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Title: Servas International records
Date (inclusive): 1946-2010
Collection Number: 2010C15
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
107 manuscript boxes, 3 oversize boxes
(44.0 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Bylaws, minutes, manuals, bulletins, newsletters, correspondence, writings, notes, reports, traveler and host lists and files,
financial records, printed matter, and audiovisual material relating to promotion of peace and international understanding,
and especially to sponsorship of international travelers and international hospitality. Includes records of United States
Servas, the American branch of Servas International, and papers of Bob Luitweiler, founder of Servas International.
Creator:
Luitweiler, Bob, 1918-2008
Creator:
Servas International
Creator:
United States Servas
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 2010.
[Identification of item], Servas International records, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Servas (meaning "we serve" in Esperanto) is a cultural exchange organization that was first established in 1948 by a group
of individuals who hailed from a number of peace organizations in England and the United States. Its mission is to promote
diversity and cultural understanding through work, study, and a travel exchange program.
Among its founding members was peace activist Preston Bob Luitweiler, an American who held a strong belief in peace-building
and an opposition to World War II and the draft. Luitweiler's and the other founding members' convictions on social justice
and culture exchange led them to create the Servas program.
The founders hoped that through their travel exchange program, which is based on hospitality and an "open door" travel policy,
they would be able to promote an intercultural effort for social justice and compassion. As a result, a global network of
hosts was established so that people from all over the world have a chance to visit each other in their homes and learn from
each other's cultural philosophies and experiences.
The program is represented by hosts in over 135 nations. Its members come from various educational, religious, and social
backgrounds.
Source: "US Servas." US Servas. January 1, 2010. Accessed December 4, 2014. https://www.usservas.org/.
Scope and Content of Collection
Materials in this collection document the mission and peace building efforts of the Servas International organization through:
articles, brochures, bulletins, clippings, conference materials, correspondence, digital media, handbooks, manuals, meeting
minutes, newsletters, notes, photographs, publications, reports, scrapbooks, and writings.
When available, the original folder titles have been retained. An index to major groups has been created and included in this
inventory; researchers should note, however, that the index is not exhaustive and not all the materials in the collection
fall within the groups listed.
Individuals with interest in international travel exchange programs, social justice, and peace building should find this collection
of particular interest.
An index of major groups has been created to draw attention to common groups of materials and their physical location within
the collection. Major groups of this collection are: Administrative File, Bob Luitweiler File, Conference File, Digital Media
File, Financial Records File, Geographical File, Organizational History File, Photographs File, Printed Matter File, and Travelers
and Hosts File.
| Box Numbers | Groups |
|---|---|
| 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 28, 22, 29, 30, 31, 32, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 53, 55, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 69, 70, 74, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 82, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110 |
Administrative File, 1946-2010:
Consists of correspondence, meeting minutes, projects, office and annual reports, office manuals and handbooks, staffing task force documents, cooperative endeavors with various peace and social justice organizations, government and legal filings, and client papers. |
| 19, 26-28, 38, 41, 45, 71, 72, 78, 79, 80 |
Bob Luitweiler File, 1949-2008:
Contains files pertaining to the life and work of Bob Luitweiler: writings and stories, research materials and subject files, correspondence, notebooks with writing ideas, family documents and photos, as well as documents on various projects Luitweiler was involved in, such as the sustainable gardening project. |
| 4, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 29, 39, 61, 67, 68, 69, 88, 89, 90, 92, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 107, 108, 110 |
Conference File, 1966-2008: Consists of national and international conference and retreat materials, brochures, conference workshop materials, and attendance sheets. Includes minutes from various conferences: Los Angeles-1976, Denmark-1978, India-1980, Israel-1983, Rome-1986, France-1992, Melbourne-1995, Antigua and Guatemala-1998, Mexico-2006, and Thailand-2007. |
| 4, 8, 10, 29, 31, 37, 61, 75, 78, 81, 97, 100, 108 |
Digital Media File, circa 1990-2006: Comprised of zip discs, DDS-3 tapes, analog videotape, mini and compact cassette tapes, CDs, floppy discs and a hard drive. |
| 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 29, 48, 50, 74, 87, 88, 91, 92, 95 |
Financial Records File, 1962-2007: Consists of application for tax exemptions, annual reports, donation and contributor documents, orders for Servas buttons, financial mismanagement materials, expenses and balance books, invoices and tax records, Financial Committee minutes, treasurer files, and financial statements. |
| 15, 41, 80, 90, 91 |
Geographical File, 1973-2006: Comprised of correspondence, newsletters, and financial records regarding various geographical areas: Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, Caribbean and Central America, China, USSR, and Europe. |
| 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 38, 42, 43, 69, 93, 97, 99 |
Organizational History File, 1952-2004: Consists of correspondence, articles, memorabilia, various documents pertaining to the history and background of the Servas organization. |
| 1, 6, 29, 30, 35-36, 38, 45, 76, 85, 100 |
Photographs File, 1950-2001: Contains photographs, negatives, slides, contact sheets, albums, and scrapbooks documenting various Servas events, activities, meetings, and trips. |
| 1, 5, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 28, 29, 38, 40, 41, 43, 66, 69, 71, 72, 73, 76, 78, 79, 81, 83, 88, 89, 92, 95, 97, 98, 99, 102, 110 |
Printed Matter File, 1952-2008: Includes articles, clippings, publications, pamphlets, brochures, postcards, newsletters, handbooks, bulletins, flyers, posters, and publicity materials. |
| 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 29, 30, 31, 41, 42, 46, 51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 68, 73, 74, 75, 76, 78, 79, 83, 84, 89, 90, 91, 95, 98, 99, 103-106, 109, 110 |
Travelers and Hosts File, 1969-2010: Includes various materials pertaining to the travel of Servas members: key persons files, correspondence and information sheets, documentation on group trips, information on international coordinators, host lists, host renewal forms, traveler renewal cards, information on travel fees, interviewer handbooks, host list supplements, information on the travel program, surveys, host welcome packets, interviewer checklists that were submitted with the travelers applications, alphabetical travelers files, and traveler reports. |
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Peace
United States -- Relations
International travel