Art For World Friendship Records (DG 066), Swarthmore College Peace Collection

Swarthmore College Peace Collection

Art For World Friendship Records, 1946-1969

Collection: DG 066

Contact Information
Swarthmore College Peace Collection
500 College Avenue
Swarthmore, PA 19081-1399
U.S.A.
Telephone: (610) 328-8557 (Curator)
Fax: (610) 328-8544
Email: wchmiel1@swarthmore.edu (Curator)
URL: http://www.swarthmore.edu/Library/peace/

Descriptive Summary
Repository
Swarthmore College Peace Collection
Creator
Art For World Friendship
Title
Art For World Friendship Records
Inclusive Dates
1946-1969
Call Number
DG 066
Language of Materials
Materials in English
Extent
19 linear feet [papers only]
Abstract
Art for World Friendship originated in 1946 as a project undertaken by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. It was the first organization to exchange child art on an international level and was entirely run by volunteers. The founder, Maude Muller, was inspired by the suggestion of a speaker at an U.N.E.S.C.O. Conference (which she attended as a delegate of WILPF) that artists of the world should exchange their work as an aid to international peace and understanding. At the height of the project (ca.1955-60), practically every state in the union sent pictures for exchange and more than ninety nations on all six continents were represented, including some from beyond the Iron Curtain. Pictures were received from Russia in 1964. More than 50,000 pictures a year passed through the group's headquarters. By 1968 Mrs. Muller was too ill to continue with the project, and by this time other organizations (including UNICEF) were carrying on international exchanges of children's art, so Art for World Friendship was dissolved.

Administrative Information
Restrictions to Access
None
Usage Restrictions
None
Alternate Form of Material
None
Acquisitions Information
Gift of Maude Muller; the Jane Addams Peace Association, 1969
Processing Information
The original processing of this collection was made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (Grant #RC-27706-77-739); collection was re-foldered & re-boxed, June 2006; this version of the finding aid was created by Wendy E. Chmielewski, June 2009.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Art For World Friendship Records (DG 066c.), Swarthmore College Peace Collection
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendents, as stipulated by United States copyright law

Online Catalog Headings
These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online library/archival catalogs.
See tripod record

Related Collections
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Records(DG 043)
Online exhibit featuring AWF images:
--It's a Small World: Children Promoting Peace Through Art"

Historical Background
Art for World Friendship originated in 1946 in Delaware County, Pennsylvania as a local project undertaken by a few members of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. It was the first organization to exchange child art on an international level. The founder, Maude Muller, was inspired by the suggestion of a speaker at an U.N.E.S.C.O. Conference (which she attended as a delegate of WILPF) that artists of the world should exchange their work as an aid to international peace and understanding. This seemed difficult to arrange between adult professional artists, but why not children? During the first year 1000 pictures from foreign countries were matched with a like number from American schools in the Philadelphia area. At the height of the project (ca.1955-60), practically every state in the union sent pictures for exchange and more than ninety nations on six continents were represented, including some from beyond the Iron Curtain. Pictures were received from the Soviet Union in 1964. More than 50,000 pictures a year passed through the Media headquarters.

Pictures were exchanged on a group basis under the supervision of a teacher or other adult leader, but each child who sent a picture received one in exchange to keep(preferably from a child his or her own age). Traveling exhibits of drawings from foreign children were assembled and rented for a small fee and shown all over the United States. Word of the project was spread abroad through international WILPF contacts, t he Voice of America, U.S.I.S. bulletins. The State Department's magazine Free World also carried stories on Art for World Friendship, as did the Peace Corps magazine Volunteer. As far as funds permitted, art supplies were sent to schools in underdeveloped countries where students needed them in order to participate in the project. In the United States, WILPF branches found the project a powerful peace education tool and a good way to introduce the work of the organization to their local communities. All of this was managed from Maude Muller's home in Media, Pennsylvania, with the help of a paid secretary for one day a week and the devoted services of half a dozen volunteers. Finances were a constant problem. The project was made a national committee of WILPF, but such committees never had large budgets. Art for World Friendship was given a part of the income from the Children's Theatre, another project of WILPF. Eventually AWF was made a project of the Jane Addams Peace Association, the tax-exempt educational arm of WILPF. Appeals were made to foundations and WILPF sponsors and friends of the project. American schools which participated were asked to pay a small fee. By 1968 Mrs. Muller was too ill to continue with this work. It was found impossible to interest another WILPF branch in taking on Art for World Friendship. Besides, by this time other organizations (including UNICEF) were carrying on international exchanges of children's art, so Art for World Friendship was dissolved.

