American University's New Peace Corps Archive Holds Opening Symposium
Bob Klein was a kind, considerate man with lots of foresight. He is missed.
Bender Library Establishes Peace Corps Community Archive
The Bender Library is pleased to announce the newly established Peace Corps Community Archive (PCCA) an exciting new joint
initiative with the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of International Service.
The PCCA will collect and exhibit materials documenting the experiences and impact of individuals who have served in the Peace Corps. The archive will serve as a research level collection for use by students and scholars studying peace diplomacy. The archive also aims to increase awareness of the history of the Peace Corps and interest in serving today.
Bender Library is reaching out to Returned Peace Corps Volunteers in the DC area to donate their personal memorabilia. For more information about this exciting new archive or to make donation inquiries, please contact University Archivist Susan McElrath at archives@american.edu <mailto:archives@american.edu> or 202-885-3197.
American University recently ranked second in the country for medium-sized colleges and universities for the number of Peace Corps volunteers produced.
“Waging Peace Through a Lifetime of Service” features:
* An interactive symposium consisting of several short
presentations from AU community members whose lives have
been enriched by the Peace Corps as well as tables
displaying Peace Corps archive pieces the University has
collected thus far, and
* A reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres, where attendees
and symposium participants may discuss the significance
of the Peace Corps Community Archive and celebrate
American University’s strong partnership with the Peace
Corps.
The symposium will feature a number of engaging speakers, which will include the following (in alphabetical order):
- Shannon Alston, AU MA, International Peace and Conflict Resolution ’14 (expected)
- Esther Benjamin, SIS/MA ’92, CAS/MA ’95, Associate Director for Global Operations, Peace Corps
- Charles “Chic” Dambach, Peace Builder and Author
- Nancy Davenport, AU University Librarian
- Congressman Sam Farr, California’s 20th District
- Michael Gibbons, Adjunct Professional Lecturer, School of Education, Teaching and Health, AU College of Arts and Sciences
- James Goldgeier, PhD, Dean, AU School of International Service
- Ambassador Vicki Huddleston, Foreign Policy Advisor and Commentator
- Shelby Lane, AU Dual MA, International Peace and Conflict Resolution; Teaching Secondary Education ’14 (expected)
- Robert Pastor, PhD, Professor, AU School of International Service; Director of the Center of North American Studies; Co-Director of the Center for Democracy and Election Management
- Colman McCarthy, Adjunct Professor, AU School of International Service; Director for the Center for Teaching Peace
Pape Samb, SPA/MPA ’11, President and CEO Phelps Stokes Fund - Bob Schlehuber, AU MA, International Peace and Conflict Resolution ’14 (expected)
- Ambassador Dane F. Smith, Jr., PhD, Adjunct Professor, AU School of International Service
- Esther Spindler, AU MS, Development Management ’14 (expected)
- Pat Wand, AU University Librarian Emerita and Adjunct Professor
- Elizabeth Worden, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Education, Teaching, and Health, AU College of Arts and Sciences
While the event is open to all, we highly encourage the following audiences to take advantage of this unique event:
- AU alumni and students who are returning Peace Corps volunteers
- AU faculty and staff
- Individuals who are interested in the SIS Peace Corps Master’s International Program
- Individuals connected to or interested in the Peace Corps
Complimentary parking is available in the garage below the School of International Service Building and across the street in the Nebraska Avenue lot.
Join the conversation today and follow the Twitter chatter by searching for #AULifeTimeOfService.
This event is free and open to the public. Please register online by March 15, 2013.
For more information or to register for this event, please click here <http://alumniassociation.american.edu/s/1395/event.aspx?sid=1395&gid=1&pgid=1939&cid=3646&ecid=3646&crid=0&calpgid=338&calcid=1401>.
Peace Corps Archive Symposium
Date: 3/21/2013
Time: 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Location
SIS Abramson Family Founder’s Room
School of International Service
Corner of Nebraska Avenue and New Mexico Avenue
Washington, DC
Contact Information
Stephanie Block
Associate Director of Alumni Relations
202-885-1616
sisalum@american.edu
American University’s Archive is an exciting and important development in the preservation of Peace Corps history. It would not have been possible without the vision of Robert Klein (Ghana I). Bob
originally began interviewing members of his own Ghana I group and then expanded his efforts into the RPCV Oral History Project. Through Bob’s efforts over 400 oral histories are now housed at the
JFK Presidential Library.
Bob wanted to see a permanent place dedicated solely to Peace Corps history and research and began work with RPCV Pat Wand (Colombia VIII) Librarian Emerita at American University to make such an facility possible. Sadly, Bob died before the plan could be translated into reality. Contributions to the Robert Klein Memorial Fund at American University made the initial planning for this expanded archive possible.
Bob Klein was a kind, considerate man with lots of foresight. He is missed.