RGXXI: Committee on the Role of Overseas Research Centers
Historical Note
The Committee on the Role of Overseas Research Centers was officially in operation from 1977-1979. The goal of the committee was to bring together research centers from around the world to foster financial stability and interest in foreign study. Robert McCormick Adams served as Chair for the duration of the Committee.
Exploratory discussions began with a luncheon held on May 2, 1976. On February 9-10, 1978 the Academy held a meeting at Dumbarton Oaks with national and international partners. It resulted in the establishment of the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) and the publication Corners of a Foreign Field: Discussions about American Overseas Advanced Research Centers in the Humanities and Social Sciences, edited by Robert McCormick Adams and Corrine Schelling, and published by the Rockefeller Foundation in 1979. The Academy continued a relationship with the CAORC after, with Academy Associate Executive Director Corrine Schelling serving on the Advisory Board.
Funding was provided by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Scope and Content
The series is contained within the Academy Archives’ Record Group XXI: Academy Projects and Programs. It contains the administrative and project records of the Academy relating to the Committee, from 1979-1985, with a small portion from 1987. The majority of the records were created or received from 1976-1980 by the Executive office of the Academy, particularly of Corrine Schelling. Records primarily include transcripts of meetings and correspondence with meeting participants, and grantors. Of particular note is a transcription of the February 9, 1978 meeting at Dumbarton Oaks.
Arrangement
Processing for the series utilized MPLP principles, thus minimum preservation steps were taken, and folder titles listed in the finding aid are as they appear on the actual folders. Records were held by the Executive Office of John Voss, particularly by Associate Executive Officer Corrine Schelling. Some files were kept out of the filing scheme and have been interfiled where appropriate.
This series is arranged chronologically with no subseries.
Item List
Box 1
| Folder 1 | Overseas Centers [1976] |
| Folder 2 | Overseas Research Centers - Narration - Background Docs/Proposal Mellon '77 |
| Folder 3 | Overseas Research Institutes 656 [ill.] 1977 [folder 1 of 2] |
| Folder 4 | Overseas Research Institutes 656 [ill.] 1977 [folder 2 of 2] |
| Folder 5 | 77 Overseas Science Centers 6561 |
| Folder 6 | originals of our letter - 77-78 Correspondence Overseas Centers D.O. - January 9, 10, 1978 [folder 1 of 2] |
| Folder 7 | originals of our letter - 77-78 Correspondence Overseas Centers D.O. - January 9, 10, 1978 [folder 2 of 2] |
| Folder 8 | Overseas Centers D.O. Program & Agenda, Feb 9-10 [1978] |
| Folder 9 | Overseas American Advanced Research Institute Conference, February 10, 1978 |
| Folder 10 | June Meeting 78 Overseas Center |
| Folder 11 | June 78 Overseas Centers: Tapes - Transcription [folder 1 of2] |
| Folder 12 | June 78 Overseas Centers: Tapes - Transcription [folder 2 of2] |
| Folder 13 | Overseas Center Report - post June 78[-80] - Lists & Correspondence on draft |
| Folder 14 | Post Dumbarton Oaks - Overseas Centers 78 |
| Folder 15 | Center Statements [1978] [folder 1 of 2] |
| Folder 16 | Center Statements [1978] [folder 2 of 2] |
| Folder 17 | [bound] Corners of a Foreign Field, August 1979 [3] |
| Folder 18 | NEH Overseas Center Proposal - '79 |
| Folder 19 | International Scholarship - needs, priorities, '80 [folder 1 of 2] |
| Folder 20 | International Scholarship - needs, priorities, '80 [folder 2 of 2] |
| Folder 21 | Overseas Centers: 1980-81 |
| Folder 22 | CAORC-Smithsonian Overseas Research Center Mtg, May 1981-1985 [folder 1 of 3] |
| Folder 23 | CAORC-Smithsonian Overseas Research Center Mtg, May 1981-1985 [folder 2 of 3] |
| Folder 24 | CAORC-Smithsonian Overseas Research Center Mtg, May 1981-1985 [folder 3 of 3] |
Box 2
| Folder 1 | CAORC 1987 [folder 1 of 3] |
| Folder 2 | CAORC 1987 [folder 2 of 3] |
| Folder 3 | CAORC 1987 [folder 3 of 3] |