International Platform Association records
Scope and Contents
This collection contains office correspondence, publications of the International Lyceum Association and the International Platform Association, convention photographs, convention audiotape cassettes, convention videotape cassettes, and the International Platform Association website. The material dates from 1904-2023. In addition to general correspondence, publications, photographs, and audiovisual material, the collection also contains files that were maintained by Dan Tyler Moore, Jr. and Jean Schaeffer.
Dates
- Creation: 1904-2023
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1940 - 1990
Creator
- Moore, Dan Tyler (Person)
- Schaeffer, Jean (Person)
- Anderson, Jack (Person)
- Owens, Luvie (Person)
- Pearson, Drew, 1897-1969 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.
Biographical / Historical
The International Platform Association was an organization that functioned between 1831 and 2001. The organization began as the American Lyceum Association, and served as a means for people to debate and voice their oppinions in a public setting. In the early years that followed, organizations all across the country began establishing their own lyceums; by 1834, there were several thousand. The Chautauqua Movement grew out of the American Lyceum Association. This was established at Lake Chautauqua, New York, and offered adult education in both science and the humanities. Thousands of people came to sessions to hear lectures made by eminent politicians, artists, and scientists. In 1902, the International Lyceum Association was established and existed until 2001. The association organized to "dedicate itself to the improvement of the lecture, concert, and entertainment fields, to maintain the highest standard of presentations, to increase the welfare of those engaged therein, and to foster and develop goodwill and fellowship among its members." The organization changed its name to the International Platform Association in 1947.
Extent
50.5 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The International Platform Association was an organization that functioned between 1831 and 2023. The organization began as the American Lyceum Association, and served as a means for people to debate and voice their oppinions in a public setting. In the early years that followed, organizations all across the country began establishing their own lyceums; by 1834, there were several thousand. Thousands of people came to sessions to hear lectures made by eminent politicians, artists, and scientists. This collection contains office correspondence, publications of International Lyceum Association and International Platform Association, convention photographs, convention audiotape cassettes, convention videotape cassettes, and the International Platform Association website.
Arrangement
Organized into 8 series: Governance, 1930-1990, Correspondence, 1940-1992, Publications, 1904-1978, Dan Moore's files, 1950-1960, Jean Schaeffer's files, 1978-1992, Photographs, 1962-1986, Audiovisual, 1977-2001, and Websites (captured using the Internet Archive's Archive-it service in 2023 and then once a year after that).
Physical Location
Materials are stored off-site, and will require additional retrieval time. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the International Platform Association/Mark Rhoades, 2009 (Accession 2009.036)
- Title
- Guide to the International Platform Association records, 1904-2001
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University
- Date
- 2016
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository
George Washington University Gelman Library
2130 H Street NW
Washington DC 20052 United States of America
speccoll@gwu.edu