MS 538 - Amnesty International: Bowling Green Chapter AIUSA Group 256

Title	MS 538 - Amnesty International: Bowling Green Chapter AIUSA Group 256
Introduction	The Amnesty International: Bowling Green Chapter AIUSA Group 256 collection is approximately .5 cubic feet. The collection is comprised of documents pertaining to the group from its founding in 1982 to 1988. This includes membership records, correspondence to regional and national offices, letter writing campaigns, group newsletters, and printed materials including newspaper clippings and flyers. Also included are documents pertaining to the group’s establishment as well as its 6th anniversary celebration in 1988. The collection was donated to the Center for Archival Collections in August of 1988 by Michael Mott, a professor of English at Bowling Green State University and chapter founder. Literary and property rights have been dedicated to the public and duplication is permitted for the purpose of preservation and scholarly research. No restrictions exist on the use of this collection. The register was prepared by Johni Amos in spring of 2013.
Agency History	Founded in 1961, Amnesty International (AI) is an organization dedicated to ensuring that all people are guaranteed the rights delineated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other recognized human rights standards. This is done through research, action, and advocacy. Interested parties may work individually with AI or form chapters, or groups. These groups may be created around high schools, colleges, or communities. The Bowling Green, Ohio chapter, a community-based group, was founded by Michael Mott, an English professor at Bowling Green State University. Professor Mott began reaching out to members of the Bowling Green in the spring of 1981. He, and co-leader Alice Heim Calderonello, held informational meetings in the spring of 1982. The group made its formal application for chartering in June of 1982. Throughout their existence, the group adopted several prisoners, organizing letter-writing campaigns for their releases. Committee positions, as well as membership, fluctuated over time.
Scope and Content	The contents of the collection are focused on documents saved by Michael Mott. As such, there can be gaps in the documents. For example, there are a few financial records, but, on a whole, they are limited. The collection holds a significant amount of correspondence from, to, and within the group as well as large amount of letters on behalf of prisoners. Several of these letters are written Spanish, Polish, and Russian as well as other languages. One of the original membership lists is included. The correspondence is divided into that pertaining to the operations of the group (e.g. letters to AIUSA regional offices) and that pertaining to adopted prisoners. The majority of letters related to prisoners are those sent to diplomats requesting the prisoners’ release. Those prisoners with a substantial amount of information, correspondence, or a unique document (e.g. a photo) are given separate folders. There is also a separate folder consisting of correspondence and photos of a postal stamp circulated in Greece. There is a small section with documents pertaining to the group’s 6th anniversary celebration. These include photos, brochures, an invitation, and personal testimonies. Reports of the group include meeting agendas, annual reports, grant reports, and newsletters. Some financial documents such as receipts, bills, and grant information are also included. Additionally, newspaper clippings, flyers, press releases, and some personal testimonies about the group are all also included in the collection.
Series Description	PROCEEDINGS MEMBERSHIP LISTS November 1982 Includes names, addresses, phone numbers, position within organization, special members CORRESPONDENCE BUSINESS April 15, 1981-May 8, 1988 Arranged chronologically AI Stamp, Letters (templates) from Michael Mott and Alice Heim Calderonello (leaders of group) to interested parties, Press Release of Hans H. Wahl, Midwest Coordinator of Amnesty International, speech and Q&A regarding AI, Letters from Hans H. Wahl on chartering group – both to BGSU and AIUSA, Letters from AIUSA to AI, Inc. announcing adoption group, Formal application to form group, Letters from Coordinators to BG group regarding strategies/resources, Letters to interested parties regarding meetings, Thank you letters for donations PRISONERS May 1982-October, 1988 Arranged chronologically Letters from members to foreign diplomats on behalf of prisoners: Berthony Pierre-Paul (Haiti), Ewa Kubasiewicz (Poland), General Human Rights violations (Pakistan), Johnny James Issel (South Africa), Mikhail Kukobaka (USSR), Abdulle Rage Taraweh (Somalia), Ali Yahia Abennour (Algeria), Letters and petitions to foreign organizations stressing AI’s concern over human rights violations: Pakistan, Morocco, United Nations; Letter to Senator Howard Metzenbaum regarding Irina Ratushinskaya (USSR), Notification of prisoner releases SUBJECT FILES INNA CHERNYAVSKAYA (UKRAINSKAYA SSR) August 23, 1982 – February 29, 1984 Arranged chronologically Letters on her behalf to foreign diplomats, Letters to her, Telegrams inquiring about release, Letters inquiring about release, Case Closure, Phone Bill regarding calls made on her behalf VICTOR LACOSTA RAMOS (MEXICO) October 11, 1984 – February 25, 1988 Arranged chronologically Letters on his behalf to foreign diplomats, Letters inquiring about his status, Case Sheet THAMSANQA VETMAN (SOUTH AFRICA) January 12, 1987 – October 9, 1987 Arranged chronologically Press Release regarding AI’s letter writing campaign, Correspondence to Senator Howard Metzenbaum from South African Embassy, Case Closure, Newspaper clippings GEORGE KATAMA MKANGI (KENYA) January 9, 1988 – April 20, 1988 Arranged chronologically Adoption Case Info, Newspaper clippings, Photo GREEK STAMP March 17, 1983 – May 5, 1983 Arranged chronologically Correspondence to Regional Office and AIUSA regarding new Greek stamp, Photo of stamp, Newspaper clipping 6TH ANNIVERSARY 1988 Invitation and brochures, Photos, Personal testimonies REPORTS GENERAL April 7, 1982 – May, 1988 Arranged chronologically Meeting agendas, Newsletters, Annual Group Report, Grant Report FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS GENERAL September 19, 1983 – 1988 Arranged Chronologically Receipts, Phone bills, Grant application, Grant agreement, Correspondence with headquarters regarding finances, Budget SCRAPBOOKS AND SCRAPBOOK MATERIAL NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS May 12, 1982 Press Releases PRINTED MATERIAL PRINTED MATERIAL May, 1982 – September, 1986 Flyers
Inventory	Box 1 Folders Membership Records, November 1982 Correspondence, Business, April 15, 1981 – May 8, 1988 Correspondence, Prisoners, May, 1982 – October, 1988 Inna Chernyavskaya (Ukrainskaya SSR): August 23, 1982 – February 29, 1984 Victor Lacosta Ramos (Mexico): October 11, 1984 – February 25, 1988 Daniel Thamsanqa Vetman (South Africa): January 12, 1987 – October 9, 1987 George Katama Mkangi (Kenya): January 9, 1988 – April 20, 1988 Greek Stamp: March 17, 1983 – May 5, 1983 6th Anniversary: 1988 Reports: April 7, 1982 – May, 1988 Financial Documents: September 19, 1983 – 1988 Newspaper Clippings: May 12, 1982 Printed Materials: May, 1982 – September, 1986