This record group, consisting of four series, documents the activities of the Peace Corps Training Program that existed at Oberlin College from 1963-1966. Because the program trained volunteers for the French-speaking Ivory Coast, some of the documents are written in French.

Series I contains the administrative records of the training program from 1963-1966. Any information relating to the planning of the program is filed here. Examples of operational records are reports, schedules, financial statements, biographical data sheets about the trainees and staff hiring procedures.

Included in Series II, Correspondence, are the letters, notes and memorandum of both staff (Subseries 1) and trainees (Subseries 2) from 1962-1966. The correspondence subseries relating to staff is by far the most important. In the Director's files of Donald Reich, Paul Arnold and Lawrence Wilson is to be found documentation on the running of the training program.

By far the richest segment of records exist for Series III, Training Programs, 1963-1966. The African-American Institute (A.A.I.) documents contain the most complete information on any training program. The subseries is grouped withadministrative records because that is the original order. Correspondence, exams, schedules and other information having to do with topics such as world issues, communism, domestic affairs, etc. are contained in this section as well.

The last series consists of Printed Materials and Photographs, 1963-1966. Maps, pamphlets about other Peace Corps programs as well as directories (lists of program participants) are found in this file. The photographs are not described or dated, but it is believed they cover the years of 1964 or 1965.

Series I. Operating Records, 1961-1966, (2.6 lin. ft.)

The operating records of the Oberlin College Peace Corps Training Program. These records document the following administrative activities: staff selection criteria, training policies, budgets, contracts and trainee biographical data. The series is divided into nine subseries: 1. Finance, 2. Personnel, 3. Program Activities, 4. Reports. Some records are in French.

Series II. Correspondence, 1963-1966, (0.8 lin. ft.)

Consisting of letters, notes, memos and telegrams, primarily from the directors of the program during its four year existence. The correspondence series is divided into two subseries: 1. Staff and 2. Trainees. Documents written in French are to be found in both subseries.

Series III. Training Programs, 1963-1966, (0.8 lin. ft.)

Included are exams, syllabi, and schedules relating to the subjects that were taught in the training program. Each subject is a subseries: 1. African-American Institute, 2. American Studies/Civil Rights, 3. Area Studies, 4. Field Experience, 5. Foreign Languages, 6. Foyer Feminin, 7. Health, 8. Math/Science, 9. Physical Education, 10. Teaching English as a Foreign Language, 11. Laval Universite and St. George, and 12. World Affairs and Communism. Subseries seven contains materials in French, Baule, and Pidgin.

Series IV. Printed Materials and Photographs, 1963-1966, (0.4 lin. ft.)

Includes fifteen black and white photographs of either the 1964 or 1965 field experience. Also in this series are printed booklets, maps and newspaper clippings. The six subseries are as follows: 1. Directories, 2. Maps, 3. Newsletters and Newspaper Clippings, 4. Promotional Materials, 5. African Student Work, and 6. Photographs.

The records of the Peace Corps Training Program at Oberlin College were transferred to the Oberlin College Archives in three accessions between 1967 and 1973.

For records associated with the Peace Corps Training Program, the researcher is advised to consult the following collections: Library (16); Office of the Secretary (5); Public Relations (18/1); President Robert Kenneth Carr Papers (2/9); and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (9/1/4).