Papers of Pauline Birky-Kreutzer
Scope and Contents
The Papers of Pauline Birky-Kreutzer consists of documents dated 1959 to 2004, with the bulk falling from 1960 to 1968. The bulk of the collection consists of reports and newspaper clippings regarding the establishment of the Peace Corps and the role played by CSU. Specific reports regarding Pakistan Peace Corps activities are also included in the collection, most from 1962 to 1963 when Pauline Birky-Kreutzer served as the on-site coordinator. Additional materials regarding the Peace Corps include copies of correspondence and memos, training guides and logs, and reference materials.
Photographs and slides document Peace Corps activities in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and South America. Many of the photographs are not labeled or dated, while most slides are both labeled and dated. Ephemera consists of a few full magazines, awards, and writings by others, including a copy of Maurice L. Albertson's personal history at CSU.
Dates
- Creation: 1959-2004
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1960-1968
Creator
- Birky-Kreutzer, Pauline (Person)
Restrictions on Access
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
Restrictions on Use
Not all of the material in the collection is in the public domain. Researchers are responsible for addressing copyright issues.
Biography
Pauline Birky-Kreutzer, a research associate with the Colorado State University Research Foundation (CSURF), was part of the staff that conducted a Congressional feasibility study on the youth corps training program which became the foundation for the U.S. Peace Corps in 1961.
Born Pauline Livengood in Atwood, Illinois, Pauline Birky-Kreutzer graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in home economics. She married Carl Birky in 1936 and worked as a home supervisor for the Farm Security Administration for six years, where she became the District Supervisor and taught farm women how to plant and cultivate crops.
After a short time in Bloomington, Indiana, the Birky family moved to Fort Collins in 1948 where Carl Birky was appointed as associate professor of sociology and economics at CSU. In 1956, Carl Birky accepted a two-year position with the State Department's Near East Foundation and moved to Tehran, Iran. While there, Birky-Kreutzer was offered a position as associate advisor in the women's program where she trained Iranian community development workers.
After returning to Fort Collins in 1958, Birky-Kreutzer accepted a position as a research associate with CSURF where she worked with Maurice L. Albertson and Albert Rice on conducting a Congressional feasibility study on a youth corps training program. Much of their report became the foundation for the U.S. Peace Corps in 1961. Birky-Kreutzer led the Peace Corps in Pakistan as the on-site coordinator from 1962 to 1963. She became director of the Center for Research and Education where she led many Peace Corps training sessions. Carl Birky died in 1976.
Pauline Birky married William Kreutzer in 1978. After William passed away in 1996, she married Richard Kreutzer in 1998 and retired to Arizona. In 2003, she published Peace Corps Volunteer, or The Perils of Pauline, documenting her experiences with the Peace Corps. Pauline Birky-Kreutzer died on August 21, 2008.
Extent
3.5 linear feet (2 record cartons; 1 document case)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Pauline Birky-Kreutzer, a research associate with the Colorado State University Research Foundation, was part of the staff that conducted a Congressional feasibility study on a youth corps training program, which became the foundation for the U.S. Peace Corps in 1961. The collection primarily documents the establishment of the Peace Corps and the role played by CSU. Material types include newspaper clipping, reports, and photographs.
Arrangement
The collection consists of three series in 2 record cartons and 1 document case:
Series 1: Peace Corps, 1959-2004 and undated
Series 2: Photographs and slides, 1962-1967 and undated
Series 3: Ephemera, 1962-1971, 1987 and 1998
Acquisition
The Papers of Pauline Birky-Kreutzer was donated to the University Archives in October 2013 by Ann Savageau.
Online Materials
Some materials have been scanned and are available through the Colorado State University Libraries Mountain Scholar website.
Separated Collections
Five published books regarding the Peace Corps were removed and placed in Special Collections. One booklet on Vietnam was removed and placed in the Vietnam War Literature Collection.
Processing
Processing was completed in November 2013. Materials were rehoused in acid-free folders and boxes, and duplicate copies were weeded. Paper clips and rubber bands were removed. Photographs were moved to acid-free photo sleeves and folders. Oversized photographs were rehoused in flat folders. A paper banner was re-housed in a separate acid-free box.
Inventory Note
Note: Title information supplied by the archivist is bracketed.
Subject
- Birky-Kreutzer, Pauline (Person)
- Albertson, Maurice L. (Person)
- Peace Corps (U.S.) (Organization)
Genre / Form
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Papers of Pauline Birky-Kreutzer
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Prepared by Karen Spilman
- Date
- Copyright 2014
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the CSU Libraries Archives & Special Collections Repository
Fort Collins Colorado 80523-1019 USA
970-491-1844
library_dl_specialcollections@mail.colostate.edu