[close] 1956 - Breastfeeding rates in the US drop close to 20%; October 17, first meeting held at home of Mary White

1957 - LLL brings Dr. Grantly-Dick Read, childbirth expert, to speak to a packed house at the local high school

1958 - Founders clarify their purpose and incorporate as LLL of Franklin Park; publish the first edition of THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING in loose-leaf format and the first edition of the bimonthly publication for members, then called LLL NEWS

1960 - Over 50 women coming to 'Board' meetings bi-monthly; first LLL Group outside of country founded in Jonquiere, Quebec

1962 - LLL establishes 'Chapters' with 5 Groups per Chapter

1963 - LLL publishes first bound book edition of THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING and first translation into French; Reader's Digest publishes the article, "They teach the art of breastfeeding" by Karen Pryor

1964 - Official name change from La Leche League to La Leche League International, Inc., with Groups in Canada, Mexico and New Zealand; LLLI's first International Conference takes place in Chicago with 425 adults and 100 babies in attendance

1965 - The first issue of Leaven is published to keep LLL Leaders up-to-date on breastfeeding and organizational issues

1971 - LLLI receives widespread publicity when Princess Grace of Monaco speaks at the 4th International Conference held in Chicago, Illinois, USA

1972 - Breastfeeding rates finally start to climb, jumping 4%, continuing an average climb of 3% a year throughout the decade

1974 - LLLI is accredited to provide continuing medical education credits by The American Medical Association

1979 - LLLI is represented at joint WHO/UNICEF Meeting on Infant and Young Child Feeding in October in Geneva, Switzerland

1981 - LLLI is welcomed into consultative status with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF); establishes Affiliate status as part of its organizational structure; LLL Switzerland becomes LLLI's first Affiliate country; A revised and expanded edition of THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING is published; LLLI holds its 25th Anniversary Conference with a record attendance of 3800 adults and 2300 children; LLLI publishes the first edition of BREASTFEEDING ABSTRACTS, a quarterly publication for health professionals

1982 - LLL Leader works with UNICEF/Brazil to develop a pilot project to train low-income mothers to be breastfeeding counselors and to form mother-to-mother support groups; breastfeeding rates reach 61.9%

1984 - LLLI publishes OF CRADLES AND CAREERS by Kaye Lowman

1985 - The title and format of LLL NEWS changes to NEW BEGINNINGS; LLLI serves on The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners, established to develop and administer a voluntary certification program for lactation consultants; first IBLCE exam administered, July 1985

1986 - LLLI publishes 6 books, including a new edition of THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING, in 3 years.

1987 - LLLI launches the Peer Counselor Program

1988 - LLLI is awarded a 4 year Child Survival Grant for projects in Guatemala and Honduras to train low-income women as breastfeeding counselors and to form mother-to-mother breastfeeding support groups; LLLI publishes the first quarterly edition of ALUMNAE NEWS to reach members of the newly formed Alumnae Association

1989 - LLLI initiates an 800-line to enable mothers to reach LLL Groups and receive the breastfeeding information they need; LLLI establishes the Center for Breastfeeding Information (CBI), the world's largest resource for scientific research on breastfeeding

1990 - Breastfeeding rates drop to 50%; The WHO/UNICEF Policymaker's Meeting produces the "Innocenti Declaration on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding," which is signed by 10 UN Agencies and 32 countries, including the US

1991 - The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is launched by WHO/UNICEF in June in Ankara, Turkey; LLLI joins with other organizations and individuals to form the [close]