Descriptive Summary
Administrative Information
Access Points
Biography
Scope and Content
Descriptive Summary
Title: Pan American Society (USA), San Francisco Chapter
Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1928-1965
Collection number: Mss41
Creator:
Extent: 13 linear ft.
Repository:
University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of
Special Collections
Shelf location: For current information on the location of
these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Language: English.
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Pan American Society (USA), San Francisco
Chapter Papers, Mss41, Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections,
University of the Pacific Library
Access Points
corporate name
Pan American Union
corporate name
Organization of American States
corporate name
Alianza por Progreso
subject
International Education -California
subject
Pan-Americanism
subject
Latin America -Description and travel
subject
Latin America -History
Biography
The Pan American Society was founded (1912) to foster Pan American
friendship and understanding. It is the oldest private Latin American
organization in the United States. The idea for the Society originated with
John Barrett, who, at the time was Director of the U.S. government-sponsored
Pan American Union. Barrett, with the assistance of Senator Elihu Root,
organized meetings of a first chapter in New York City. By 1940 membership had
grown to about 800.
During the years of its existence, the various chapters of the national
Society have arranged hundreds of dinners in honor of heads of government,
diplomats, missions on culture, economics, and science, and Latin American
students at American universities. In addition to these social activities, the
officers of the Society have participated in radio broadcasts and delivered
lectures in schools, clubs, and other institutions espousing amicable
commercial and cultural relations between the United States and its Latin
American neighbors.
From the time of its establishment in San Francisco (1930), the Bay Area
chapter has also devoted itself to fostering these goals. Among the activities
of the Society, the most important has been its annual observance of Pan
America Day (April 14), in the course of which all area Latin American
university students are fed and entertained at lavish banquets. Distinguished
Latin Americans who were also guests at Society banquets have included the
President of Nicaragua, the Chief of Staff of the Brazilian Army and the Vice
Presidents of Peru and El Salvador. The chapter entertained delegates to the
Reciprocal Trade Conference (1930), members of the Brazilian Touring Club
(1933), members of the Peruvian and Chilean Missions to the Orient (1938),
delegates to the Inter-American Travel Congress (1939), personnel of
Argentinian and Chilean training cruisers (1940, 1941, and 1944), and the heads
of the Latin American delegations to United Nations Conference (1945).
Miscellaneous educational activities of the Society have included the
formation of Pan American Clubs in area high schools, the presentation of books
to the San Francisco Public Library, the awarding of scholarships to Casa
Panamericana at Mills College, and efforts to foster friendly relations with
Mexican farm and field workers during the Second World War.
Scope and Content
The papers of the Pan American Society (1928-1965) consist of
correspondence, financial and membership records, publicity, photographs,
educational materials and memorabilia.