WORLD FEDERALIST ASSOCIATION:

The collection details the activities of the Minnesota state chapter of the World Federalist Association. The chapter was organized in 1947 and worked closely with the United Nations and its citizen supporters, lobbying extensively for peace legislation on the state and national levels. After 1975 it ceased its lobbying efforts and became an educational organization. The records include correspondence, minutes, financial and membership records, meeting files, newsletters, speeches, essays, newspaper clippings, proclamations and posters, and miscellaneous printed matter.

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These records are organized into the following two sections:

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Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Minnesota Chapter of the World Federalist Association Records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession numbers: 14,093; 14,280; 15,269

Processing Information:

Processed by: Frank P. Hennessy

Catalog ID number: 990017132020104294

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In October 1945 a conference was held in Cleveland, Ohio at which five groups concerned with preserving the peace and endorsing the concept of world government merged into one organization called World Federalists, U.S.A. At a convention held in Asheville, North Carolina in February 1947 the World Federalists, U.S.A. merged with four similar organizations to form the United World Federalists. The organization's name changed to World Federalists, U.S.A. in 1969 and it adopted its present name during the mid-1970s.

The correspondence and related records (1942-1949) document the organization's beginnings as described above. The remainder of the correspondence and miscellaneous related records relate the organization's policies and programs and the Minnesota chapter's relationship with the national office. The United World Federalists held its 12th General Assembly in Minneapolis in 1958 and a group of records containing an agenda, committee reports, and speeches is included. There is also a group of records (1975-1982) related to a campaign for United Nations reform launched in 1975 by the World Federalist Political Education Committee, a lobbying arm of the Federalist movement. A portion of these records document the reform campaign's third annual convention which was held in Minneapolis (May 25-27, 1979). A final group of records consists of correspondence, manuals, and other publications issued by the national office to guide local chapters in their organizational structure and activities.

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In June 1947 a state planning committee of the United World Federalists of Minnesota was organized and received approval from the national office. The committee's chief objective was to make preparations for a statewide meeting to organize a Minnesota chapter of the United World Federalists. A state branch charter was granted by the national organization and a state convention was held in late 1947. Much of this history is documented in a group of historical background material consisting of correspondence and historical sketches written by early members of the state organization.

The records contain information on the chapter's routine administrative and organizational matters, its relationship to the United Nations, and its lobbying and educational efforts. The administrative files document the appointment of individuals to the state advisory board, the election of state council members, council meetings, chapter finances, and membership.

Noteworthy chapter activities included a series of discussion groups held over a period of several years (1954-1961) and focused on the revision of the United Nations charter, particularly proposals forwarded by Grenville Clark and Louis B. Sohn; an annual dinner in celebration of World Law Day, which included a keynote speaker who addressed the issue of world peace through world law (1964-1994); and the chapter world citizenship committee's support of efforts by the Minnesota World citizenship project, which included the issuance of the first Declaration of World Citizenship in the U.S. by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners and the Minneapolis mayor and city council (March 5, 1968), and a similar declaration by the State of Minnesota (March 6, 1971); the production of a movie entitled Man's Next Giant Leap; and the development of educational materials for secondary schools and disadvantaged youth.

The last group of records consists of containing correspondence, newspaper clippings, and speech notes and transcripts created by five prominent chapter members, including one of its founders, Donald C. Mclaughlin.

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Films and photographs relating to the World Federalist Association are in the Minnesota Historical Society's Sound and Visual Collections.

Pierce Butler's personal papers are in the Minnesota Historical Society manuscript collections.

Harlan Smith's records related to the peace movement in Minnesota are in the Minnesota Historical Society manuscript collections.

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

International cooperation.

International education -- Minnesota.

International education -- United States.

International law -- United States.

International organization.

Internationalism.

Peace movements -- Minnesota.

Peace movements -- United States.

United Nations.

World citizenship.

Persons:

Barnum, Cyrus P.

Butler, Pierce, 1893-1957.

Duff, Philip.

Dupre, J. Huntley.

Smith Harlan M.

Types of Documentation:

Posters.

Proclamations.

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