, now called Laubach Literacy Action, to bring volunteer literacy efforts together in the United States.
• 1970 - Died June 11 at age of 85. His wife Effa Laubach died March 28, 1973. Buried in Benton, Pa. under the inscription: "World Missionaries."