Dewson, Mary W.
PAPERS OF MARY W. DEWSON

Mary William Dewson, usually known as "Molly," was born in Quincy, Massachusetts on February 18, 1874. At 17, she startled her New England Republican family by supporting Grover Cleveland for President. She continued to display her independence by seeking a college education at a time when this was a rare goal for a woman. After graduation from Wellesley College in 1897, she did research for the Women's Educational and Industrial Union in Boston. She compiled statistics on women's wages and hours and also wrote a "Family Budget Book." From 1900 to 1912 she served as superintendent of the Girls' Parole Department of Massachusetts. Her statistical studies were widely published but of greater importance to Molly Dewson was the welfare of the girls with whom she worked. In 1911, she accepted an assignment as secretary of the Committee on Minimum Wage Legislation for the State of Massachusetts. This committee's report contained recommendations for what became the first minimum wage law and served as a model for other states. After leaving the Girls' Parole Department, Molly Dewson and her friend, Mary Porter, ran a dairy farm in Berlin, Massachusetts for five years. In 1917, both women went to France to work with the American Red Cross. When the war ended and the work became too routine for Molly's taste, she returned to the United States, sold the farm and took a job as a research secretary for the National Consumers League. There she continued her activites for minimum wage legislation. She wrote the factual parts of the briefs on minimum wage legislation for the Supreme Court and the State of California. She resigned from the position in 1924 but maintained her interest in the League for the rest of her life. From 1924 to 1927, she worked with a number of organizations as a volunteer. At some point during this period she met Eleanor Roosevelt and the two became friends. It was Mrs. Roosevelt who asked her help with the Democratic Campaign in 1928 and started her on her political career. Miss Dewson worked for Franklin D. Roosevelt during his second gubernatorial campaign in 1930. She was chairman of the Women's Division of the Democratic National Campaign Committee in 1932, Director of the Women's Division, 1933-34; Director of the General Advisory Committee of the Women's Division, 1934-36 and Vice Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, 1936-37. Because of her interest in social reform, Molly Dewson was asked by President Roosevelt to serve on the Advisory Council of the President's Committee on Economic Security. The recommendations of this committee were later incorporated in the Social Security Act. Miss Dewson was always interested in the role of women in government and industry. She firmly believed that at least one woman should be appointed to the Social Security Board but the members of the first Board were all men. In 1937, Miss Dewson, herself, became the first woman to serve on the Social Security Board. She was concerned with improving the image of Social Security and in expanding coverage to include domestic workers and farm laborers and also widows and dependent children. Not all of these goals were accomplished during her tenure on the Board, however. In 1938, Molly Dewson retired from government service and, with Mary Porter, went to live in what had previously been their summer home in Castine, Maine. Even in retirement, she kept in touch with former colleagues. She served as director of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial Fund and as Vice President of the National Consumers League. She died in October 1962, in Castine. Miss Dewson's papers for the early part of her career are at Radcliffe College. Those held by the Roosevelt Library deal mainly with her work in the 1930's for the Democratic Party and the Social Security Board. Her papers reflect her deep interest in people and particularly in the advancement of women. They also reflect the zest for living of this woman who won a tennis championship at age 53 and ran for state office when in her 80's. The Dewson Papers have been arranged in four series as follows: Containers 1-4 General Correspondence Files, 1924-1961: Incoming and outgoing personal, business, and political correspondence arranged alphabetically by subject or surname of correspondent. In many cases, the files have been annotated by Miss Dewson. The dates given in the shelf list are the inclusive dates for the materials in the file. Related material is found in the Subject Files (see below). Containers 5-8 Subject Files: Contains files on topics of particular interest to Miss Dewson. There is a large amount of material on political campaigns, particularly the 1936 Campaign. Material relating to some of the subjects is also found in the General Correspondence Files (see above). Containers 9-12 Speech, Article and Miscellaneous Files, 1912-1956: Contains speeches, articles and reports by Miss Dewson and her colleagues. When the person involved was someone other than Miss Dewson, this fact is indicated in the shelf list. This series also contains newspaper clippings roughly arranged by year. The bulk of the clippings are from 1936. In addition, there are campaign materials from 1932 and 1936; a chart on Social Security, apparently used for publicity; and a copy of JIM FARLEY'S STORY. Containers 13-33 Letter Books and Scrapbooks: Contains ten bound volumes of letters dated 1929 to 1951, mostly incoming correspondence from prominent political leaders, friends and associates, and twelve scrapbooks, 1932 to 1950, containing clippings and mementoes of Miss Dewson's political career. AN AID TO THE END - a two-volume, unpublished manuscript written by Mary W. Dewson.


