{"value"=>"<p>The American Association for the United Nations (AAUN) was founded in 1945 as a successor to the League of Nations Association. Since the outbreak of World War II, it had become increasingly evident that the League of Nations could not serve as a model for a system of international order which would be established once peace had been restored. As early as 1942, Eichelberger and his associates had incorporated the name \"United Nations Association.\" In the spring of that year, a United Nations Committee was formed under the auspices of the League of Nations Association, with Eichelberger as its chairman, for the purposes of promoting unity among the United Nations, and educating the public in the principles of the Atlantic Charter.</p> <p>At the end of the war, these efforts resulted in the establishment in New York City of the national headquarters of the AAUN under the directorship of Eichelberger, and assisted by a board of directors and advisory council of persons distinguished in business, education and the liberal professions.</p> <p>Ultimately, the AAUN encompassed 250 state and local chapters, in addition to a liaison office in Washington, DC, and its research affiliate, the Commission to Study the Organization of Peace. Like its predecessor, the AAUN's purpose was educational: to inform the public about the work of the United Nations and to strengthen America's participation in it.</p> <p>The AAUN also operated a speaker's service and information center for the United Nations. On college campuses the AAUN was represented by an affiliate, the Collegiate Council for the United Nations. The AAUN held biennial conventions in New York, and from 1951 it sponsored annual conferences of national organizations to study issues facing the United Nations.</p> <p>In 1964, in the face of increasing financial difficulties, the AAUN merged with the United States Committee for the United Nations to form a new organization entitled the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA). Eichelberger served as vice president of the newly formed UNA-USA until 1968, although he devoted most of his time after the merger to his work on the Commission to Study the Organization of Peace.</p> <p>Principal officers of the AAUN included William Emerson, Charles W. Mayo, and Herman W. Steinkraus as presidents; Sumner Welles and James T. Shotwell, honorary presidents; Oscar A. De Lima, chairman of the executive committee; and Eleanor Roosevelt, chairman of the board of directors. Members of its board of directors included Jacob Blaustein, Ralph Bunche, Arthur N. Holcombe, Arthur Sweetser, Walter P. Reuther, and Quincy Wright.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p>The records of the American Association for the United Nations are arranged into the Correspondence and Papers of the Executive Director, Chapter Correspondence, the World Federation of United Nations Associations records, Minutes, Correspondence of Herman W. Steinkraus, Press Releases, Publicity Director records, Eleanor Roosevelt papers, Printed Matter, Photographs, Audio Recordings, and Films.</p> <p>The Correspondence and Papers of the Executive Director are arranged chronologically, and alphabetically by name or topic within the year. These records consist of the correspondence of Eichelberger and his assistant Margaret Olson, with officers and members of the AAUN, state and local chapters, governmental officials, United Nations officials, political figures, contributors, and others. Some years contain unsorted correspondence.</p> <p>The Chapter Correspondence date from the 1940s to 1960s, and is arranged by state. The correspondence is between Eichelberger and Estelle Linzer with local affiliates. At the end of the correspondence is a file of printed matter consisting of enclosures to the correspondence.</p> <p>The World Federation of United Nations Associations records consist of correspondence of Eichelberger and Margaret Olson with delegates to plenary assemblies of WFUNA, and with WFUNA officials and members, including John A. F. Ennals, Adrian Pelt, and Charles W. Judd, secretary of the United Nations Association of Great Britain and Ireland. The correspondence relates to plenary assemblies, funding, agendas, and international issues including Palestine. Included are minutes of the AAUN standing committee on WFUNA.</p> <p>The Minutes consist of stenographic minutes (1944-1964) of conferences sponsored by AAUN and other organizations; and minutes (1943-1963) of the board of directors and executive committee, and collateral papers including correspondence, reports, memoranda and policy statements.</p> <p>The Correspondence of Herman W. Steinkraus, president of AAUN, dates from 1958 to 1963. The correspondence is with members of the board and special committees, and relates in part to the national advisory council of AAUN.</p> <p>The Press Releases are arranged chronologically. Included are policy releases and statements issued by the board of directors.</p> <p>The Publicity Director records include correspondence of Eleanor Mitchel and Estelle Linzer, printed ephemera, posters, announcements, photographs, circular letters, and minutes of planning committees. The bulk of the records relate to plans for the observance of United Nations Day.</p> <p>The Papers of Eleanor Roosevelt consist of correspondence of Roosevelt and Estelle Linzer. Roosevelt was chairman of the board of directors of AUUN, a full time volunteer, and field worker for AAUN. Linzer corespondence is with local chapters of AAUN, board members, contributors, the Collegiate Council for the United Nations, and others relating mainly to meetings, speaking engagements, and fund-raising. Included are near-printed ephemera and photographs of Eleanor Roosevelt.</p> <p>The Printed Matter consists of copies of AAUN publications, clippings, printed ephemera, and scrapbooks. Included are copies of <span class=\"title\">Changing World</span> (1939-1949), <span class=\"title\">United Nations Reporter</span> (1951-1954), <span class=\"title\">Peoples Section Bulletin</span> (1951-1958), Speakers Notes (1955-1958), <span class=\"title\">AAUN News</span> (1954-1964), and Chapter Newsletters (1961-1965).</p> <p>The printed ephemera is mainly unsorted. The clippings, which are loose in envelopes, and which are only partially sorted by date or subject, relate to AAUN chapters, United Nations Week, and Eleanor Roosevelt. The scrapbooks contain clippings, photographs, and printed ephemera. Included also are a few binders containing publicity materials published by AAUN.</p> <p>The Photographs consist of prints of varying sizes taken at dinners, awards ceremonies, special events and at other activities. Included are photographs of public figures, United Nations officials, government officials, and members of AAUN.</p> <p>The audio recordings consist of recorded meetings, dinners, and United Nations speeches and addresses by Eichelberger.</p> <p>The films contain closed-circuit television briefings given by AAUN in cooperation with the Columbia Broadcasting System and its affiliates. The briefings, which emanated from the United Nations, were given by United Nations officials, members of the American Delegation, and others, before audiences of community leaders brought together by AAUN chapters.</p>"}