Oral History Collection, ca. 1985-2012 | Archives of the American Field Service and AFS Intercultural Programs

By Nicole Milano

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Collection Overview

Title: Oral History Collection, ca. 1985-2012

Predominant Dates:1999-2007

ID: RG4/002

Creator: AFS Intercultural Programs

Extent: 6.0 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: This collection is partially processed into the following two series: Series 1: Pre-Legacy Interviews, ca. 1985-1995 and Series 2: Legacy Project, 1999-2007.

Languages: English, Spanish;Castilian, French

Abstract

The Archives of the American Field Service and AFS Intercultural Programs (AFS Archives) and AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc. staff have launched several initiatives to document the rich history of AFS through audio and visual oral history interviews. The Oral History Collection contains select transcripts, photographs, written histories, preparatory questionnaires, and more than 150 hours of audio and visual interviews with World War I and II ambulance drivers, present and former AFS Intercultural Programs staff, and prominent student exchange program Returnees over a period of nearly two decades.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The AFS Oral History Collection contains more than 150 hours of audio and visual interviews with World War I and II ambulance drivers, present and former AFS Intercultural Programs staff, and prominent student exchange program Returnees over a period of nearly two decades. The collection also includes select transcripts, photographs donated by ambulance drivers or taken during their interviews, written histories, and preparatory questionnaires and instructions for the interviews. The interviews give insight into various aspects of AFS history, including life as an ambulance driver in World Wars I and II, working with Stephen Galatti for the early student exchange programs, and the development and expansion of AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc.

For more information on the oral history initiatives, see the individual series and subseries descriptions.

Administrative Information

Alternate Extent Statement: 5 boxes

Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research only with advance notice, due to the necessary preparation of listening or viewing devices. Researchers are asked to use the digital versions of interviews first, when available. Researchers are asked to bring their own set of headphones when using this collection. Cotton gloves are required for the handling of all photographic material. The World War I interviews conducted in 1986-1987 are currently restricted until further notice due to their fragile physical condition.

Use Restrictions: Single photocopies or audio/visual copies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the collection must be submitted in writing to the Archives of the American Field Service and AFS Intercultural Programs. In the event that this research becomes a source for publication, a credit line indicating the Archives of the American Field Service and AFS Intercultural Programs is required. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright issues.

Acquisition Method: The World War II Oral History Project (which became known as the AFS Legacy Project) consisted of audio interviews completed by the American Field Service (AFS) ambulance drivers and sent to the AFS Archives at various dates, beginning in 1999. The World War I interviews were conducted or coordinated by William Foley, an AFS collector and AFS Archives volunteer. All other interviews were conducted through AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc. and the Archives of the American Field Service and AFS Intercultural Programs (AFS Archives), and all audio and visual material was transferred to the AFS Archives at various dates.

Appraisal Information: No items were deaccessioned, separated, or removed from the collection.

Preferred Citation: [Identification of item], [Date]; Oral History Collection; Archives of the American Field Service and AFS Intercultural Programs, New York, NY.

Processing Information: This collection was partially processed by AFS Archives staff at an unknown date and again by Nicole Milano between 2011-2012 and encoded in EAD by Nicole Milano in March 2011 under the scope of the 2010-2011 Basic Processing grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Pre-Legacy Interviews, ca. 1985-1995],
[Series 2: Legacy Project, 1999-2012],
[All]

Series 1: Pre-Legacy Interviews, ca. 1985-1995

This series includes interviews, the bulk of which are audio, conducted by AFS Intercultural Programs staff and volunteers prior to the AFS Legacy Project oral history initiative, which began in 1999.

For more information on the oral history initiatives, see the individual subseries descriptions.

Subseries 1A: World War I Driver Interviews, ca. 1985-1987

This subseries includescassette tapes of interviews conducted with World War I ambulance and camion drivers (including Edward S. Ingham and Edward A. Weeks, Jr.) by AFS collector and AFS Archives volunteer William Foley between 1985 and 1987.

Box 1

Subseries 1B: Staff Interviews, ca. 1985-1987

This subseries includes cassette tapes and transcripts (drafts) of undated staff interviews conducted with early and longtime staff members of AFS, including Robert M. Applewhite, Dorothy “Dot” Field, and Stephen H. Rhinesmith. These interviews were used in preparation for Orrick’s 1991 publication about the AFS student exchange programs entitled The First Thirty Years: 1947-1976.

Box 1

Subseries 1C: World War II 50^th Reunion Interviews, 1995

This subseries includes cassette tapes of interviews conducted with World War II ambulance drivers and former staff (including Henry M. “Bud” Wagner and Mr. and Mrs. John C. Cobb II) at the 50^th anniversary reunion for the World War II ambulance drivers held in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1995.

Box 1

Subseries 1D: World War II Interviews, 1988

This subseries includes one audio interview on a cassette tape conducted with World War II ambulance driver James A. Doughty, which was not part of a particular project or reunion. The interview was conducted by former AFS Archivist L.D. Geller in St. Augustine, Florida on April 6, 1988. There is also a list of questions available for this interview.

Series 2: Legacy Project, 1999-2012

This series includes audio and visual histories produced under the AFS Legacy Project, which was an effort of the AFS Archives and AFS Intercultural Programs to document the history and founding of the organization, and was funded by private donations from AFS Trustees, ambulance drivers, Returnees, and other supporters.

For more information on the oral history initiatives, see the individual subseries descriptions.

Subseries 2A: World War II Oral History Project, 1999-2000

The AFS Legacy Project began in 1999 as the World War II Oral History Project (also known as the World War II Driver Oral History Project, or the World War II Oral History Project Interviews), when the AFS Archives sent blank cassette tapes and recording devices to World War II ambulance drivers (including Arthur Howe, Jr. and Edwin R. Masback, Jr.), who were then interviewed by family members (or others) using AFS questionnaires created specifically for the project. This subseries includes driver interviews on audio cassette, as well as select transcriptions, written interviews, questionnaires, and photographs the drivers sent back to AFS with their interviews.

Box 2

Subseries 2B: Legacy Project, 2002-2012

The oral history initiative was renamed the AFS Legacy Project in the new millennium, and expanded to include audio and visual interviews with more ambulance drivers and founders, staff members, and prominent Returnees of the student exchange programs that began after World War II (including Sachiye M. Kuwamoto and Karin Eisele). This subseries also includes photographs from the May 2003 driver interviews conducted at the AFS International office on 23^rd Street in New York City, questionnaires for the staff interviews conducted after 1999, and the AFS Intercultural Programs-produced video Many Voices, One Story: AFS Ambulance Drivers and Founders Remember, which contains a compilation of interview clips from the AFS Legacy Project. AFS Intercultural Programs and the Archives of the American Field Service and AFS Intercultural Programs was named an official Partner of the Library of Congress Veterans History Project as a result of the project.

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