Dewson, Mary W.
GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE FILES




Dewson, Mary W.
SUBJECT FILES




Dewson, Mary W.
SPEECH, ARTICLE AND MISCELLANEOUS FILES




Dewson, Mary W.
LETTER BOOKS AND SCRAPBOOKS




Dewson, Mary W.
SPEECH AND ARTICLE FILE




Dewson, Mary W.
PRINTED MATTER




Dewson, Mary W.
NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS




Dewson, Mary W.
BOUND BOOKS OF LETTERS




Dewson, Mary W.
SCRAPBOOKS




Dewson, Mary W.
A (General)




Dewson, Mary W.
Abbott, Grace




Dewson, Mary W.
Aiken, Paul




Dewson, Mary W.
Akin, Stella

Only years 1936 and 1949.


Dewson, Mary W.
Allen, Florence




Dewson, Mary W.
Altmeyer, Arthur J.




Dewson, Mary W.
B (General)




Dewson, Mary W.
Beyer, Clara




Dewson, Mary W.
C (General)




Dewson, Mary W.
Carr, Charlotte




Dewson, Mary W.
Coffin, Jo




Dewson, Mary W.
Cohen, Wilbur




Dewson, Mary W.
D (General)




Dewson, Mary W.
Dewson, Mary W.- Personal and Biographical Material




Dewson, Mary W.
Douglas, Paul H.




Dewson, Mary W.
Dubord, F. Harold




Dewson, Mary W.
E (General)




Dewson, Mary W.
Eben, Mary

And undated.


Dewson, Mary W.
Edwards, India

Material 1937, 1946-1958.


Dewson, Mary W.
Elliott, Harriet




Dewson, Mary W.
Engle, Lavinia




Dewson, Mary W.
Ernst, Morris




Dewson, Mary W.
Evans, May




Dewson, Mary W.
F (General)




Dewson, Mary W.
Farley, James A.




Dewson, Mary W.
Frankfurter, Felix




Dewson, Mary W.
Furman, Bess




Dewson, Mary W.
G (General)




Dewson, Mary W.
Grady, Henry F. and Lucretia

And undated.


Dewson, Mary W.
H (General)




Dewson, Mary W.
Hickok, Lorena




Dewson, Mary W.
Honeyman, Nan




Dewson, Mary W.
Hopkins, Harry




Dewson, Mary W.
Howe, Louis M.




Dewson, Mary W.
Hull, Cordell




Dewson, Mary W.
Ickes, Harold

Only years 1937 and 1948.


Dewson, Mary W.
J - K (General)




Dewson, Mary W.
Kerr, Harriet Allen




Dewson, Mary W.
L (General)




Dewson, Mary W.
Lehman, Herbert




Dewson, Mary W.
Louchheim, Katie




Dewson, Mary W.
Lubin, Isador




Dewson, Mary W.
Mc (General)




Dewson, Mary W.
McAllister, Thomas and Dorothy




Dewson, Mary W.
M (General)




Dewson, Mary W.
Magee, Elizabeth




Dewson, Mary W.
Mason, Lucy Randolph

And undated.


Dewson, Mary W.
Michelson, Charles




Dewson, Mary W.
Mitchell, Stephen A.




Dewson, Mary W.
Murphy, Frank




Dewson, Mary W.
N - O (General)




Dewson, Mary W.
Norton, Mary T.




Dewson, Mary W.
O'Mahoney, Joseph C.




Dewson, Mary W.
Owen, Ruth Bryan




Dewson, Mary W.
P - Q (General)




Dewson, Mary W.
Perkins, Frances




Dewson, Mary W.
Picking, Elsie




Dewson, Mary W.
R (General)




Dewson, Mary W.
Reed, Stanley and Win




Dewson, Mary W.
Roche, Josephine

Only years 1937 and 1957.


