Finding Aid |
1969-1986

RG XXI: Committee on Ethnic Problems

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION


Historical Note

The Committee on Ethnic Problems (var. US-UK Conferences on Race and Ethnic Problems/US-UK Seminar on Ethnic Minorities and Public Policy/Ethnic Pluralism and Public Policy) was active from 1972-1983. Work was conducted in two phases, with a lull from 1975-1979. In its first phase, proposed initially in 1969 by Nathan Glazer with Seymour Lipset, the original purpose was to examine ethnic identifications - its origins, meanings, and potential policy responses. Nathan Glazer and Daniel Patrick Moynihan as co-chairs.

A planning meeting was held May 23-24, 1972 with a conference, Ethnicity in the Contemporary World, following in October 26-28, 1972 at the House of the Academy. Papers presented were edited by Glazer and Moynihan, with the assistance of Corinne Schelling, and published as Ethnicity: Theory and Experience by Harvard University Press in 1975. The intent was to hold further conferences and was in the process of proposal; however, Moynihan and Glazer withdrew in 1975 to pursue other projects.

The second phase began in 1979 with a plan for a joint Anglo/American seminar on Ethnic Problems and Public Policy. This phase was directed by Executive Officer John Voss with David Lane, Chairman of the UK Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), with Nathan Glazer advising.

The resulting Anglo-American Seminar on Ethnic Minorities and Public Policy was held at Middle Aston House, Oxfordshire in May 1982. Papers presented were edited by Nathan Glazer and Ken Young, with the assistance of Corinne Schelling, and published as Ethnic Pluralism and Public Policy: Achieving Equality in the United States and Britain in 1983 by Lexington Books in the United States and by Heinemann Educational Books in the UK.

Funding in the first phase was provided by the Ford Foundation. Funding in the second phase was provided by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, with support from the Academy, the CRE, and from the Institute of Policy Studies.

Name Variations

The name of the project evolved throughout its tenure:

The Committee on Ethnic Problems (1972-1975)
US-UK Conferences on Race and Ethnic Problems (1979-1983)
US-UK Seminar on Ethnic Minorities and Public Policy (1979-1983)
Ethnic Pluralism and Public Policy (1979-1983)

Scope and Content

The series is found within the Academy Archives' Record Group XXI: Academy Projects and Programs. This series contains the administrative and publication records of Academy relating to the Committee on Ethnic Problems, officially in operation from 1972-1975, and the related joint US-UK seminars on Ethnic Problems (eventually referred to as Ethnic Pluralism and Public Policy), which operated primarily from 1980-1982. The majority of the records were created during these dates. The Committee records were created by the executive office of John Voss, particularly of Corrine Schelling, and concern the 1972 Conference and 1975 Publication. The US-UK records were created by the executive office of John Voss, with the majority being created by Voss, and concern the 1982 conference and 1983 publication. Records consist of administrative files and publication files. Included among administrative files are Committee correspondence and the correspondence of John Voss regarding project and general meeting planning, and grantor correspondence including reports, budgetary planning, and copies of award letters. Included among Conference and Publication records are collected drafts presented at conferences, correspondence with the publisher, with the majority of the files being correspondence with the authors, including draft articles.

Significant materials include the draft essays for presentation/publication.

Arrangement

Processing for the series utilized MPLP principles: folder titles are transcribed as they appear on the actual folders, and minimum preservation steps were taken. The original order of the records as kept by the office of Executive Officer John Voss was largely maintained: records were arranged chronologically or alphabetically, and interfiled, where appropriate. 

This series is organized into two subseries by phase of the project: Subseries 1: Committee on Ethnic Problems; and Subseries 2: Joint US-UK Committee.
Each subseries is composed of two sub-subseries: Sub-subseries .1: Administrative Records; and sub-subseries .2: Conference and Publication Records.
Administration files are arranged chronologically. Publication files are arranged generally chronological, with individual author files arranged alphabetically. 

Volume

2 records center cartons (2 linear feet)

Preferred Citation

[Item title, date]. Record Group XXI: Academy Projects – Committee on Ethnic Problems, 1969-1986. Archives, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Subjects

Lipset, Seymour Martin
Moynihan, Daniel P. (Daniel Patrick), 1927-2003
Glazer, Nathan
Lane, David, 1922-1998
Schelling, Corinne Saposs
Voss, John, 1917-
Commission for Racial Equality (United Kingdom)
Ford Foundation
Cultural pluralism
Ethnic relations--Political aspects
Oxfordshire (England)

ITEM LIST


Subseries 1: Committee on Ethnic Problems, 1969-1976

Description: This subseries contains the records related to the iteration of the project which lasted from 1972-1975, resulting in Ethnicity: Theory and Experience published in 1975. It includes the administrative, conference, and publication records. 

Arrangement: This subseries is arranged into two sub-subseries by function. Sub-subseries 1.1: Administrative Records; and sub-subseries 1.2: Conference and Publication Records.

