Claremont Association for Mutual American/Soviet Understanding (CAMASU) Collection

Title: Claremont Association for Mutual American/Soviet Understanding (CAMASU) Collection

Dates: 1984-2007

Collection Number: 2023.018

Creator/Collector: Claremont Association for Mutual American/Soviet Understanding

Extent: 0.8 linear feet (2 boxes); containing administrative documents, meeting minutes, reports, correspondence, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings

Repository: Claremont Heritage

Abstract: Materials cataloging the history of the Claremont Association for Mutual American/Soviet Understanding (CAMASU), an organization founded in 1985 to promote the improvement of American-Soviet relations.

Language of Material: English

The collection is open for research use.

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder (if applicable).

[Identification of item]. Claremont Association for Mutual American/Soviet Understanding (CAMASU) Collection. Collection Number: 2023.018. Claremont Heritage

The Claremont Association for Mutual American/Soviet Understanding (CAMASU) was an organization dedicated to the improvement of American-Soviet relations. The organization started as the Friendship City Committee, whose Friendship City Project in 1985 sought mutual de-nuclearization of sister cities and intended to pair Claremont with city of Chernovtsy in the southwestern Soviet Union. When this sister city relationship did not materialize, CAMASU was established to develop programs and activities aimed (a) to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the USSR and its people on the part of residents of Claremont and vicinity, and (b) to facilitate and encourage understanding of American culture and values on the part of Soviet nationals through personal contacts, correspondence, travel, and programs of organizational exchange. CAMASU’s programming included a film series in 1985 and 1986 in cooperation with Claremont Adult School and the School of Theology, lectures by faculty members from the Claremont Colleges and a visiting Soviet official under sponsorship of Claremont Graduate School, visits to the Russian Orthodox Church, and more. In 1988, the Committee of Women for Russian/American Dialogue (CWRAD) was established under the auspices of CAMASU as an organization dedicated to communication and exchange with the women of Russia, and the organizations maintained a close working relationship. With the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1991-1992, CAMASU continued to focus on mutual understanding and dialogue between the U.S. and Russian and other nations that were once republics in the union. In 2007, the organization was dissolved.

The collection contains files pertaining to the Claremont Association for Mutual American/Soviet Understanding (CAMASU) in Claremont, including administrative materials such as meeting notes and reports, correspondence with members and other contacts, and events and programming materials such as brochures, flyers, and research materials. More information on the parent organization of CWRAD can be found in the Committee of Women for Russian/American Dialogue (CWRAD) Collection at Claremont Heritage.