Title: Peace Corps Training Program, 1961-1966, n.d.

ID: RG 9/008

Extent: 4.8 Linear Feet

The Peace Corps was established on March 1, 1961, when President John F. Kennedy issued Executive Order No. 10924 establishing the Peace Corps on a temporary basis. The idea had first been proposed during the presidential campaign of 1960 in a speech Kennedy made at the University of Michigan.

Although similar aid programs to underdeveloped nations existed before this time, the Peace Corps filled the missing link in that it provided a pool of trained manpower to meet the urgent needs of people. Instead of providing military aid or technical assistance, the volunteers aided the country by teaching its people agricultural techniques, digging wells or demonstrating the use of better health and hygiene practices.

The Oberlin College Peace Corps training program began in the Summer of 1963. Under the direction of Donald Reich (Professor of Government at Oberlin) and placed in the College of Arts and Sciences, a twelve-week training program was conducted to prepare Volunteers for service as teachers in the French-speaking West African countries of the Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Gabon. Training occurred in such areas as Physical Education, French, American Studies, Civil Rights, Health, Math/Science, and World Affairs and Communism. In addition, an expedition to Chance Creek was planned so the recruits would have the benefit of a field experience before going to West Africa. The trainees were reviewed by a selection committee twice during the program and cuts were made for those who were not performing up to required standards.

The summer training program continued in 1964 and 1965 under the leadership of Paul Arnold (Professor of Art). The program peaked in 1964 when one hundred and thirty-eight participants enrolled. Part of their program consisted of further training at St. George's in Quebec, Canada.

In 1966 the program was directed by Lawrence Wilson (Professor of French and Italian). Under his leadership, volunteers began training for service in Chad. After one year, however, the training of Volunteers was discontinued at Oberlin College. The program was apparently terminated because the Peace Corps expected Oberlin College to train recruits for the Virgin Islands and the college declined.

During the four years the Peace Corps Training Program operated at Oberlin College, over two hundred and fifty volunteers from all over the country completed their training.

Author: Lisa Hicks

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Administrative Information

Scope and Contents:

This record group, consisting of five series, documents the activities of the Peace Corps Training Program that existed at Oberlin College from 1963-1966. Because the program trained volunteers for the French-speaking Ivory Coast, some of the documents are written in French.

Series I contains the administrative records of the training program from 1963-1966. Any information relating to the planning of the program is filed here. Examples of operational records are reports, schedules, financial statements, biographical data sheets about the trainees and staff hiring procedures.

Included in Series II, Correspondence, are the letters, notes and memorandum of both staff (Subseries 1) and trainees (Subseries 2) from 1962-1966. The correspondence subseries relating to staff is by far the most important. In the Director's files of Donald Reich, Paul Arnold and Lawrence Wilson is to be found documentation on the running of the training program.

By far the richest segment of records exist for Series III, Training Programs, 1963-1966. The African-American Institute (A.A.I.) documents contain the most complete information on any training program. The subseries is grouped with administrative records because that is the original order. Correspondence, exams, schedules and other information having to do with topics such as world issues, communism, domestic affairs, etc. are contained in this section as well.

Series IV consists of printed materials, 1963-1966. Maps, pamphlets about other Peace Corps programs as well as directories (lists of program participants) are found in this file.

Series V, Photographs, comprises three folders of black-and-white prints and contact sheets dating from 1963-66, two of which were, until 2012, filed in the general photographs subject files under Peace Corps. Folder one contains 2 ½ x 2 ½ -inch prints, uncredited. Folder two holds photographs taken by 1963 Peace Corps trainee Barbara (Twink) Stern. Folder three holds photographs and contact sheets by 1966 trainee Sidney Kamerman, taken in Quebec. An incomplete roll of 35mm negatives by Kamerman was removed to RG 32/6/5 Negatives: Peace Corps.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series I. Operating Records, 1961-1966 (2.6 l.f.)

The operating records of the Oberlin College Peace Corps Training Program. These records document the following administrative activities: staff selection criteria, training policies, budgets, contracts and trainee biographical data. The series is divided into nine subseries: 1. Finance, 2. Personnel, 3. Program Activities, 4. Reports. Some records are in French.

Series II. Correspondence, 1963-1966 (0.8 l.f.)

Consisting of letters, notes, memos and telegrams, primarily from the directors of the program during its four year existence. The correspondence series is divided into two subseries: 1. Staff and 2. Trainees. Documents written in French are to be found in both subseries.

Series III. Training Programs, 1963-1966 (0.8 l.f.)

Included are exams, syllabi, and schedules relating to the subjects that were taught in the training program. Each subject is a subseries: 1. African-American Institute, 2. American Studies/Civil Rights, 3. Area Studies, 4. Field Experience, 5. Foreign Languages, 6. Foyer Feminin, 7. Health, 8. Math/Science, 9. Physical Education, 10. Teaching English as a Foreign Language, 11. Laval Universite and St. George, and 12. World Affairs and Communism. Subseries seven contains materials in French, Baule, and Pidgin.

Series IV. Printed Materials, 1963-1966 (0.4 l.f.)

In this series are printed booklets, maps and newspaper clippings. The five subseries are as follows: 1. Directories, 2. Maps, 3. Newsletters and Newspaper Clippings, 4. Promotional Materials, and 5. African Student Work.

Series V. Photographs, 1963-1966, n.d. (0.2 l.f.)

Comprises three folders of black-and-white prints and contact sheets, most or all of which were taken by Peace Corps trainees in the field and in Oberlin.

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