- unitid
-
{"value"=>"1667", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"MssCol 1667", "type"=>"local_call"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"ca. 1953-1987", "type"=>"inclusive", "certainty"=>"approximate", "normal"=>"1953/1987"}
- date_inclusive_start
-
1953
- date_inclusive_end
-
1987
- keydate
-
1953
- date_start
-
1953
- date_end
-
1987
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"American Movement for World Government records"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"22 linear feet (44 boxes)"}], "supress_display"=>true}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.</span> <div class=\"address\"> <span class=\"addressline\">Stephen A. Schwarzman Building</span> <span class=\"addressline\">Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788</span></div>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"The American Movement for World Government (AMWG), a not-for-profit organization incorporated in 1954, was founded by William H.D. Cox, Jr. to promote the establishment of federal world government as a necessary condition for world peace and security. Its methods have centered on educational programs, media campaigns, distribution of literature, and contact with groups such as the World Federalists Association and others working for related global interests, including nuclear disarmament, United Nations reform, and human rights. Notable supporters represented in the papers include Isaac Asimov, Ed Asner, Ellsworth T. Carrington, Carl Sagan and Edith Wynner. Carmel Kussman, a psychotherapist, was a board member and officer of the AMWG. The records document the founding and growth of the American Movement for World Government, including its day-to-day operations, media efforts, networking activities and general goals. The collection contains records of the Board of the Directors; correspondence of founder William H.D. Cox and executive director William W. Kenney; and financial and legal records. Press releases, correspondence, advertising, photographs, publications and membership records document outreach efforts, media campaigns, and publicity events. Printed matter contains publications concerning nuclear disarmament, world government, world peace and human rights. Organizational contacts are documented in subject files containing correspondence, newsletters, press clippings and literature from numerous groups with related goals, and similar papers concerning the World Federalists Association. Carmel Kussman's papers reflect her work on the board of the AMWG and her professional and personal interests in conflict resolution and peace programs."}
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"Materials in English"}
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"<p>American Movement for World Government records, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library</p>"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"American Movement for World Government", "type"=>"corpname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>The American Movement for World Government (AMWG) was founded in 1953 by William H. D. Cox, a commercial airline pilot, in order to show the need for a world government in the move toward world peace and international security. The founder was influenced by Albert Einstein's postulate that \"mankind's desire for peace can be realized only by the creation of a world government...\" The goals of the AMWG set forth in its by-laws include \"the dissemination of information and education relative to the establishment of a federal world government; to encourage the establishment of a federal world government through utilization of all reasonable and loyal means; to promote world government and provide an organization of members working to those ends; all by virtue of meetings, discussion groups, preparation and dissemination of publications and other lawful means.\"</p> <p>Toward these ends, the non-profit organization, incorporated in 1954, recruited spokespeople such as science fiction writer Isaac Aisimov who wrote an article entitled \"World Government - Science Fiction or Reality\"; Ellsworth T. Carrington, a co-pilot on one of the of the six B-29's that bombed Hiroshima; astronomy professor Carl Sagan and celebrity Ed Asner. A large-scale media campaign urged people via direct mail to take out newspaper advertisements in their communities advocating world government and nuclear disarmament. Such ads appeared in prominent newspapers including the New York Times. Other efforts included the promotion of a motion picture which documented the life of Emery Reves, author of the 1945 book The Anatomy of Peace, and attempts to republish the book.</p> <p>In 1985 the AMWG hosted an event called \"Ed Asner Meets Albert Einstein: A New Way of Thinking About Planet Earth, \" in which Asner and an actor playing Einstein entered into a dialogue about world government. In June of 1985, the AMWG hosted a public meeting at its World Government Center which featured Isaac Asimov.</p> <p>Much emphasis was placed on developing real world government and linking efforts with other similar minded groups. Because of this effort, the collection has vast amounts of information on related groups and their efforts toward world peace, world government, nuclear disarmament and similar interests. Some archival information relating to the World Federalists Association is contained in this collection (See NYPL Schwimmer-Lloyd Collection for WFA papers).</p> <p>AMWG founder and president William H. D. Cox, Jr., led the organization through financial distress and flagging membership as well as internal organizational pressures. A United Airlines captain for 32 years, Cox was also involved in the Executive Council on Hazardous Material. He was a Navy pilot from 1946 to 1954. Additionally, Cox attended Brown University from 1943 to 1944, graduated from Columbia University in 1949, and attended Yale Medical School, where he founded a United World Federalist Chapter. He left Yale to work for the United World Federalists.</p> <p>Carmel Kussman, a psychotherapist who resided in Brooklyn, New York, was active in AMWG for several decades, and also in other peace groups and world government movements. Her level of activity in the AMWG fluctuated between member, board member and vice president. She wrote \"A Constitutional Approach to World Government\" which became a part of the AMWG's publications library. By the end of the 1980's her involvement with AMWG had lessened although she still gave the group intermittent financial support. At this time she concentrated her efforts on \"helping groups of people learn how they could live their daily lives without repeated resort to verbal or physical violence, \" as she explained in a 1989 letter to AMWG President Ward Harrington. She was referring in part to her activities at the Arthur Kill Correctional Facility on Staten Island where she taught Alternatives to Violence Basic Workshop.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The bulk of the records relate to administrative matters, media efforts and the organization's networking attempts. Included are many sources and publications of other movements and organizations in which the AMWG and its members were interested. The records include literature actively distributed by AMWG along with writings of Albert Einstein, Edith Wynner and other peace advocates. Press releases and direct mailings document the efforts of the organization to expand its press coverage and its membership. Documentation on the functioning of the board of directors and financial statements indicate the day-to-day workings of the organization including its financial struggles, spending priorities and goals. The records include personal papers of Carmel Kussman, arranged separately, which document her relationship with AMWG, and her interests in the world government movement. Included also are papers relating to the World Federalists Association which shared many members with AMWG.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The American Movement for World Government records are arranged in four series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/1667#c1044696'>I. American Movement for World Government</a></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/1667#c1045268'>II. Papers of Carmel Kussman relating mainly to the American Movement for World Government</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The papers reflect Carmel Kussman's involvement with AMWG including her correspondence with Ward Harrington (president of AMWG) and various members of the board; and her associations with other organizations advocating world peace and world government.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/1667#c1045280'>III. Papers relating to the World Federalists Association</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains correspondence and papers relating to various aspects of the World Federalists Association including the campaign for United Nations reform and world citizenship.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/1667#c1045297'>IV. Restricted Papers</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>These records which are restricted until the year 2012 consist of mailing lists and mailing labels which contain names and addresses of members, contributors, and of persons contacted during fund-raising efforts; and applications and resumes of persons seeking employment with AMWG.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p>In four series: I. American Movement for World Government; II. Papers of Carmel Kussman relating mainly to the American Movement for World Government; III. Papers relating to the World Federalists Association; IV: Restricted records</p>", "supress_display"=>true}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>The collection was donated to the Library in July of 1994 by Sylvia Nash on behalf of the late Carmel Kussman.</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"type"=>"processing", "value"=>"<p>Compiled by Heather A. Wightman, March 1999</p>"}
- relatedmaterial
-
{"value"=>"<p>Manuscripts and Archives Division, New York Public Library</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p>Manuscripts and Archives Division, New York Public Library</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p>Manuscripts and Archives Division, New York Public Library</p>"}
- extent_statement
-
22 linear feet (44 boxes)