Kay Mackley and Dolly Engle, along with others from Church Women United, officially founded Frederick County Laubach Literacy—later to become the Literacy Council of Frederick County (the Literacy Council)—to teach adults how to read using the Laubach method.

Nineteen volunteer tutors receive training. The organization operates out of private homes until 1974 when the Evangelical Lutheran Church offers space in its Schaeffer Center on East Second Street in Frederick.