Collection ID: MSS164
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Collection context

Summary

Creator:
America's Promise. The Alliance for Youth
Abstract:
America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth was founded at the Presidents' Summit for America's Future in 1997. The Five Promises to children are at the core of America's Promise and are as follows: Caring Adults; Safe Places; a Healthy Start; Marketable Skills; and Opportunities to Serve.
Extent:
40 cubic feet (37 record cartons, 3 oversized boxes)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

America's Promise Alliance Records, 1992-2019. Ruth Lilly Special Collections and Archives, University Library, Indiana University Indianapolis.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

Signed in April 1997, at Philadelphia's Independence Hall, by all living presidents, George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Gerald Ford, and Nancy Reagan representing Ronald Reagan, the Summit Declaration from the Presidents' Summit for America's Future stated that it is the obligation of all Americans to ensure that all children and youth have the Five Promises fulfilled in their lives. The Five Promises being: a caring adult, role model, or mentor; safe places to learn and grow during non-school hours; a healthy start; a marketable skill through effective education; and an opportunity for young people to give back through community service. 38 governors, 100 mayors, and delegations of Americans representing 140 communities also attended. America's Promise was launched at the close of the Summit under the leadership of the founding chairman, Colin L. Powell. Within seven months of the Summit, hundreds of commitments were made at the national, state, and local levels to fulfill their promises.

In July 2001, at a White House ceremony in the Rose Garden, President George W. Bush became the second sitting president and sixth president overall to sign the Summit Declaration pledging to fulfill the Five Promises for the nation's children and youth. President Barak Obama signed the Declaration in September 2014.

Scope and Content:

This collection consists of the records from America's Promise Alliance. The collections covers the years 1992-2019. Although there are gaps within this collection, the records provide the best overview of the development and history of America's Promise Alliance. The files are generally arranged in alphabetical order unless stated otherwise.

This collection is divided into seven series: Correspondence, Event Files, Administrative Files, Publications, Photographs, Audio Visual, and Artifacts.

Correspondence, 1993-1999

This series consists of correspondence to General Powell during his time as chairman of America's Promise Alliance, as well as a number of responses from the General. The letters, advise letters, and student letters included in this series are all restricted due to personally identifiable information contained within the content of those letters. The correspondence in this series is arranged chronologically by year and then alphabetically by last name.

Event Files, 1993-2000

This series consists of documents from natoinal and international trips and events attended by General Powell during his time as chairman of America's Promise Alliance. These files contain correspondence, invitations, brochures, speeches, itineraries, and related information about specific events and functions. This series is arranged chronologically by date of event.

Administrative Files, 1996-2019

This series consists of four main subseries: Meeting Minutes, Office Files, Financial Files, and Grant Files.

Meeting Minutes, 2010-2019, contain the minutes from America's Promise Alliance Board of Directors' meetings. This subseries is arranged chronologically.

Office Files, 1997-2018, contain files covering GradNation, a national campaign that aims to increase the national graduation rate. This subseries also includes volumes of The Promise Letter, the newsletter of America's Promise Alliance, the articles of incorporation and bylaws of America's Promise Alliance, as well as miscellaneous brochures and articles about the organization.

Financial Files, 1996-2018, contain yearly financial statements, audits, and federal form 990s from America's Promise Alliance. Audit content in this subseries is restricted. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by name of form, and then chronologically by year.

Grant Files, 1998-2018, contain correspondence, proposals, donations, and agreements over grants received by America's Promise Alliance from different organizations, including AT&T, Citi Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Schultz Family Foundation.

Publications, 1997-2018

This series consists of publications and reports produced by America's Promise Alliance. These files include selected annual reports, reports to the nation, and information about the President's Summit for America's Future.

Photographs, 1997-2011

This series consists of two main subseries: Printed Photographs and Photo CDs.

Printed Photographs, 1997-2007, contain photographs of staff members, America's Promise members, student, service-learning projects, events, and award ceremonies held by America's Promise Alliance. This subseries includes printed photographs, polaroids, and accompanying negatives.

Photo CDs, 2007-2011, contain nine photo CDs of photographs from a variety of America's Promise events. Some events stored on the photo CDs overlap with the printed photographs.

Audio Visual, 1992-2013

This series consists of four main subseries: Audio Cassette, Betacam, VHS, and DVD.

Audio Cassette, 1993-1994, contain two audio cassette tapes of speeches by General Powell. This subseries is arranged chronologically.

Betacam, 1992-2009, contain 185 Betacam tapes relaed to America's Promise Alliance. A large portion of this subseries consists of video over the Presidents' Summit for America's Future, America's Promise Youth Service Day, President's Service Awards, and America's Promise Regional Training Forum, as well as interviews with General Powell. This subseries is arranged chronologically.

VHS, 1993-2007, contain 235 VHS tapes related to America's Promise Alliance. A large portion of this subseries consists of video over the Presidents' Summit for America's Future, America's Promise meetings, and Effective Communities Regional Training Forum, as well as interviews with General Powell. This subseries is arranged chronologically.

DVD, 1999-2013, contain 65 DVDs related to America's Promise Alliance. These include orientation videos, news interviews, GradNation events, anniversary celebrations, and videos over AmeriCorps. This subseries is arranged chronologically.

Artifacts, 2010

This series consists of oversized artifacts from the collection. Included in this part of the collection are three Radio Flyer red wagons of varying sizes, which is the symbol of America's Promise. Also included are a number of America's Promise Alliance themed artwork and awards.

Acquisition information:
Presented by America's Promise Alliance, September 2019. Includes accessions A2019/20-021 and A2019/20-028.
Rules or conventions:
DACS-Describing Archives: A Content Standard
General note:

Rights Statement: The text of this webpage is available for modification and reuse under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License and the GNU Free Documentation License (unversioned, with no invariant sections, front-cover texts, or back-cover texts).

Online content

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

This collection is open to the public.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

The copyright laws of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) govern the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material.

PREFERRED CITATION:

America's Promise Alliance Records, 1992-2019. Ruth Lilly Special Collections and Archives, University Library, Indiana University Indianapolis.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Indianapolis
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
University Library 0133
755 West Michigan Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Indianapolis
CONTACT:
speccoll@iu.edu