COLLECTION GUIDES

1929-1987; bulk: 1967-1987

Guide to the Collection

Restrictions on Access

The Pan American Society of New England papers are stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@masshist.org.

Please note employee payroll records are restricted.


Collection Summary

Abstract

This collection consists of the records of the Pan American Society of New England, including correspondence, administrative records, programs, membership records, material pertaining to the Shattuck Library, financial records, and scrapbooks.

Historical Sketch

The Pan American Society was incorporated in 1941 in Massachusetts. Its formation was partially in response to the Good Neighbor policy and the influx of Latin American students coming to study in the United States instead of Europe during World War II. Its first president was Virginia Chandler Peabody Shattuck. The society's organization was made up of volunteer committees and a staff, directed by a board of governors, consisting of a president, executive vice president, vice president, treasurer, assistant treasurer, and secretary, and eventually a librarian. In 1943, it became affiliated with the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs, when it was suggested that smaller branches be created elsewhere in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Following this, it became the of Pan American Society of New England. It housed the Shattuck Library, named for Dr. James Cheever Shattuck and Virginia Chandler Peabody Shattuck, which consisted of over 11,000 volumes of books on Latin American places, people, history, language, and culture. In 1987, the bulk of the library was donated to Boston University.

PASNE's aims and purposes were to develop an appreciation of Latin American culture, history, and problems relative to the United States; to promote good will through educational study and research; to arrange public lectures, recitals, and exhibits; and to ensure solidarity within the western hemisphere. Programming was the main function of the society and focused on two categories, service and hospitality for Latin American students, consuls, and guests and the education of North Americans to a greater knowledge and understanding of Central and South Americans.

Collection Description

The Pan American Society of New England records consist of 20 record cartons, one document box, and 5 OS boxes of mostly printed material. The collection pertains to the daily operations and event programming of the society and includes correspondence, administrative records, program materials, material pertaining to the Shattuck Library, membership information, financial records, and scrapbooks. Program material makes up the bulk of the collection and contains event announcements, publicity, background information on event participants, and some transcripts of addresses given by Latin American ambassadors and dignitaries, mainly for the "Latin America Up to Date" lecture series.

Arrangement Note

This collection is loosely arranged chronologically and alphabetically within each series.

Processing Information

This collection has been minimally processed and retains most of the original folders.

Acquisition Information

Pan American Society of New England, October 2000.

Restrictions on Access

The Pan American Society of New England papers are stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@masshist.org.

Please note employee payroll records are restricted.

Detailed Description of the Collection

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Preferred Citation

Pan American Society of New England records, Massachusetts Historical Society.

Access Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.

Subjects:

Ambassadors--Latin America.
Artists--Latin America.
Cultural relations--Latin America.
Latin America--International cooperation.
Latin America--Politics and government--20th century.
Musicians--Latin America.
Pan-Americanism.
Scrapbooks--1941.
Scrapbooks--1941-1944.
Scrapbooks--1941-1956.
Scrapbooks--1946-1950.
Scrapbooks--1954-1957.
Scrapbooks--1957-1964.
Singers--Latin America.
Societies--Massachusetts.

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