2011.09.21: September 21, 2011: Peace Corps Donates Treasure Trove to American History Museum
Peace Corps Online:
Directory:
Ghana:
Peace Corps Ghana :
Peace Corps Ghana: Newest Stories:
2011.09.21: September 21, 2011: Peace Corps Donates Treasure Trove to American History Museum
Peace Corps Donates Treasure Trove to American History Museum
Aaron Williams, the current director of the Peace Corps who served in the Dominican Republic in the late sixties, presided over the donation and reflected on the scope of impact Corps members have had, as well as their projects around the world today. "Their engagement efforts range from teaching science in rural high schools in Tanzania, to youth development in Jordan, to promoting computer literacy in the Ukraine," he said. "They're distributing bed nets to stem the spread of malaria in Senegal and teaching health and hygiene to school children in Peru."
Peace Corps Donates Treasure Trove to American History Museum
Peace Corps Donates Treasure Trove to American History Museum
Caption: Sign from the Peace Corps' first office in Ghana. Photo courtesy American History Museum
For Harry Rubenstein, chair of the Division of Political History at the American History Museum, the landmark collection of Peace Corps artifacts donated at a ceremony this morning is more than a memento of the program's 50 years of existence. To him, the 43 objects collected-recruitment posters, training manuals and other artifacts-are a confirmation of American ideals, just as much as the relics from our country's founding.
"I look at these objects and think about one of our most treasured objects that's on display, on the third floor, the desk that Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on, and I see a direct connection between the two," Rubenstein said at the press conference held to celebrate the donation. "It's a belief in this American spirit, and what it means not only for the American people, but for the people of the world."
Aaron Williams, the current director of the Peace Corps who served in the Dominican Republic in the late sixties, presided over the donation and reflected on the scope of impact Corps members have had, as well as their projects around the world today. "Their engagement efforts range from teaching science in rural high schools in Tanzania, to youth development in Jordan, to promoting computer literacy in the Ukraine," he said. "They're distributing bed nets to stem the spread of malaria in Senegal and teaching health and hygiene to school children in Peru."
Williams stressed the transformative nature of the program, not only for the populations served in foreign countries but for the Corps members themselves. "It transformed me from a young man on the South Side of Chicago, where I was the first one in my family to go to college, and gave me a chance to see the world," he said.
As part of the Peace Corps' 50th anniversary, the organization reached out to its alumni base for donations of significant artifacts. Members responded by contributing their graduation certificates, international ID cards, and even telegrams sent to their parents upon their arrival in foreign countries. The Peace Corps itself also donated many artifacts, such as the sign from the organization's first office in Ghana and an early medical kit used in the field.
The wide variety of artifacts will become part of a new collection specific to the organization. "This collection will house a treasure trove of Peace Corps artifacts," Williams said. "It tells a story of the brave pioneers who first brought the Peace Corps to life, and thousands upon thousands of Americans who have since answered the call."
Stacy Rhodes, the current chief of staff of the Peace Corps who served in Bolivia from 1968 to 1970, was one of the alumni who dug through their things to find a donation. He contributed a small pamphlet, called the Peace Corps Reader, which he originally received during training at Utah State University just before heading to Bolivia. "I just found it when I went back through my old Peace Corps trunk, where I was keeping a variety of things," he said. "I thought, well, maybe they'll be interested in this. I had no idea, but I'm so thrilled and honored that the Smithsonian thought it was worth keeping."
Williams hopes that the collection will have an enduring impact in motivating future Americans to serve. "While times have changed, the needs persist. The inequities that existed half a century ago still loom large in our world," he said. "In honoring those who have served, this will serve as an inspiration, I am certain, to those who believe they have something to give, to those who want to be part of something bigger than themselves."
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: September, 2011; Peace Corps Ghana; Directory of Ghana RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Ghana RPCVs; Museums; 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps; Exhibits
When this story was posted in October 2011, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| Peace Corps Featured at Smithsonian Take a look at our photo essay of Peace Corps' featured program at the 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington DC to see how the festival showcased the work of Peace Corps volunteers in economic development and income generation; ways volunteers have helped support local groups to help educate communities; and food and cooking traditions that have played a role in the Peace Corps experience. New: Enjoy photos from the second week of the exposition. |
| Peace Corps: The Next Fifty Years As we move into the Peace Corps' second fifty years, what single improvement would most benefit the mission of the Peace Corps? Read our op-ed about the creation of a private charitable non-profit corporation, independent of the US government, whose focus would be to provide support and funding for third goal activities. Returned Volunteers need President Obama to support the enabling legislation, already written and vetted, to create the Peace Corps Foundation. RPCVs will do the rest. |
| How Volunteers Remember Sarge As the Peace Corps' Founding Director Sargent Shriver laid the foundations for the most lasting accomplishment of the Kennedy presidency. Shriver spoke to returned volunteers at the Peace Vigil at Lincoln Memorial in September, 2001 for the Peace Corps 40th. "The challenge I believe is simple - simple to express but difficult to fulfill. That challenge is expressed in these words: PCV's - stay as you are. Be servants of peace. Work at home as you have worked abroad. Humbly, persistently, intelligently. Weep with those who are sorrowful, Care for those who are sick. Serve your wives, serve your husbands, serve your families, serve your neighbors, serve your cities, serve the poor, join others who also serve," said Shriver. "Serve, Serve, Serve. That's the answer, that's the objective, that's the challenge." |
Read the stories and leave your comments.
Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.
Story Source: Smithsonian Magazine
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Ghana; Museums; 50th; Exhibits
PCOL47324
69