UNA-USA Collection

Collection

Identifier: MSS-0052

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The UNA-USA Collection represents a vast array of materials and organizational functions. Some of these materials include, though are not limited to: papers, photographs, audiovisual materials like tapes and CDs, and various digital content. Many of the images are related to events or publications while papers tend to privilege UNA-USA governance materials. Represented to a lesser extent are UNA-USA's member organization records, policy materials, and a small selection of relevant clippings. Connections between UNA-USA and related organizations are also represented, including those with the Business Council for the United Nations (BCUN, formerly UN We Believe), the Emergency Coalition for US Financial Support of the United Nations, the UN Foundation, and predecessor organizations such as the American Association for the United Nations (AAUN). Multiple perspectives on UNA-USA's many programming initiatives in education, public policy, humanitarianism, and other advocacy areas are documented between each of the series in the arrangement.

Dates

1923 - 2010

Biographical / Historical

The United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) is a not-for-profit national membership organization that seeks to further the ideals expressed in the UN Charter by advocating for the UN system among Americans as well as promoting American participation and leadership within the UN system. It was preceded by the American Association for the United Nation (AAUN), an organization which formed in 1943 under the leadership of Eleanor Roosevelt. AAUN would go on to merge with the United States Committee for the United Nations, resulting in the creation of UNA-USA in 1964.

UNA-USA has offered a wide variety of programs to satisfy its broad mandate. These include humanitarian initiatives like Adopt-A-Minefield and the HERO program combating HIV/AIDS. Education is supported through the Global Classrooms and its flagship Model UN initiative. UNA-USA also collaborated with Seton Hall University in 1997 to establish what was then the John C. Whitehead School of Diplomacy. Advocacy is embedded in UNA-USA's programming through the annual UN Day, Global Policy Programs, and outreach activities of the Washington Office.

The organization is driven by a diverse body of members. Open to any US citizen or resident, including students, UNA-USA retains a vast number of local chapters engaged in advocacy. Membership also includes high-profile individuals, such as former US President Jimmy Carter and former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

A more comprehensive account of UNA-USA's history is published in James Wurst’s 2016 book "The UN Association-USA: A Little Known History of Advocacy and Action."

Extent

56 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The materials have been arranged by the archivists according to the organizational functions that produced them.

The arrangement is as follows:

Series 1.: UNA-USA Governance, 1923-2010. This series primarily documents UNA-USA's finances, minutes of the board of directors and board of governors, paper and email correspondence, and case materials from former UNA-USA employee Mitch Dunahoo’s lawsuit.
Series 1.1: Financial Records, 1970-2010.
Series 1.2: Board Minutes, 1964-2010.
Series 2.: Member Organization Records, 1945-2010. Represented here are local, state, and regional chapters of UNA-USA's member organizations.
Series 3.: Policy Materials, 1997-2010. This series contains some information related to UNA-USA's policy programs.
Series 4.: Events, 1945-2010. The events series primarily represents multilateral policy meetings and galas like the Global Leadership Awards Dinner, which are documented through audiovisual, digital, and paper media.
Series 4.1.: National Convention, 1958-2010.
Series 4.2.: Annual Dinner, 1973-2008.
Series 4.3.: Conferences, 1969-2010.
Series 5.: Publications, 1950-2008. Publications primarily consist of scholarly reports published by UNA-USA, issues of UNA-USA's "The Interdependent" magazine, and outreach materials related to programming initiatives such as Adopt-A-Minefield.
Series 6.: Clippings, 1976-1994. Select clippings from publications have been included in box 42.

Related Materials

Clark M. Eichelberger Papers, 1920-1991, Manuscripts and Archives Division, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, The New York Public Library.

Brendan Byrne papers, 1960-1982 (bulk 1973-1977), Mss 0007, The Monsignor Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center, Walsh Library, Seton Hall University.

Donald M. Payne papers, 1988-2012, Mss 0078, The Monsignor Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center, Walsh Library, Seton Hall University.

Jack Chance collection on Wendell Willkie and the 1940 presidential election, 1939-1940, Mss 0023, The Monsignor Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center, Walsh Library, Seton Hall University.

Leonard Dreyfus papers, 1786-1972 (bulk 1931-1972), Mss 0001, The Monsignor Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center, Walsh Library, Seton Hall University.

Marcus Daly papers, 1901-1976, Mss 0004, The Monsignor Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center, Walsh Library, Seton Hall University.

Matthew J. Rinaldo papers, 1972-1992, Mss 0009, The Monsignor Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center, Walsh Library, Seton Hall University.

Richard J. Hughes papers, 1956-1979, Mss 0003, The Monsignor Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center, Walsh Library, Seton Hall University.

Thomas and Margaret Melady papers, 1959-2010 (bulk 1960-1975), Mss 0072, The Monsignor Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center, Walsh Library, Seton Hall University.

Peter W. Rodino, Jr. Papers, 1909-2005, law0001, The Peter Rodino, Jr. Law Library Repository, Seton Hall Law Library, Seton Hall University.