Records of the Peace Corps
Records of the Peace Corps
(Record Group 490)
1961-91
156 cu. ft.
Table of Contents
* 490.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY
* 490.2 GENERAL RECORDS OF THE PEACE CORPS 1961-72 54 lin. ft.
* 490.2.1 Records of the Office of the Director
* 490.2.2 Records of the Executive Secretariat
* 490.2.3 Records of the East Asia and Pacific Regional Office
* 490.3 RECORDS OF SUPPORT OFFICES 1961-71 34 lin. ft.
* 490.3.1 Records of the Office of Administration and Finance
* 490.3.2 Records of the Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Research
* 490.3.3 Records of the Office of the Inspector General
* 490.4 MOTION PICTURES (GENERAL) 1961-71 236 reels
* 490.5 STILL PICTURES (GENERAL) 1961-91 741,564 images
490.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY
Established: As an operating agency in the Department of State by Department of State Delegation of Authority 85-11, effective March 3, 1961, pursuant to EO 10924, March 1, 1961. Recognized legislatively by the Peace Corps Act (75 Stat. 612), September 22, 1961.
Transfers: To newly established ACTION by Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1971, effective July 1, 1971; to autonomous agency status within ACTION by EO 12137, May 16, 1979; to independent agency status by title VI of the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1981 (95 Stat. 1540), February 21, 1982. Functions: Administers and coordinates federal international volunteer and related domestic volunteer programs.
Finding Aids: Preliminary Inventory included as part of the Preliminary Inventory of RG 362, which formerly included Peace Corps records, in National Archives microfiche edition of preliminary inventories.
Security-Classified Records: This record group may include material that is security-classified.
Related Records: Record copies of publications of the Peace Corps in RG 287, Publications of the U.S. Government. General Records of the Department of State, RG 59. Records of ACTION, RG 362.
RECORDS
RECORD TYPES RECORD LOCATIONS QUANTITIES
Textual Records Washington Area 68 cu. ft.
Motion Pictures College Park 236 reels
Still Pictures College Park 741,564 images
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490.2 GENERAL RECORDS OF THE PEACE CORPS
1961-72
54 lin. ft.
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490.2.1 Records of the Office of the Director
Textual Records: General correspondence ("Director's Chrono File"), 1961-65. Subject file, 1961-66. Correspondence of Acting Director Bill Moyers, 1963. Correspondence and public statements of Director R. Sargent Shriver, 1963-66. Correspondence and other records of Director Jack Vaughn, 1966-68. Correspondence relating to individual countries ("Country File"), 1962-63. Miscellaneous correspondence, 1961-66. Summaries of incoming letters, 1961-63. Summaries of actions taken at staff meetings, 1961-64. Interim policy directives, 1961-66. Lists of approved Peace Corps programs ("Matrixes") and related correspondence, 1970-72.
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490.2.2 Records of the Executive Secretariat
Textual Records: Correspondence of the Executive Secretariat ("Chrono Files"), 1962-63. Copies of letters sent by R. Sargent Shriver, Bill Moyers, and members of the Executive Secretariat ("Executive Secretariat Chron File"), 1961-65.
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490.2.3 Records of the East Asia and Pacific Regional Office
Textual Records: Training files, 1961-70.
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490.3 RECORDS OF SUPPORT OFFICES
1961-71
34 lin. ft.
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490.3.1 Records of the Office of Administration and Finance
Textual Records: Records of the Administrative Services Division, consisting of superseded Peace Corps Manual issuances, 1964-71; Interim Policy Directives, 1961-66; and Management Notices, 1961- 65. Records of the Budget Division, consisting of records relating to costs of training and overseas activities, 1965-71; and briefing books for budget hearings, 1963-66.
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490.3.2 Records of the Office of Planning, Evaluation, and
Research
Textual Records: Copies of letters sent by Deputy Associate Director Joseph G. Colemen, 1964-66. Records of the Division of Evaluation, consisting of country program evaluations, 1961-67; evaluations of training given to Peace Corps volunteers, 1961-63; and close-of-service conference reports, 1963-70.
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490.3.3 Records of the Office of the Inspector General
Textual Records: Country reports, 1963-64. Subject file, 1963-64.
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490.4 MOTION PICTURES (GENERAL)
1961-71
236 reels
Films created, commissioned, or acquired by the Peace Corps, documenting the training of volunteers for service in various countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America; Peace Corps activities in agriculture, education, and family planning; and appearances by President John F. Kennedy and Peace Corps Directors R. Sargent Shriver and Jack Vaughn, 1961-71.
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490.5 STILL PICTURES (GENERAL)
1961-91
741,564 images
Photographic Prints and Proof Sheets (190,011 images): Portraits of Peace Corps staff, 1963-87 (SP, 25,000 images). Activities of directors and other staff, and notable persons, 1961-90 (DA, EH, G; 17,300 images). Training in Hilo, HI, and views of Hawaii, 1963 (HT, 38 images). Activities of volunteers overseas, 1961-90 (FC, FCS; 139,500 images). Views of Afghanistan, taken by volunteers Larry and Ann Nichols, 1968-69 (LAN, LANK; 1,782 images). Ghanian arts, crafts, and cultural activities, 1970 (GAC, 91 images). Images reproduced in the newsletter Peace Corps/Current, 1970-71 (PCC, 6,300 images).
Photographic Prints, Proof Sheets, Negatives, and Color Slides (24,900 images): Activities of Peace Corps directors and volunteers, 1961-90 (D, GC; 19,200 images). Training of volunteers in the United States, 1962-69 (T, 5,000 images). Headquarters staff members, used to illustrate Who's Who in the Peace Corps, 1963 (WW, 700 images).
Photographic Negatives (485,000 images): Activities of Peace Corps directors and staff, and overseas volunteers, including some that match photographic prints described above, 1962-91 (AC, C, F, N, PC, R, STA).
Color Slides (41,524 images): Public affairs activities, 1968-79 (GK, 481 images). Activities of volunteers overseas, 1961-83 (CK, KM; 40,200 images). Presentations about the Peace Corps, 1971-81 (AV, 843 images).
Posters (129 images): Recruiting Peace Corps volunteers, publicizing the Peace Corps Partnership Program, and commemorating Peace Corps anniversaries, 1962-90. (P, 128 images). Peace Corps recruiting, 1980 (PP, 1 image).
Bibliographic note: Web version based on Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States. Compiled by Robert B. Matchette et al. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1995.
3 volumes, 2428 pages.
Ordering information
This Web version is updated from time to time to include records processed since 1995.
