University
of Florida Archives
Center for Latin American Studies.
Office of the Director.
Records, 1928-1977
Series 23 contains records related to the creation and development of the Center for Latin American Studies and its predecessors, the Institute of Inter-American Affairs and the School of Inter-American Studies. The series is divided into subseries reflecting the administrations of different directors of the Center.
Subseries 23a
Records, 1928-1958.
11 linear ft.
(27 boxes)
Subseries 23a includes the records of the Institute of Inter-American Affairs' first director, Rollin S. Atwood, and his successors, John F. Martin and A. Curtis Wilgus. The series also includes a small group of letters from President Tigert, Dean Matherly, and Atwood to Leo S. Rowe of the Pan-American Union and George S. Ecles of the U. S. Department of Commerce related to the creation of the Institute. Most of the series consists of correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, arranged chronologically. There is extensive documentation of the first Inter-American conference held at the University of Florida in 1931. There is also a genre file containing speeches, memos, minutes, reports and other materials. Included in the genre file are radio scripts related to celebrations performed on WRUF on Pan-American Day and national holidays of Latin American countries.
Contents list for Subseries 23a
Subseries 23b
Records, 1950-1967.
7.3 linear feet
(18 boxes)
Subseries 23b contains files of A. Curtis Wilgus and his successor, Lyle N. McAlister, and is divided into two sections. The first consists of subject files divided into campus correspondence, 1957-1962, off-campus correspondence, 1959-1963, and general correspondence, 1963-1967. The second section is a subject/genre file containing records related to foundations, Pan-American celebrations, conferences, and publications. Of special interest are the records related to the preparation of the first Caribbean Conference in 1950. Also included in this section are records of Assistant Director Clement David Hellyer concerning the implementation of a Point Four contract. Point Four was initiated in the early 1950s as a program designed to undermine Soviet economic interest, especially in the developing nations. The program provided technical training in a variety of fields and was administered by the U. S. Technical Cooperation Administration. The University of Florida and the University of New Mexico were responsible for the English Language and Cultural Orientation Program for Point Four grantees from Latin America.
Contents list for subseries 23b
Subseries 23c
Records, 1961-1977 (bulk 1963-1972)
4.6 linear ft.
(11 boxes)
Arranged alphabetically
by subject.
Subseries 23c
consists of the files of William E. Carter, plus additional files of Lyle
N. McAlister and a few of C. Curtis Wilgus. Subject content is similar
to that of Subseries 23b.