The University of Chicago Library > The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center > Finding Aids > Guide to the World Citizens Association Central Committee Records 1939-1953
© 2006 University of Chicago Library
| Title: | World Citizens Association. Central Committee. Records |
|---|---|
| Dates: | 1939-1953 |
| Size: | 5.5 linear ft. (11 boxes) |
| Repository: |
Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center |
| Abstract: | The World Citizens Association was founded in Chicago in 1939 under the patronage of Anita McCormick Blaine. The Association worked for world community awareness and toward promoting the practice of solving problems from an international point of view. |
The collection is open for research.
When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: World Citizens Association. Central Committee. Records, [Box #, Folder #], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library
The World Citizens Association was an outgrowth of S. de Madariaga's attempts at founding an American division of the World Foundation. Madariaga advanced this endeavor with the help of Ruth Cranston of Boston and Ann Morgan of New York. The World Citizens Association was founded in Chicago in 1939 and was financed solely by Mrs. Anita (Emmons) McCormick Blaine. It was a membership organization with fees of one dollar, which entitled members to all the Associations publications. Additionally, members at large, that are those members who were not part of the Central Committee of which the Executive Committee was a part, offered no direct voice in the development of the organization.
The Central Committee, headed by Ray Lyman Wilbur and later by Mrs. Blaine herself, met rarely. The majority of the work of the Association was carried on by an Executive Committee composed of: Anita Blaine (Chairman), Quincy Wright (Secretary), Edwin H. Cassels (Treasurer), and an executive director and other staff. The executive directors were Roger S. Greene (1939), Edwin C. Clough (1940-1941), Henri Bonnet (1941-1943), Jean Miner (1943-1945), and Virginia Roderick (1945-1953) consecutively.
The Association did not advocate a specific plan for world political organization, but rather was primarily interested in arousing an interest in and a sense of the importance of a new approach to international relations, pointing towards the creation of a climate of opinion in the United States that would permit the United States Government to participate more fully in some kind of reorientation of political relations of national states.
In an attempt to increase public awareness around international issues, the Association published various reports and articles and distributed them via a free mailing list that at one time was composed of as many as 150,000 names. The Association also held a conference in 1941, which they had hoped to be the first of a series. The Owentsia Conference led to the production of a report that was eventually circulated widely, and whose object was the examination of the questions regarding a system of international relations.
Like Madariaga's World Foundation, the Association favored establishing and sponsoring local groups owing allegiance in principle to the Central Committee. Only one group however, the Chicago Group (whose papers are now in the MSS collection of the University), was ever established. The papers of the Association contain much material relating to the Chicago Group.
Contains correspondence, financial records, minutes, and information on the history of the Association and World Foundation groups, manuscripts, publications, speeches, reports, membership files, and a scrapbook. Material relates to the administration of the Association, publications and activities sponsored by the Association, and cooperative efforts with similar organizations. Includes files of Edwin H. Cassels, treasurer and an executive director. Also includes correspondence of members and officers of the Association, including Frank Aydelotte, Anita M. Blaine, Henri Bonnet, Edwin Clough, Edwin Embree, Paul Kellogg, Adlai Stevenson, Henry W. Toll, Ray Lyman Wilbur, and Quincy Wright.
World Citizens Association. Chicago Group. Records, 1939-1943.
