Citizenship Education Project - Correspondence., 12/17/1957-07/25/1991

File — Box: 1, Folder: 1

Identifier: 28391

Collection-level Scope and Content Note

From the Collection:

This collection of papers from Earl J. Wilson consists of his files, maintained during his years with the U.S. Information Service, dealing with the development of democracy in U.S. foreign policy. Material includes the manuscript of an unpublished book by Mr. Wilson on the subject, entitled,'Fumbling with Democracy: Our Failure to Promote It Abroad.' There is also a quantity of information in the form of published and unpublished reports and correspondence concerning USIA's Citizenship Education Program. CEP was originally the idea of William Russell, deputy director for education, International Cooperation Agency, and dean of Columbia University Teachers College. His aim was to improve the education of youth in the concepts of American democracy. In 1956 , laboratory practices were set up and ICA staff successfully promoted CEP theories and practices to U.S. schools. A pilot project was also established in Guatemala. However, ICA was not interested in an international approach, and after Russell's death, Mr. Wilson adopted the project to promote to USIA. The program did not receive enthusiastic support from USIA; however, under Hank Arnold, the new public affairs officer for USIA in Korea (1956), the program was implemented as part of the new country plan. In 1957, while at his fifth post in Mexico City , Mr. Wilson also found support for CEP. It was written into the country plan. In addition, the post had a magazine entitled 'Saber' ('To Know') edited by Luz Zea, which specialized in articles on the American educational system. Together, Ms. Zea and Mr.Wilson collaborated on CEP's first pamphlet, 'Senderos de Libertad' ('Pathsof Liberty'). By the end of 1958, CEP and related projects had been phased out by USIA. Other material in this collection includes a file on the Democracy Program,a non-governmental effort to promote democracy abroad begun in 1982 under the auspices of Democratic and Republican parties, and the bipartisan American Political Foundation. Another file contains a copy of lectures given by USIA to officers of the Thai Armed Forces, as part of the National security Indoctrination Program (1954). Also included in the collection are newsclippings collected by Mr. Wilson on U.S. foreign policy.

Span dates: 1957 - 1990 Bulk dates: 1960 - 1970 Extent: 1 linear foot; 2 boxes

Dates

12/17/1957-07/25/1991

Collection-level Access Restrictions

Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.

Extent

From the Collection: 1.75 Linear Feet (4 boxes)

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Container Summary

Contains correspondence received and sent by Earl J. WIlson concerning the USIA Citizenship Education Project, an educational program for the communication of democratic concepts to foreign countries, including Mexico, and Korea. Arranged chronologically. Includes: Akers, Robert W. (deputy director, USIA) - TLS to EJW, 12/8/66. Bradford, Saxton (deputy director of Policy and Plans, USIA) - TLS carbon (form letter) dated December 1957. Includes attached proposal entilted, "Bases of Freedom," which was a revamped version of CEP and a response to the military version, "Militant Liberty" (an anti-communist program developed by John Broger, a former president of the Far East Broadcasting Company in Manila, and a Pentagon official). [For a detailed description of CEP and related projects, see transcript of Mr. Wilson's interview in the Foreign Affairs Oral History Program collection, pp.101-118.] Drummond, Roscoe (editor NY Herald Tribune) - TLS from EJW, 4/8/60. This is a memo entitled, "Ideas for Peace." 3 pp. Lavin, Bernard J. (USIA public affairs officer to Seoul) - TLS to EJW,6/14/83. McDermott, Jack C. (USIA public affairs officer, Mexico) - TNS,3/22/60. Ment, David, dir. Special Collections, Archives, Columbia University Teachers College, NY -1 TLS, 1 TLS (copy) to EJW, re CEP at Teachers College (1949-1957), and material concerning CEP on deposit at Columbia University. Includes reference to William Vincent, director of CEP at Teachers College during that period, and to Richard W. Streb's dissertation entitle "A History of the Citizenship Education Project: A Model Curricular Study," 396 pp., Columbia University Teachers College, 1979. Moore, Daniel E. (USIA colleague of EJW) - ALS, 1/31/1967 + TL carbon reply from EJW, 2/3/1967; and TLS, 10/28/1970 in reply to TL carbon, 7/1/1970 from EJW re. CEP and the Senior Seminar in Foreign Policy. Murrow, Edward R. (director, USIA) - TLS to USIA staff, 4/22/61. Sorenson, Thomas C. (deputy director of Policy and Plans, USIA) - TLS to EJW, 4/24/61; memorandum to EJW, 3/13/61. Quan, Graciela V. (chairman, Inter-American Commission of Women, Organization of American States) - TLS to EJW, 3/24/60. Re. CEP's pamphlet, "Senderos de Libertad." Includes typed copy of "Senderos de Libertad." Zea, Luz (editor of "Saber," USIA newsletter in Mexico; cowriter with EJW of "Senderos de Libertad.") - 6 TLS to EJW, 10/4/60, 3/10/61, 5/17/61, 10/18/61, 4/3/63, 7/20/66. Zorthian, Barry (public affairs officer, Vietnam, USIA) - TLS xerox from EJW, 5/19/64, w/ reply from Zorthian to EJW, TLS, 5/27/64.

Subjects and Associated Physical Materials

CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION PROJECT - CORRESPONDENCE ABOUT: Typed Letter Signed

AKERS, ROBERT W. - CORRESPONDENCE TO WILSON: Typed Letter Signed

MURROW, EDWARD R. - CORRESPONDENCE TO USIA: Typed Letter Signed

SORENSON, THOMAS C. - CORRESPONDENCE TO WILSON: Typed Letter Signed

ZORTHIAN, BARRY - CORRESPONDENCE TO WILSON: Typed Letter Signed

MEXICO - CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION PROJECT - CORRESPONDENCE ABOUT: Typed Letter Signed

CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION PROJECT - MEXICO, KOREA - CORRES. ABOUT: Typed Letter Signed

ZEA, LUZ - CORRESPONDENCE TO WILSON: Typed Letter Signed

"SENDEROS DE LIBERTAD" - CITIZEN EDUCATION PROJECT PAMPHLET: Printed Item

QUAN, GRACIELA - CORRESPONDENCE TO WILSON: Typed Letter Signed

KOREA - CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION PROECT - CORRESPONDENCE ABOUT: Typed Letter Signed

BRADFORD, SAXTON - CORRESPONDENCE RE. "BASES OF FREEDOM": Typed Letter Signed

"BASES OF FREEDOM" - PROPOSAL (USIA): Typescript

MILITANT LIBERTY - REFERENCE: Typescript

BROGER, JOHN - REFERENCE RE. MILITANT LIBERTY: Typescript

MCDERMOTT, JACK C. - CORRESPONDENCE: Typed Letter Signed

LAVIN, BERNARD J. - CORRESPONDENCE TO WILSON: Typed Letter Signed

MOORE, DANIEL E. - CORRESPONDENCE TO WILSON: Typed Letter Signed

FOREIGN POLICY, SENIOR SEMINAR IN - SEE: MOORE, DANIEL: Typed Letter Signed

DRUMMOND, ROSCOE - CORRESPONDENCE FROM WILSON: Typed Letter Signed