Dewson, Mary W.
Roosevelt, Anna Eleanor




Dewson, Mary W.
Roosevelt, Anna Eleanor

And undated.


Dewson, Mary W.
Roosevelt, Franklin D.




Dewson, Mary W.
Roosevelt, Elliott, Franklin, Jr., James and John




Dewson, Mary W.
S (General)




Dewson, Mary W.
Schlesinger, Arthur, Jr.




Dewson, Mary W.
Smith, Alfred E., Correspondence re 1928 Campaign




Dewson, Mary W.
T (General)




Dewson, Mary W.
Tate, Richard and Liz




Dewson, Mary W.
Taylor, Paul

Only years 1948 and 1953.


Dewson, Mary W.
Tillett, Gladys

And undated.


Dewson, Mary W.
Truman, Harry S.




Dewson, Mary W.
Tully, Grace




Dewson, Mary W.
U - Z (General)




Dewson, Mary W.
Wallace, Henry A.




Dewson, Mary W.
Welles, Sumner

Only years 1937 and 1954.


Dewson, Mary W.
White, Sue S.

Only years 1931 and 1936.


Dewson, Mary W.
Whitney, Florence




Dewson, Mary W.
Wolfe, Carolyn




Dewson, Mary W.
Woodward, Ellen




Dewson, Mary W.
Buenos Aires Conference




Dewson, Mary W.
Campaign of 1936: Articles, Drafts and Correspondence




Dewson, Mary W.
Campaign of 1936: Correspondence with State Leaders: Arkansas-Kansas




Dewson, Mary W.
Campaign of 1936: Correspondence with State Leaders: Maine-Missouri




Dewson, Mary W.
Campaign of 1936: Correspondence with State Leaders: Nebraska-Oregon




Dewson, Mary W.
Campaign of 1936: Correspondence with State Leaders: Pennsylvania-Washington




Dewson, Mary W.
Campaign of 1936: Form Letters




Dewson, Mary W.
Campaign of 1936: Meetings with State Leaders




Dewson, Mary W.
Campaign of 1936: News Digest




Dewson, Mary W.
Campaign of 1936: Peace Plank




Dewson, Mary W.
Campaign of 1936: Program Materials




Dewson, Mary W.
Campaign of 1936: Publicity, General




Dewson, Mary W.
Campaign of 1936: Publicity, Local Leaders




Dewson, Mary W.
Campaign of 1936: Radio Publicity




Dewson, Mary W.
Child Labor Amendment




Dewson, Mary W.
Civil Service Matters




Dewson, Mary W.
Committee on Civil Service Restrictions in Employment of Older Workers




Dewson, Mary W.
Committee on Economic Security




Dewson, Mary W.
Constitutiional Amendments




Dewson, Mary W.
Correspondence with State Leaders, 1937, Alabama-Illinois




Dewson, Mary W.
Correspondence with State Leaders, 1937, Indiana-Massachusetts




Dewson, Mary W.
Correspondence with State Leaders, 1937, Michigan-New Jersey




Dewson, Mary W.
Correspondence with State Leaders, 1937, Tennessee-Wyoming




Dewson, Mary W.
Democratic Digest




Dewson, Mary W.
Democratic National Committee, Lists




Dewson, Mary W.
Democratic National Committee, Women's Division




Dewson, Mary W.
Democratic National Convention




Dewson, Mary W.
Dewson, Mary - Western Trips




Dewson, Mary W.
Equal Rights Amendment




Dewson, Mary W.
Home Defense Administration




Dewson, Mary W.
National Consumers League




Dewson, Mary W.
National Consumers League, Correspondence on Labor

Only years 1934 and 1937.


Dewson, Mary W.
Reporter Plan

Only years 1934-37 and 1942.


