Philip Isely

Born as Henry Philip Isely on October 16, 1915, the son of James Walter Isely and Jessie M. Owen, he grew up in Montezuma, Kansas.

In 1934–35, he attended South Oregon Jr. College (now Southern Oregon University) in Ashland, Oregon, and from 1935 to 1937, he studied at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. In 1939, while pursuing his degree at Antioch College, Isely met Margaret Ann Sheesley and they married in 1948.

In 1958, Isely ran as a candidate for the U.S. Congress.

Birth of World Constitution and Parliament Association

The World Constitution and Parliament Association (WCPA) emerged from the Campaign for World Government (CWG), a movement that gained momentum in the aftermath of World War II. Recognizing the urgent need for a comprehensive constitution to safeguard the planet, Philip and Margaret Isely, prominent advocates based in Denver, Colorado, became key figures in the push for a world parliament and global law.

In the mid-1950s, they joined the CWG at its Chicago offices and, in 1958 alongside individuals like Thane Read, Guy Marchand, and Marie Philips Scot, they formed the "World Committee for a World Constitutional Convention'. In 1961, the committee relocated to Denver and issued (together with World Constitution Coordinating Committee) a public call for the World Constitutional Convention, garnering committed delegates from 50 nations and endorsements from several heads of state.

In 1966, the organization was renamed the World Constitution and Parliament Association (WCPA), with Philip Isely serving as secretary-general and Margaret Isely as treasurer. Notably, their extensive correspondence with influential figures such as Dr. T. P. Amerasinghe of Sri Lanka and Dr. Reinhart Ruge of Mexico contributed to the growth and development of WCPA, eventually leading to their appointment as co-presidents. Together, they dedicated their efforts to advancing the cause of a world constitution in their respective roles for many years.

After Margaret's death in 1997, Isely remarried in 2001, and he left WCPA in 2003, with Glen T. Martin assuming the role of secretary-general.

During their active years, their home was picketed after a local newspaper (Jefferson Sentinel) accused them of being Communists. However, according to Margaret, "One of our neighbors had us investigated because we passed out literature for the Peoples World Parliament, but the FBI gave us a clean slate as harmless pacifists."