United Nations Association, Illinois and Greater Chicago Divisions records, 1947-1980

Processed with funding provided by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

This collection is open for research use.

Copyright may be retained by the creators of items, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law, unless otherwise noted.

Gift of United Nations Association of the United States of America, Illinois and Greater Chicago Division: 2010.0041).

United Nations Association, Illinois and Greater Chicago Divisions records (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, and box/folder number of a specific item.

Correspondence, newsletters, press releases, brochures, meeting minutes, financial records, itineraries, speeches, newspaper clippings, yearbooks, and other records of United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA), Illinois and Greater Chicago Divisions, the local chapter of a nonpartisan organization to increase awareness of the work of the United Nations. The majority of the collection pertains to meetings and events hosted by the Chicago chapter, including speeches and speaker biographies and itineraries for world travel undertaken by members. Also present are subject files related to international issues of interest to the organization, such as the environment, hunger, and refugees.

The United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) was a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization with the purpose of increasing awareness and understanding of the work of the United Nations. The Illinois and Greater Chicago Divisions was a local chapter of the UNA-USA which hosted programs to educate the public and encourage participation in international affairs.

Related material at the Chicago History Museum, Research Center, includes an issues each of the UNA-USA Overview (call #: JX1 .U102 OVERSIZE) and the newsletter from the World Without War bookstore (call #: Z287.C4 W6 OVERSIZE).

• Names
  • United Nations
  • United Nations Association. Illinois and Greater Chicago Division--Archives
  • United Nations Association of the United States of America
• Subject
  • United Nations Association of the United States of America--Illinois and Greater Chicago Division
  • International relations
  • Political participation--Illinois--Chicago--20th Century
  • Social participation--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
• Geographic Coverage
  • Chicago (Ill.)--Intellectual life--20th century
  • United States--Foreign relations--20th century

The collection is arranged in three series.

Series 1. Publications and other printed material, 1972-1980 (box 1-3)

Series 1 consists of program books, yearbooks, correspondence, brochures, press releases, and other records related to the activities and interests of the UNA-USA, Illinois and Greater Chicago Divisions. Correspondence includes requests for advertising and contributions. Press releases include publications of the UNA-USA national organization, the United Nations, and the World Bank. Also present are subject files on topics including the environment, human rights, hunger, and refugees, as well as materials related to the UNESCO gift coupon program.

Series 2. Conferences and meetings, 1947-1980 (box 4-17)

Series 2 contains correspondence, programs, press releases, financial records, invitations, participant lists, itineraries, newspaper clippings, and other records related to meetings and programs of the UNA-USA, Illinois and Greater Chicago Divisions. Topics include annual meetings of the local chapter; UN Day, UN Week, Human Rights Day, and Model UN activities; and programs, such as conferences, workshops, lectures, and dinners. Also present are materials related to travel undertaken by members of the local chapter, including trips to South America, Mexico, Eastern Europe, China, India, and Africa, as well as to UN conferences in New York.

Series 3. Administrative records, 1950-1980(box 17-24)

Series 3 consists of correspondence, financial records, board of directors and committee minutes, newspaper clippings, press releases, and other administrative records of the UNA-USA, Illinois and Greater Chicago Divisions. Also present are articles, speeches, speaker biographies, and reports related to speakers at Chicago chapter events and programs.