Dewson, Mary W.
Social Security Board




Dewson, Mary W.
Supreme Court Bill




Dewson, Mary W.
Women in New Deal Positions




Dewson, Mary W.
Women Speakers




Dewson, Mary W.
"Pay Rolls and Profits" THE SURVEY




Dewson, Mary W.
"What Campaign Issues Mean to Women"




Dewson, Mary W.
"Working for Labor Standards"




Dewson, Mary W.
Speech to the Cuyahoga Women's Democratic Club




Dewson, Mary W.
Speech to the Young Democrats in Convention at Kansas City




Dewson, Mary W.
"Women Voters of Pennsylvania it's Up to You" Pennsylvania SURVEY




Dewson, Mary W.
Untitled Talk on the Election




Dewson, Mary W.
"The Human Aspects of the New Deal" THE CHRISTIAN REGISTER




Dewson, Mary W.
Untitled Speech on Democratic Women




Dewson, Mary W.
Speech at First Regional Conference at Richmond, Virginia




Dewson, Mary W.
Introduction to Series of Broadcasts Sponsored by Women's Division - Mrs. James F. Wolfe




Dewson, Mary W.
Radio Address - Mrs. Ellen Woodward




Dewson, Mary W.
Introduction to Radio Broadcast - Mrs. James F. Wolfe




Dewson, Mary W.
Radio Address - Mrs. Emily Blair




Dewson, Mary W.
Discussion on AAA - Mrs. C. Nelson Beck and Mrs. James F. Wolfe




Dewson, Mary W.
Discussion on Credit Agencies - Mrs. Basil Manly and Mrs. J.F. Wolfe




Dewson, Mary W.
Radio Address on Taxation - Mrs. Blair Banister




Dewson, Mary W.
Radio Address on the U.S. Employment Service - Miss Mary LaDame




Dewson, Mary W.
Address on Crime Prevention - Miss Stella Akin




Dewson, Mary W.
Speech to Beekman Neighbors on the New Deal




Dewson, Mary W.
Radio Speech on the Social Security Act




Dewson, Mary W.
"The Reporter Plan" - Station WMAQ, Chicago, Illinois and at Newtown, New Jersey




Dewson, Mary W.
Campaign of 1936 - Work of the Women's Division




Dewson, Mary W.
Notes for Informal Speech




Dewson, Mary W.
Statement regarding Taxes




Dewson, Mary W.
Notes on Work of the Woman Campaign Director




Dewson, Mary W.
Article "Democratic Women in Politics" Democratic Campaign Book




Dewson, Mary W.
Article on DIRECTOR OF PUBLICITY




Dewson, Mary W.
"Duties of State Vice Chairman"




Dewson, Mary W.
Talk on the New Deal




Dewson, Mary W.
"Democratic Women of Pennsylvania - The Campaign is On"




Dewson, Mary W.
"To the Women Democratic Leaders"




Dewson, Mary W.
Radio Talk on Social Security




Dewson, Mary W.
Radio Talk - "Recovery - Its Price and Premium"




Dewson, Mary W.
Radio Talk - "A Home With Hope"




Dewson, Mary W.
Radio Talk - "A Future For the Farm Family"




Dewson, Mary W.
Radio Talk - "Belief in Relief"




Dewson, Mary W.
Speech Before the Institute of Government, Charleston, West Virginia - Mrs. James F. Wolfe




Dewson, Mary W.
Radio Speech - "Women and Government"




Dewson, Mary W.
Speech Used on Western Trip




Dewson, Mary W.
"What Has Relief, Recovery and Setting Our House in Order Cost Us?" Democratic Women's Regional Conference, Onandaga Hotel, Syracuse, New York

Portions also used for radio talk.


Dewson, Mary W.
"Our Government and Insurance" - Radio Address




Dewson, Mary W.
Speech to Young Democrats, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania




Dewson, Mary W.
Article for N.E.A.




Dewson, Mary W.
Message to Young Voters in New York City




Dewson, Mary W.
Article on Michigan




Dewson, Mary W.
"Little Grains of Sand"




Dewson, Mary W.
"What Next for Democratic Women?" Regional Conference, New London, Connecticut




Dewson, Mary W.
"New Frontiers For Old" - Address at Wellesley College Commencement - Josephine Roch




Dewson, Mary W.
Speech at Lewiston, Maine




Dewson, Mary W.
"Politics As a Career" - Wellesley Club NEWS




Dewson, Mary W.
"What the Social Security Act Means to Women" - Speech before the National Radio Forum




Dewson, Mary W.
"Mrs. Glendower Evans" - Memorial Service at Ford Hall, Boston




Dewson, Mary W.
"This Social Security - What Is It?" Women's City Club, Boston, Mass.




Dewson, Mary W.
"An Amateur's Views on Education" - Wellesley Club of New York, N.Y.




