An Inventory of Sargent Shriver's Personal Papers 1948-1976 in the John F. Kennedy Library - Peace Corps Series



An Inventory of Sargent Shriver's Personal Papers 1948-1976 in the John F. Kennedy Library - Peace Corps Series

Series 2. Peace Corps, 1961-1966.
About 12,050 items.

This series is arranged into four subseries: Correspondence, Writings, Trip File, and Subject File. Correspondence mainly focuses on individual events and subjects such as Sargent Shriver’s appointment as director of the Peace Corps, and also includes specific forms of communication such as “memorandums to the President.” Most of Writings consist of speeches, but there is a small section of articles by and about Shriver. Trip File and Subject File contain information on major trips Shriver took to Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America as well as reports on early Peace Corps projects. The bulk of the material in this series ranges from 1961 to 1966, although small portions go as late as 1968. Researchers should see Series 3. Office of Economic Opportunity for overlapping speeches, correspondence, and research materials.


Series 2.1. Correspondence, 1961-1968.
About 3,200 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical by subject.
This subseries primarily contains correspondence between Sargent Shriver, his office, and volunteers, staff, and the public about Peace Corps administration and policy. There are two large sections on Shriver’s appointment and departure as director, as well as several folders containing memorandums to President Kennedy and President Johnson that outline Peace Corps policy and staff selections. Materials in the Justice Department folders, while not specifically about the Peace Corps, are illustrative of letters written to Shriver because of his connections as director. Most of the correspondence went through Shriver’s assistant, Mary Ann Orlando. Other correspondents include: Bill Moyers, Dean Rusk, Harris Wofford, Bill Haddad, Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, and Edward Heffernan.

Series 2.2. Writings, 1964-1967.
About 1,000 items.
Arrangement: by type, thereunder chronological.
This subseries includes speeches, correspondence, interviews, and other written works by Sargent Shriver. Shriver delivered over one hundred speeches as director of the Peace Corps, ranging from large university commencement ceremonies to small luncheon talks. The speeches concern connecting college students to foreign service and developing support for overseas projects. The original arrangement of the materials has been retained, and the folders usually contain an actual copy of the speech as well as supporting correspondence, schedules, note cards, photographs, articles, and news clippings, though in some cases a transcript of the speech is not included in the folder. There is also a small section of supporting speech material such as reports on Peace Corps volunteers, invitations to speak, and other jokes, quotes, and generalized templates used directly in the speeches. The folders about Shriver’s book, Point of the Lance, include thank you letters, responses, and a partial galley proof. Several interviews on Meet the Press during the early and middle stages of the Peace Corps are included in the final section.

Series 2.3. Trip File, 1961-1966.
About 800 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
This subseries contains correspondence, schedules, reports, press releases, news clippings, guest lists, pamphlets, photographs, albums, and scrapbooks about Sargent Shriver’s overseas trips to visit Peace Corps volunteers and representatives, and to meet with country leaders throughout Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America. Many of the 1961 trips were focused on trying to gather support and invitations from country leaders. Later trips centered on Shriver evaluating programs and encouraging volunteers.

Series 2.4. Subject File, 1961-1966.
About 4,500 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical by subject.
This subseries contains project reports, administrative projections, photographs, news clippings, correspondence, and biographical information on Peace Corps volunteers. A small section is devoted to specific countries, including the first Peace Corps projects in Tanganyika and Columbia.

When this story was posted in March 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:


Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

The Peace Corps Library Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in over 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related reference material in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can use the Main Index to find hundreds of stories about RPCVs who have your same interests, who served in your Country of Service, or who serve in your state.

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Crisis Corps arrives in Thailand After the Tsunami in Southeast Asia last December, Peace Corps issued an appeal for Crisis Corps Volunteers and over 200 RPCVs responded. The first team of 8 Crisis Corps volunteers departed for Thailand on March 18 to join RPCVs who are already supporting relief efforts in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and India with other agencies and NGO's. 19 Mar 2005

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March's Feature Stories - only on PCOL Dream Come True - Revisiting India after 34 years The Coyne Column: Read Winning Vanity Fair PCV Essay Tomas Belsky's paintings inspired by service in Brazil RPCV reunites with friend after 40 years RPCV reviews "Los Heraldos Negros" by Cesar Vallejo Photo Essay: Taking it to the Streets

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March 19, 2005: RPCV Groups in the News New Jersey RPCVs host exhibit in Maplewood on April 2 20 Mar Maryland RPCVs eat crab cakes in Annapolis 17 Mar Illinois RPCVs present "Life on the Big Red Island" 13 Mar San Diego RPCVs host reception with Gaddi Vasquez on March 6 4 Mar Western North Carolina's RPCVs sponsor Africa Night on March 6 3 Mar Connecticut RPCVs held fundraiser on March 5 3 Mar RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

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March 19, 2005: This Week's Top Stories RPCV points out catalytic effect of Iraq 19 Mar PCVs set up Basketball pool in Ukraine 19 Mar Sam Farr introduces bill to monitor ocean fisheries 18 Mar Bridgeland does not rule out run for Congress 18 Mar Jim Doyle promotes Institute for Discovery 18 Mar Newspaper says Bangladesh is safe for PCVs 18 Mar Joan Ruddiman revisits Peter Hessler's "River World" 17 Mar Mark Schneider says Save Haiti from more violence 17 Mar Troy Johnson joins delegation to Indonesia 17 Mar Chris Shays says baseball not exempt from the law 17 Mar "Hurlyburly" benefits gypsy women in Romania 15 Mar Chris Matthews interviews Schwarzenegger 14 Mar Fred Burke dies in NJ, trained early PCVs 13 Mar Mike Honda introduces Student Privacy Protection Act 13 Mar FT details Cheney-McPherson relationship 13 Mar Tucker McCravy reports on Tsunami Reconstruction 10 Mar Dennis Braddock retires with record of accomplishment 9 Mar

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RPCVs in Congress ask colleagues to support PC RPCVs Sam Farr, Chris Shays, Thomas Petri, James Walsh, and Mike Honda have asked their colleagues in Congress to add their names to a letter they have written to the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee, asking for full funding of $345 M for the Peace Corps in 2006. As a follow-on to Peace Corps week, please read the letter and call your Representative in Congress and ask him or her to add their name to the letter.

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Add your info now to the RPCV Directory Call Harris Publishing at 800-414-4608 right away to add your name or make changes to your listing in the newest edition of the NPCA's Directory of Peace Corps Volunteers and Former Staff. Then read our story on how you can get access to the book after it is published. The deadline for inclusion is May 16 so call now.

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March 1: National Day of Action Tuesday, March 1, is the NPCA's National Day of Action. Please call your Senators and ask them to support the President's proposed $27 Million budget increase for the Peace Corps for FY2006 and ask them to oppose the elimination of Perkins loans that benefit Peace Corps volunteers from low-income backgrounds. Follow this link for step-by-step information on how to make your calls. Then take our poll and leave feedback on how the calls went.

Make a call for the Peace Corps PCOL is a strong supporter of the NPCA's National Day of Action and encourages every RPCV to spend ten minutes on Tuesday, March 1 making a call to your Representatives and ask them to support President Bush's budget proposal of $345 Million to expand the Peace Corps. Take our Poll: Click here to take our poll. We'll send out a reminder and have more details early next week.

Read the stories and leave your comments.