Encouraged by this and many other such expressions of opinion, Mr. Beers proceeded to the organization of the first state mental hygiene society, that of Connecticut, which began its activities in 1908. The National Committee for Mental Hygiene was formally organized on February 19, 1909. The first few years were devoted to raising funds and making comprehensive preparations for further activities which did not start until 1912. In the meanwhile the cooperation of many prominent philanthropists, educators, physicians, etc., was assured. The importance of this movement is illustrated by the prominence of the persons who were willing to associate themselves with an undertaking of this nature. The membership of the committee has included, in addition to many others, Professor William James, Dr. Lewellys F. Barker, Dr. Rupert Blue, Dr. George Blumer, Dr. G. Alder Blumer, Professor Russell H. Chittenden, Ex-President Charles W. Eliot, President W. H. P. Faunce, President John H. Finley, Professor Irving Fisher, Dr. Charles H. Frazier, Cardinal Gibbons, President Arthur T. Hadley, Chancellor David Starr Jordan, President Cyrus Northrop, Dr. Stewart Paton, Dr. Frederick Peterson, Professor Gifford Pinchot, President Jacob G. Sherman, Rev. Anson Phelps Stokes, Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt, Professor Henry VanDyke, Dr. William H. Welch and Ex-President Benjamin Ide Wheeler. Important financial contributions were made by Professor William James, Mr. Jacob A. Riis, Mr. Henry Phipps, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Anderson, Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt, Mrs. E. H. Harriman, Mrs. Willard Straight, the Rockefeller Foundation, etc. With the appointment of Dr. Thomas W. Salmon as Medical Director in 1912 the committee commenced active operations with its future success assured in every way.