Sub-subseries 1.1: Administrative Records, 1969-1976

Description: This subseries contains the records related to the operation of the committee. It primarily includes grant files, but a significant portion is also comprised of committee correspondence and individual committee meeting planning and minutes. 

Arrangement: Original order, generally chronological. 

Box 1

Folder 1Ethnic Probs ('69-'72)
Folder 2AAAS - Planning Committee on Ethnic Problems May 23, 1972 [1971-1973]
Folder 3Committee on Ethnic Problems [1971-1974] [folder 1 of 2]
Folder 4Committee on Ethnic Problems [1971-1974] [folder 2 of 2]
Folder 5Fleishmann '75 - Ethnicity [1969, 1974-1975]
Folder 6FORD HISTORY (Ethnicity summary) '72-75
Folder 7Ethnicity Proposal 1973-74 Ford 1972 also-
Folder 8ETHNICITY FOR FORD [1974]-1975
Folder 9ETHNICITY - FORD PROJECT July 1974-[1976]

Sub-subseries 1.2: Conference and Publication Records, 1972-1986

Description: This subseries contains the records related to the project work of the committee. It primarily includes individual author files containing draft essays, but also includes correspondence regarding conference planning and the general planning and roll-out of the publication, Ethnicity: Theory and Experience.

Arrangement: Original order, generally chronological with individual author files arranged alphabetically.

Box 1 (cont.)

Folder 10Ethnicity October Conference [1972]
Folder 11Ethnicity Originals, Oct papers [1972]
Folder 12Schelling, Corrine - Ethnicity, Oct '72
Folder 13Extra Ethnicity Papers [1949, 1970-1972]
Folder 14Ethnicity Book [1972-1975]
Folder 15Ethnicity Book & Press July 74[-1986]
Folder 16Dan Bell [1974]
Folder 17Bourricaud (revised) [1973-1974]

Box 2

Folder 1M. Esman [1973-1974]
Folder 2J. Das Gupta [1973-1974]
Folder 3M. Gordon [1973]
Folder 4D. Horowitz [1973-1974]
Folder 5M. Kilson [1973-1974]
Folder 6Ali Mazrui [1974-1973]
Folder 7Parsons [1973-1974]
Folder 8O. Patterson [1974]
Folder 9Peterson, W. (ethnicity) [1973-1974]
Folder 10R. Pipes [1974]
Folder 11J. Porter [1973-1974]
Folder 12L. Pye [1973-1974]

Subseries 2: Joint US-UK Committee, 1975-1986

Description: This subseries contains the records related to the iteration of the project which lasted from 1979-1982 jointly with the UK Commission for Racial Equality (CRE)  resulting in Ethnic Pluralism and Public Policy: Achieving Equality in the United States and Britain published in 1983. It includes the administrative, conference, and publication records. 

Arrangement: This subseries is arranged into two sub-subseries by function. Sub-subseries 2.1: Administrative Records; and sub-subseries 2.2: Conference and Publication Records.

Sub-subseries 2.1: Administrative Records, 1975-1982

Description: This subseries contains the records related to the operation of the Academy committee. It primarily includes correspondence regarding general project planning, committee meeting planning and correspondence, but also includes correspondence regarding funding with proposals. 

Arrangement: Original order, generally chronological. 

Box 2 (cont.)

Folder 13AAAS - Ethnicity [1975-1982]
Folder 14Ethnic Problems. UK-US 79 - Jun '80 [folder 1 of 2]
Folder 15Ethnic Problems. UK-US 79 - Jun '80 [folder 2 of 2]
Folder 16US-UK Ethnic Problems: July 80 - Dec 81 [folder 1 of 2]
Folder 17US-UK Ethnic Problems: July 80 - Dec 81 [folder 2 of 2]
Folder 18AAAS - US-UK Conferences on race and ethnic problems [1980]
Folder 19US UK Ethnic NSF - DC Dec '80 
Folder 20Ethnic: - -US - UK May Meeting - 1982 May (Oct 81 - Jan '82) Fundraising [folder 1 of 2]
Folder 21Ethnic: - -US - UK May Meeting - 1982 May (Oct 81 - Jan '82) Fundraising [folder 2 of 2]
Folder 22US-UK 1981
Folder 23US-UK Proposals 2/82

Description: This subseries contains the records related to the project work of the committee. It primarily includes draft essays, but also includes correspondence regarding conference planning and the general planning and roll-out of the publication, Ethnic Pluralism and Public Policy: Achieving Equality in the United States and Britain.

Arrangement: Original order, generally chronological.

Box 2 (cont.)

Folder 24US-Ethnic-UK May mtg. - Current-End of Jan '82 Substance [1980-1982]
Folder 25US-UK: MAY '82 [1982-1986] [folder 1 of 2]
Folder 26US-UK: MAY '82 [1982-1986] [folder 2 of 2]
Folder 27US-UK Papers - Originals [1982] [folder 1 of 3]
Folder 28US-UK Papers - Originals [1982] [folder 2 of 3]
Folder 29US-UK Papers - Originals [1982] [folder 3 of 3]
Folder 30US UK Introd + KY concl. [1982]