Series I: Edwin H. Cassels' Files |
| Box 1 Folder 1 | Financial Reports, 1 January, 1940-June, 1953 |
| Box 1 Folder 2 | Treasurer's File, 1945 on |
| Box 1 Folder 3 | Treasurer's File, 1944 |
| Box 1 Folder 4 | Treasurer's File, 1943 |
| Box 1 Folder 5 | Treasurer's File, 1942 |
| Box 1 Folder 6 | Treasurer's File, 1941 |
| Box 1 Folder 7 | Treasurer's File, 1940, I |
| Box 1 Folder 8 | Treasurer's File, 1940, II |
| Box 2 Folder 1 | Treasurer's Files, 1930-1939, I |
| Box 2 Folder 2 | Treasurer's Files, 1930-1939, II |
| Box 2 Folder 3 | Budget |
| Box 2 Folder 4 | Assistant Treasurer's Account Book |
| Box 2 Folder 5 | Book of the Conference |
| Box 2 Folder 6 | Owentsia Conference |
| Box 2 Folder 7 | Cassels, Edwin H.: World Foundation I |
| Box 3 Folder 1 | Cassels, Edwin H.: World Foundation II |
| Box 3 Folder 2 | [J.F.C. (Jay Franklin)] |
| Box 3 Folder 3 | Mrs Blaine's Guarantees to the Association |
| Box 3 Folder 4 | American Friends of Poland |
| Box 3 Folder 5 | Bureau of Education, United Nations |
| Box 3 Folder 6 | International Relations Speakers Bureau |
| Box 3 Folder 7 | Jean Miner |
| Box 3 Folder 8 | The World At the Crossroads, Pam. IV |
Series II: History of the Association |
| Box 4 Folder 1 | World Foundation-Institutional Origin of the WCA, Material on |
| Box 4 Folder 2 | World Foundation, Membership List |
| Box 4 Folder 3 | World Foundation, Group I and II, New York, correspondence to Mrs. Edward Longstreth |
| Box 4 Folder 4 | World Foundation, Group I Bulletins |
| Box 4 Folder 5 | World Foundation Groups |
| Box 4 Folder 6 | World Foundation, Shanghai Group |
| Box 4 Folder 7 | World Foundation, Stanford Group |
| Box 4 Folder 8 | World Foundation, various printed material sent in connection with |
| Box 4 Folder 9 | World Citizens Association, Chicago Group (information dealing with its dissolution) |
| Box 4 Folder 10 | Inquiries and Replies, re history and activities of the Association |
| Box 4 Folder 11 | Dissolution of the Association |
Series III: Publications of the Association |
| Box 4 Folder 1 | Proposed Publications |
| Box 4 Folder 2 | Proposed Handbook of the Association |
| Box 4 Folder 3 | General Correspondence, re Distribution of Pamphlets and Books |
| Box 4 Folder 4 | The Price of Peace |
| Box 4 Folder 5 | World Government or Anarchy, Clarence Streit (Union Now) |
| Box 4 Folder 6 | This Shrinking World, Eugene Staley |
| Box 4 Folder 7 | W. A. White Folder |
| Box 4 Folder 8 | Publications, drafts |
| Box 5 Folder 1 | "Current Publications of the WCA" |
| Box 5 Folder 2 | WCA Mailing List, report by Jean Miner |
| Box 5 Folder 3 | The United Nations, What They Are, What They May Become |
| Box 5 Folder 4 | The United Nations on the Way |
| Box 5 Folder 5 | Outlines of the Future |
| Box 5 Folder 6 | The World's Destiny and the United States |
| Box 5 Folder 7 | The World's Destiny and the United States |
| Box 5 Folder 8 | Letters of Acknowledgment, The World's Destiny and the United States |
| Box 5 Folder 9 | Letters of Acknowledgment, The United Nations on the Way, The United Nations, What They Are, What They May Become (comment on) |
| Box 5 Folder 10 | The World at the Crossroads, ms, typed, with corrections |
| Box 5 Folder 11 | The World at the Crossroads, ms and correspondence relating thereto |
| Box 5 Folder 12 | Stuart Haydon, 1947, 1948 |
| Box 5 Folder 13 | Stuart Haydon, 1946 |
| Box 5 Folder 14 | Stuart Haydon, 1945 |
| Box 5 Folder 15 | Notes on Conference |
| Box 5 Folder 16 | Reports |
| Box 5 Folder 17 | Reviews and Listings |
| Box 5 Folder 18 | Acknowledgements (World At the Crossroads) |
| Box 5 Folder 19 | Acknowledgements with Comments, World At the Crossroads |
Series IV: Conference of Experts (Owentsia Conference, 1941) |
| Box 6 Folder 1 | The World's Destiny and the United States, Summary of Proceedings |
| Box 6 Folder 2 | Form Invitations |
| Box 6 Folder 3 | Conference of Experts |
| Box 6 Folder 4 | Committee for Conference on World Affairs |
Series V: Cooperation with other organizations |
