RG XXI: Committee on the Role of Philanthropic Foundations

Historical Note

The Committee on the Role of Philanthropic Foundations was officially active from 1964-1968. The purpose of the Committee was to explore the rise of the modern general-purpose philanthropic foundation and assess its role in philanthropy as a whole as compared to other sources of giving. Work was directed by Warren Weaver with a three-member advisory committee appointed, chaired by Milton Katz for the duration, with James R. Killian and Nils Y. Wessell. In 1967 the resulting volume US Philanthropic Foundations: Their History, Structure, Management, and Record, edited by Warren Weaver, was published by Harper & Row.

Funding was provided by the Sloan Foundation.

Scope and Content

The series is contained within the Academy Archives’ Record Group XXI: Academy Projects and Programs. This series contains the administrative and project records of the Academy relating to the project, from 1958, 1964-1969. The majority are records created between 1964-1966 by the executive office of John Voss, with Alexandra Oleson and maintained by Patricia Flaherty. Records are comprised of general administrative records. These include correspondence, draft papers and financial information. Correspondence includes communications with Warren Weaver and other contributors to the volume, business communications with the printers, and with persons inquiring after the volume.  Meeting records include minutes, and also hold correspondence and memoranda, though specifically relating to the planning and follow-up of these meetings.

Significant materials include draft copies of papers that appeared in the printed publication.

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. Some files were kept out of the filing scheme and have been interfiled where appropriate. but have been arranged together chronologically. This series has no subseries.

Volume

1 records center carton (0.25 linear feet)

Preferred Citation

[Item title, date]. Record Group XXI: Academy Projects – Committee on the Role of Philanthropic Foundations, 1958, 1964-1969. Archives, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Subjects

Katz, Milton, 1907-1995
Killian, James Rhyne, 1904-1988 
Oleson, Alexandra, 1939-
Voss, John, 1917-
Weaver, Warren, 1894-1978
Wessell, Nils Yngve
Sloan Foundation
Charities--United States--Evaluation
Charities--United States--History