Dewson, Mary W.
"Next Steps in Social Security Legislation"




Dewson, Mary W.
"Social Security - What and Why" THE FEDERATED WOMAN




Dewson, Mary W.
Article for THE CHURCH WOMAN




Dewson, Mary W.
"Social Security - What Is It?" Radio Address




Dewson, Mary W.
"Fifty Years of Progress Toward Social Security" - State Convention of Affiliated Young Democrats, New York City




Dewson, Mary W.
"Public Assistance...A New Way of Meeting an Old Responsibility" - Radio Interview




Dewson, Mary W.
"The Crisis in Democracy" - Radio Address by Mrs. Emily Blair




Dewson, Mary W.
Press Release Regarding Women as Candidates for Office




Dewson, Mary W.
"Working Women and Old-Age Insurance" LABOR INFORMATION BULLETIN




Dewson, Mary W.
Untitled Speech on the Women's Division




Dewson, Mary W.
Radio Speech - Mrs. Anthony Biddle




Dewson, Mary W.
"Industry and Agriculture at the Gates of a New Decade" - Address by James A. Farley




Dewson, Mary W.
Speech at Dinner Honoring Women Who Hold High Office in the New Deal




Dewson, Mary W.
"Women in Politics and Government" - WJZ Radio Program




Dewson, Mary W.
"Do Political Parties Educate?" - William Hard at America's Town Meeting of the Air




Dewson, Mary W.
"Advance of Democratic Women" DEMOCRATIC DIGEST




Dewson, Mary W.
Speeches by and about James A. Farley - Printed in the Congressional Record




Dewson, Mary W.
Speech to Convention of Young Democrats of Maine - F. Harold Dubord




Dewson, Mary W.
"The Roosevelt Road to Peace" - Radio Broadcast




Dewson, Mary W.
Radio Speech - F. Harold Dubord




Dewson, Mary W.
"Shall We Sell Our Birthright for a Mess of Potage?" THE DEMOCRATIC DIGEST




Dewson, Mary W.
Letter to the NEW YORK TIMES




Dewson, Mary W.
Handwritten Speech Draft on the New Deal

Undated.


Dewson, Mary W.
"What Is This Social Security?"

Undated.


Dewson, Mary W.
Radio Speech on the Social Security Act

Undated.


Dewson, Mary W.
"The Weaker Vessels and Politics" DEMOCRATIC DIGEST

Undated.


Dewson, Mary W.
"The Sanity of the General Federation" Lola Gingrick Article

Undated.


Dewson, Mary W.
"The Fruits of Experience"

Undated.


Dewson, Mary W.
"Should Women of the Leisure Class Follow Gainful Occupations?"

Undated.


Dewson, Mary W.
Regional Conferences Report

Undated.


Dewson, Mary W.
"Mary Chamberlain"

Undated.


Dewson, Mary W.
"Elections Are Won Between Campaigns"

Undated.


Dewson, Mary W.
"The Hours of Labor in Domestic Service" Women's Educational and Industrial Union of Boston




Dewson, Mary W.
TWENTIETH CENTURY EXPENSE BOOK




Dewson, Mary W.
LABOR BULLETIN OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS No.13




Dewson, Mary W.
THE WOMAN REPUBLICAN, Vol. 2, No. 17




Dewson, Mary W.
BULLETIN OF WOMEN'S CITY CLUB OF NEW YORK




Dewson, Mary W.
Acceptance Speech before the Democratic National Convention - Franklin D. Roosevelt




Dewson, Mary W.
Inaugural Address




Dewson, Mary W.
"Report to the Industrial Commissioner on the Effect of Directory Order No. 1 on the Wages of Women and Minors in Laundries in New York State..."