| Box 6 Folder 1 | American Friends of Poland |
| Box 6 Folder 2 | Chicago Group, WCA |
| Box 6 Folder 3 | Chicago Group, WCA, Student Council |
| Box 6 Folder 4 | Commission to Study the Organized of Peace |
| Box 6 Folder 5 | International Relations Center |
| Box 6 Folder 6 | International Relations Speaker Bureau |
| Box 6 Folder 7 | League of Nations Associations |
| Box 6 Folder 8 | Library of International Relations |
| Box 6 Folder 9 | Pan American Council |
| Box 6 Folder 10 | Plans for Cooperation with other Organizations |
| Box 6 Folder 11 | Provisional Coordinating Committee, WCA |
| Box 6 Folder 12 | William Allen White Committee |
| Box 6 Folder 13 | Wright, Mrs. Quincy |
| Box 6 Folder 14 | Bonnet, Henri |
| Box 6 Folder 15 | Clough, Edwin C. |
| Box 6 Folder 16 | Greene, Roger S. |
| Box 6 Folder 17 | Win-the-Peace Committee (Washburne, Carleton) |
Series VI: Plans and Proposals |
| Box 7 Folder 1 | Proposed Programs for the Work of |
| Box 7 Folder 2 | Pins (for the Student Council) |
| Box 7 Folder 3 | Radio |
| Box 7 Folder 4 | Resolution and Telegrams to the President and Officials of the Government and Public Leaders |
| Box 7 Folder 5 | Documentary Films |
| Box 7 Folder 6 | Committee on Policy and Purpose |
Series VII: Correspondence of Members and Officers of the Association |
| Box 7 Folder 7 | Aydelotte, Frank |
| Box 7 Folder 8 | Blaine, Anita |
| Box 7 Folder 9 | Burlingham, Charles C. |
| Box 7 Folder 10 | Cassels, Edwin H. |
| Box 7 Folder 11 | Embree, Edwin R. |
| Box 7 Folder 12 | Kellog, Paul K. |
| Box 7 Folder 13 | Ptaszek, Melaine |
| Box 7 Folder 14 | Stevenson, Adlai |
| Box 7 Folder 15 | Toll, Henry W. |
| Box 7 Folder 16 | Wilbur, Ray Lyman |
| Box 7 Folder 17 | Wright, Quincy |
| Box 7 Folder 18 | Wymack, W. W. |
| Box 8 Folder 1 | Former Members of the Central Committee |
| Box 8 Folder 2 | Circular Letters to Members of Committee from Roger S. Greene |
| Box 8 Folder 3 | Clough, Edwin C. |
| Box 8 Folder 4 | Memoranda for Henri Bonnet for Executive Committee |
| Box 8 Folder 5 | Bonnet, Henri |
Series VIII: Membership Files of the Central Committee |
| Box 8 Folder 1 | Proposed Members of the Central Committee |
| Box 8 Folder 2 | Letters by Quincy Wright to Prospective Members of the Central Committee |
| Box 8 Folder 3 | Members of the Central Committee, WCA |
Series IX: Tax Matters |
| Box 8 Folder 1 | Federal Income Tax on Association's Exemption |
Series X: Inventories |
| Box 8 Folder 1 | , 1946 |
| Box 8 Folder 2 | of National Office and Chicago Group, WCA |
Series XI: Director's Office Financial Matters |
| Box 8 Folder 1 | Director's Office Account Book |
Series XII: Miscellaneous Manuscripts and Reports |
| Box 8 Folder 1 | Haydon, Stuart Mss, typewritten |
| Box 8 Folder 2 | Mowrer, Edgar A., Special Representative in Europe for Association; correspondence and reports |
Series XIV: General Correspondence |
| Box 9 Folder 1 | "A" |
| Box 9 Folder 2 | "B" |
| Box 9 Folder 3 | "C" |
| Box 9 Folder 4 | "D" - "E" |
| Box 9 Folder 5 | "F" |
| Box 9 Folder 6 | "G" - "H" |
| Box 9 Folder 7 | "I" - "K" |
| Box 9 Folder 8 | "L" - "M" |
| Box 9 Folder 9 | Membership Letter, 1947-1949 |
| Box 9 Folder 10 | Membership Letters |
| Box 9 Folder 11 | "N" - "O" |
| Box 9 Folder 12 | Postage Meter |
| Box 9 Folder 13 | "R" |
| Box 9 Folder 14 | "S" |
| Box 9 Folder 15 | "T" - "U" |
| Box 9 Folder 16 | United National |
| Box 9 Folder 17 | "V" - "Z" |
| Box 9 Folder 18 | Wetter, A. H., Lessor of WCA Offices |
Series XV: Minutes, Agenda, and Material Related Thereto |
| Box 10 Folder 1 | Executive Committee Meeting |
| Box 10 Folder 2 | Executive Committee, For Attention of |
| Box 10 Folder 3 | Material of Roger S. Greene, in re Executive Committee Meeting |
| Box 10 Folder 4 | Minutes, April 20, 1938-November 18, 1938 |
| Box 10 Folder 5 | Minutes, December 5, 1938-February 10, 1953 |
| Box 10 Folder 6 | Minutes, April 9-10, 1938-November 8, 1941 |
| Box 10 Folder 7 | Minutes, December 9, 1941-March 31, 1943 |
| Box 11 | Scrapbook 1: Book Reviews and Notices |