Collection Overview
This collection contains the personal files of Maude Muller, the founder of Art For World Friendship; the administrative files of the organization, including financial reports, information on exhibits, advertising of the aims of the organization, correspondence with WILPF, educators, and supporters around the world. There is also a large collection of original art work by children (see items removed from collection below; and exhibit listed under "Related Collections.")

Items removed:
Slides
Drawings and paintings by children around the world (including those drawn by students at Media High School (Media, Pennsylvania)) removed to Oversized Items
Linoleum cuts were removed to the Memorabilia Collection.
Photos were removed to the Photograph Collection.
( This material formerly comprised Series E and F.)

Arrangement of Collection
Series A includes the personal papers of Maude Muller and her involvement with the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Series B contains the administrative records of Art for World Friendship. Series C contains the Art for World Friendship correspondence with educators and supporters from all over the world. This series is organized first alphabetically by U.S. state; and then alphabetically by countries outside of the United States. In Series D there are newspaper clippings, articles, and other examples of media coverage on AWF projects. Art work and photographic reproductions were removed to the various appropriate collections in SCPC.

SERIES A: PERSONAL PAPERS OF MAUDE MULLER
Box 1
Maude Muller Biographical Material: personal papers
Maude Muller Biographical Material: personal correspondence, 1943-1966
Maude Muller Biographical Material: letters regarding MM's newspapers articles, 1942-1947
Maude Muller Biographical Material: manuscripts by Maude Muller & others [not AWF]
Maude Muller Biographical Material: manuscripts -- children's stories by Marion King of Ireland
Maude Muller Biographical Material: involvement with National League of American Pen Women
Maude Muller Biographical Material: involvement with Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
Maude Muller Biographical Material: involvement with Women's International League for Peace and Freedom [including Drexel Hill (PA) Branch]

Box 2 (1/2 box)
Material from other organizations [not AWF or WILPF] [3 folders]

SERIES B: ADMINISTRATIVE FILES
Box 3
Administrative Reports [3 folders]
AWF Committee: meeting minutes and notes
Articles [2 folders]
Bulbs (from Holland, sold by AWF)
Certification of Recognition
Children's Theatre [2 folders]
Essay Contest

Box 4
Exhibits: general [2 folders]
Exhibits: Chester (PA)
Exhibits: New York (NY)
Exhibits: Philadelphia area (PA)
Exhibits: Philadelphia (PA) -- Gimbels
Exhibits: Washington (DC)
Fellowship of Reconciliation
Financial records: reports,1950s
Financial records: reports,1957-1960
Financial records: reports,1960s

Box 5
Financial records: reports, 1960s
Foundations
Fundraising appeals
Guided tours
Incomplete items
Institute for International Order
JAPA: correspondence 1960-1961
JAPA: correspondence 1962-1968
JAPA: meeting minutes & releases [removed to DG 043, JAPA]
Letterheads & form letters
Letters of interest for reports
Greeting cards
Other organizations (similar to AWF)
Peace Corps
Pen pals

Box 6
Public relations, 1951-1952
Publicity
Public relations: correspondence of Janet Neuman, 1950-1951
Public relations: correspondence of Janet Neuman, 1952-1954
Public relations: correspondence of Janet Neuman, 1955-1958
Red Cross
Reports sent & comments received

Box 7
Rosters/lists [4 folders]
Slides: lists, etc. [2 folders]
Smithsonian Institution
Special Fund
Speech notes

Box 8
Sponsors, 1950s
Sponsors, 1960s
Tax Forms
United Nations & U.N.E.S.C.O.
U.S. government: Department of State
United States Information Service
Women's Clubs
WILPF: correspondence [2 folders]
WILPF: statements
World Friendship Day, 1950-1951

Box 9 [card file box]
Index cards with names/addresses (United States)

Box 10 [card file box]
Index cards with names/addresses (foreign)

SERIES C: GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
Box 11 United States
Alabama, 1955-1968
Alaska, 1952-1968
Arizona, 1953-1968
Arkansas, 1955-1966
California, 1950-1952
California, 1953-1957
California, 1958-1959
California, 1960
California, 1961
California, 1962-1963 [2 folders]

