TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview of the Collection

Institutional History

Scope and Contents

Arrangement

Restrictions

Index Terms

Administrative Information

Detailed Description of the Collection

Series I - Membership 1995-2003

Series II - Advocacy

Series III - Resource Development

Series IV - Programs/ Education 1992-2003

Series V - Board 1996-2003

Series VI - Treasury

Series VII - UNA-USA (National)

United Nations Association, Dallas Chapter

Institutional History

The United Nations officially formed October 24, 1945 after fifty countries, including China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States, met to draw up a charter for a worldwide organization of member countries. According to the charter, the purpose or mission of the United Nations Assocation is to "maintain international peace and security," "develop friendly relations among nations," "achieve international cooperation in solving international problems," and "to be the centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends."

The Dallas Chapter of the United Nations was formed in January 1953 and officially accredited on May 12th of the same year. The influential Judge Sarah T. Hughes was its first president, and other members responsible for helping the chapter get started were Louise Raggio, Canon Ferguson, Mrs. E.R. Brownscombe, Grady Spruce, and Luther Holcombe. At the time of the chapter's formation, there was strong opposition to the United Nations, particularly in conservative Dallas. There were often heated arguments in the city's newspaper editorials and letters from readers. The papers often reported on speeches given at various club gatherings either for and often against the United Nations. Critics of the United Nations felt it threatened the sovereignty of the United States government and even worse, promoted communism and threatened christianity. Proponents of the United Nations, such as Judge Hughes and others, formed the chapter to counter increasing attacks in Dallas against it. They believed that the organization was essential in promoting and preserving peace throughout the world and protecting future generations from the scourge of war.

Sources:

1. Indomitable Sarah: The Life of Judge Sarah T. Hughes, Darwin Payne, Southern Methodist University Press, 2004

2. Dallas Morning News

3. United Nations Association, Dallas Chapter website

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Scope and Contents

This collection documents the inner workings of the UNA Dallas Chapter, including programs and education, financial materials, advocacy issues relating to the UNA, membership lists and reports, and publications such as the Viewsletter.

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Arrangement

The United Nations Association, Dallas Chapter collection is divided into seven series - Membership, Advocacy, Resource Development, Programs/ Education, Board, Treasury, UNA-USA (National). These series represent the different committees or sections within the chapter.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Use

Photocopying of the collection is allowed at the discretion of the archivist.

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Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Organizations:

Places:

Subjects:

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

MA 04-1 United Nations Association, Dallas Chapter, Texas/ Dallas History & Archives Division, Dallas Public Library

Processing Information

Processed by Brian Collins

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Detailed Description of the Collection