"Report to the Industrial Commissioner on the Effect of Directory Order No. 1 on the Wages of Women and Minors in Laundries in New York State and the Need for Mandatory Wage Order Governing Laundry Operations"


Dewson, Mary W.
"Report of the Advisory Council to the Committee on Economic Security"




Dewson, Mary W.
"Federal Departments and Agencies Supervising Projects or Collaborating in Carrying on the Program Under Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935"




Dewson, Mary W.
"Forward With the Constitution" - Address by Daniel C. Roper




Dewson, Mary W.
Address before the American Bankers' Association Convention in New orleans - Marriner Eccles




Dewson, Mary W.
"The American Constitutional Method" - Address by Homer Cummings




Dewson, Mary W.
"Elections of 1936" - A Study by Alice Cameron




Dewson, Mary W.
Message to Congress - F.D. Roosevelt




Dewson, Mary W.
Address of James A. Farley at the Roosevelt Dinner, Miami, Florida




Dewson, Mary W.
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION FOR TRANSPORTATION EMPLOYEES




Dewson, Mary W.
"What Did the New Deal Mean to the Farmer?" - Address by Mrs. J.J. Donahue




Dewson, Mary W.
"A Brief History of the New York Minimum Wage Case"




Dewson, Mary W.
"Gainful Employment of Married Women"




Dewson, Mary W.
"The Constitution and the Problems of Today" - Address by Stanley Reed




Dewson, Mary W.
"What the States Are Doing: New Labor Standards"




Dewson, Mary W.
"A New Chapter in the History of the New York Minimum Wage Case"




Dewson, Mary W.
"Provisions of Wage Orders of States Operating Under the Standard Minimum Wage Act"




Dewson, Mary W.
Address of James A. Farley at the Dinner of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick




Dewson, Mary W.
Address of James A. Farley at Dedication of Post Office and Federal Building, Waco, Texas




Dewson, Mary W.
Address of James A. Farley before Texas Legislature




Dewson, Mary W.
Address of James A. Farley at Dedication of Post Office and Federal Building, San Antonio, Texas




Dewson, Mary W.
Address of James A. Farley at Dedication of Post Office Building, Arabi, Louisiana




Dewson, Mary W.
Address of James A. Farley at Post Office Site, Gretna, Louisiana




Dewson, Mary W.
Address of James A. Farley at Dedication of Post Office and Federal Building, Wilmington, Delaware




Dewson, Mary W.
"The Favored State Party Set-up for Democratic Women"




Dewson, Mary W.
"Report of the Hotel Minimum Wage Board to the Industrial Commissioner, New York State"




Dewson, Mary W.
Speech of Senator J.H. Ball on Behalf of President Roosevelt




Dewson, Mary W.
Radio Address of Dorothy Thompson




Dewson, Mary W.
"Bill Relating to the Employment Security Program Introduced or Enacted During the 1947 Legislative Sessions" - Legislative Report No. 1




Dewson, Mary W.
Legislative Report, Supplement No. 3




Dewson, Mary W.
Legislative Report No. 4




Dewson, Mary W.
"Women in Politics" - Helen B. Shaffer




Dewson, Mary W.
Last Will and Testament of Roger Deering




Dewson, Mary W.
Newspaper Clippings




Dewson, Mary W.
Chart-"This Social Security-What Is It?"- Work Books - Four volumes of clippings and data on the Democratic Party by States, 1936 - JIM FARLEY'S STORY

Also printed material from 1932 campaign.


Dewson, Mary W.
Letters




Dewson, Mary W.
Letters from 1932 Campaign




Dewson, Mary W.
Miscellaneous Letters

Covers 1932-35, 1943-44.


Dewson, Mary W.
Patronage Letters - Women




Dewson, Mary W.
Letters of Congratulation of Appointment to the Social Security Board




Dewson, Mary W.
Letters - Social Security




Dewson, Mary W.
Letters




Dewson, Mary W.
Letters




Dewson, Mary W.
Letters




Dewson, Mary W.
Politics




Dewson, Mary W.
Politics




Dewson, Mary W.
Politics, 1936 Campaign and Western Trip




Dewson, Mary W.
Politics - Social Security Board - 1940 Campaign

Politics, 1937-1939 Politics - Social Security Board, 1937-1938 Politics, 1940 Campaign


Dewson, Mary W.
Politics - Invitations and Christmas Cards - Campaign Literature from the Women's Division of the Democratic Campaign Committee




Dewson, Mary W.
Campaign Materials




Dewson, Mary W.
AN AID TO THE END - Volume I

A two-volume, unpublished manuscript written by Mary W. Dewson.


Dewson, Mary W.
AN AID TO THE END - Vol. II

A two-volume, unpublished manuscript written by Mary W. Dewson.


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