Box 12 United States
California, 1964
California, 1965
California, 1966-1968
Colorado, 1953-1954
Colorado, 1954-1955
Colorado: Denver
Colorado, 1954
Colorado, 1960-61

Box 13 United States
Colorado, 1962
Colorado, 1963-1964
Colorado, 1965
Colorado, 1966-1968
Connecticut, 1950-1952
Connecticut, 1953-1965
Connecticut, 1966-1968
Delaware, 1956-1964
Delaware, 1966-1968

Box 14 United States
District of Columbia, 1948-1954
District of Columbia, 1957-1959
District of Columbia, 1960
District of Columbia, 1961-1965
District of Columbia, 1966-1968
Florida, 1949-1965
Florida, 1966-1968
Georgia, 1951-1968
Hawaii, 1958-1965

Box 15 United States
Idaho, 1954-1966
Illinois, 1950-1952
Illinois, 1958-1960
Illinois, 1961-1965
Illinois, 1961-1965
Indiana, 1952-1965
Indiana, 1966-1968
Iowa, 1954-1957

Box 16 United States
Iowa, 1958
Iowa, 1959-1965
Iowa, 1966-1968
Kansas, 1959-1962
Kansas, 1966-1958
Kentucky, 1954-1967
Louisiana, 1951-1968
Maine, 1952-1968

Box 17 United States
Maryland, 1952-1957
Maryland, 1960-1965
Maryland, 1966-1968
Massachusetts, 1951-1965
Massachusetts, 1966-1968

Box 18 United States
Michigan, 1952
Michigan, 1953-1958
Michigan, 1959-1961
Michigan, 1962-1963
Michigan, 1964-1965
Michigan, 1966-1968

Box 19 United States
Minnesota, 1952-1965
Minnesota, 1966-1968
Mississippi, 1954-1967
Missouri, 1951-1965
Missouri, 1966-1968
Montana, 1955-1967
Nebraska, 1952-1968
Nevada, 1966
New Hampshire, 1955-1968
New Jersey, 1951-1952 [see also box 28]

Box 20 United States
New Jersey, 1960
New Jersey, 1961-1962
New Jersey, 1963-1965
New Jersey, 1966-1968
New Mexico, 1956-1968
New York, 1951-1952 [see also box 29]

Box 21 United States
New York, 1953-1954
New York, 1955
New York, 1956 [2 folders]
New York, 1957

Box 22 United States
New York, 1957-1958
New York, 1958
New York, 1959
New York, 1960
New York, 1961
New York, 1962-1963

Box 23 United States
New York, 1963
New York, 1964
New York, 1965
New York, 1966
New York, 1967

Box 24 United States
North Carolina, 1952-1965
North Carolina, 1966-1968
North Dakota, 1952-1968
Ohio, 1957-1959
Ohio, 1950-1959
Ohio, 1960-1965
Ohio, 1966-1968

Box 25 United States
Oklahoma, 1952-1965
Oklahoma, 1952-1968
Oregon, 1952-1963
Oregon, 1966-1968
Pennsylvania, 1950-1956 [see also box 29]
Pennsylvania, 1961-1963 [see also box 29]
Pennsylvania, 1964-1965 [see also box 29]
Pennsylvania, 1966-1968

Box 26 United States
Rhode Island, 1951-1968
Tennessee, 1965-1967
Texas, 1952-1965
Texas, 1966-1968
Utah, 1964-1966
Vermont, 1957-1968
Virginia, 1957-1968
Virgin Islands, 1955-1967
Washington, 1954-1965
Washington, 1966-1968
West Virginia, 1951-1968

Box 27 (1/2 box) United States
Wisconsin, 1951-1965
Wisconsin, 1966-1968
Wyoming, 1956-1968

Box 28 [later accession] United States
Colorado, 1955-1957
Colorado, 1958
District of Columbia, 1950-1956
Michigan, 1959-1960
Minnesota, 1953-1957
New Jersey, 1953-1956

Box 29 [later accession] United States
Ohio, 1952-1956
Pennsylvania, 1957
Pennsylvania, 1958
Pennsylvania, 1959
Pennsylvania, 1960

Box 30
Afghanistan, 1963-1965
Africa, 1952-1959
Africa, 1960-1968
Africa, 1960-1963
Africa, 1964-1968
Arabia, 1964
Argentina, 1951-1966
Australia, 1951-1952
Austria, 1948-1959
Austria, 1960-1965

