Our History

Founded in 1894 by Theodore Roosevelt, Louis Brandeis and other turn of the century progressives, NCL is an advocacy organization vigorously promoting the principles of collaborative problem-solving and consensus-based decision making in local community building. NCL accomplishes its mission through technical assistance, training, publishing, research, and an awards program.

In 1894, more than 100 educators, journalists, business leaders, and policymakers met in Philadelphia to discuss the future of American cities. Among those who attended the two day conference were Marshall Field, Charles Eliot, Frederick Law Olmsted, Mary Mumford and Theodore Roosevelt. This gathering, which marked the birth of NCL, would serve as a nationwide call to civic action.

Before adjourning, the conferees resolved to form a national organization to help local reform groups learn from each other's successes and failures. The National Municipal League, as it was then known, would also develop specific proposals for making city governments more honest, efficient and effective.

NCL entered the 1990s with a mission to foster collaboration between citizens, government, business, and nonprofit organizations in identifying and solving community problems. Although some of the terms have changed, the role of NCL today remains the same as it was 100 years ago- encouraging the greatest possible involvement of citizens in the governance of their own communities.

The perspective from 1953, an article by George Gallup

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©Theodore Roosevelt Collection
Harvard College Library