Box 31
Belgium, 1951-1959
Bolivia, 1952-1966
Brazil, 1951-1961
Brazil: newsclippings, 1961
Brazil, 1962-1966
Bulgaria, 1965-1966
Burma, 1953-1965
Cambodia, 1963; Canal Zone, 1966
Canada, 1950-1959
Canada, 1960-1968

Box 32
Caroline Islands, 1959-1966
Central America, 1952-1968
Ceylon, 1952-1964
Chile, 1956-1967
China, 1950-1964
Colombia, 1954-1968
Costa Rica, 1952-1964
Cuba, 1960
Czechoslovakia, 1948-1966
Dahomey, 1964-1965
Denmark, 1949-1958
Denmark, 1958-1966
Denmark, 1967-1968

Box 33
Dominican Republic, 1952-1968
Ecuador, 1952-1968
Egypt, 1952-1963
El Salvador, 1952-1965
England, 1948-1954
England, 1954-1966
England, 1967-1968
Ethiopia, 1952-1968

Box 34
Fiji, 1966
Finland, 1948-1965
Formosa, 1954-1956
France, 1948-1958
France, 1959-1967
Ghana, 1962-1963
Germany, 1948-1957
Germany, 1958-1960
Germany, 1960-1965
Germany, 1966-1968
Greece, 1952-1965

Box 35
Guatemala, 1953-1954
Haiti, 1955-1960
Hong Kong, 1948-1967
Hungary, 1952-1967
Iceland, 1951
India, 1948-1953
India, 1954-1956
India, 1957-1962

Box 36
India, 1963-1964
India, 1965
India, 1966-1968
Indonesia, 1952-1955
Iran, 1966
Iraq, 1963
Ireland, 1953-1968
Israel, 1950-1953
Israel, 1954-1968
Italy, 1949-1967

Box 37
Japan, 1949-1955
Japan, 1956-1957
Japan, 1958
Japan, 1959-1961
Japan, 1962-1968
Jersey, 1959-1960
Jordan, 1951-1967
Korea, 1954-1968

Box 38
Latvia, 1952
Lebanon, 1950-1966
Lithuania, 1952
Luxembourg, 1949
Malaya, 1957-1962
Mauritius, 1953-1954
Mexico, 1953-1958
Mexico, 1959-1968
Nepal, 1964-1967
Netherlands, 1950-1952
Netherlands, 1960

Box 39
Netherlands, 1953-1957
Netherlands, 1958-1968
New Zealand, 1952-1968
Norway, 1952-1968
Pakistan, 1952-1964
Paraguay, 1952-1964
Peru, 1964-1966
Philippines, 1952-1954

Box 40 (1/2 box)
Philippines, 1954 (cont.) - 1959
Philippines, 1960-1965
Poland, 1948-1963
Portugal, 1951-1965
Puerto Rico, 1948-1968
Rumania, 1952-1967

Box 41
Scotland, 1953-1967
Singapore, 1964
South Africa, 1951-1966
Spain, 1952-1963
Sweden, 1952-1962
Sweden, 1963
Sweden, 1963-1968
Switzerland, 1950-1968
Syria, 1964

Box 42
Taiwan, 1957-1965
Tanganyika/Tanzania, 1964-1967
Thailand, 1953-1966
Trinidad, 1956-1961
Turkey, 1952-1966
U.S.S.R., 1952-1962
U.S.S.R., 1964-1968
Uruguay, 1962-1963
Venezuela, 1959-1968
Vietnam, 1960-1964
Wales, 1954-1958
West Indies, 1952-1963
Yemen, 1964
Yugoslavia, 1950-1965

SERIES D: ARTICLES & NEWSCLIPPINGS
Box 43
Miscellaneous articles & newsclippings
Publicity: articles by Maude Muller, event flyers, etc.
Media coverage: announcements of AFW art shows
Media coverage, 1947, 1949
Media coverage, 1950-1951
Media coverage, 1952-1953
Media coverage, 1954-1955
Media coverage, 1956
Media coverage, 1957-1958
Media coverage, 1959
Media coverage, 1960-1961
Media coverage, 1962-1963
Media coverage, 1964
Media coverage, 1965
Media coverage, 1966-1968
Media coverage, collective dates (newsclippings from different years photocopied onto one page)
Media coverage, undated
Reference material: children's artwork