Civic Education Project records

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669

Summary

Extent:
14 linear ft. ; 27 boxes
Creator:
Civic Education Project
Abstract:
The Civic Education Project records contain subject-arranged materials pertaining to the work of the Civic Education Project. Types of materials in the collection include: Board of Directors reports and meeting information, memoranda, correspondence, reports, administrative and financial records, publications and conference outlines and papers. There are also numerous photos and slides from meetings and conferences, as well as candid photos from staff members.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The Civic Education Project records contain subject-arranged materials pertaining to the work of the Civic Education Project.

Series 1 contains material from the Board of Trustees, including minutes of the meetings and correspondence among its members.

Series 2 contains administrative information, including by-laws, policies, and certificates of incorporation and withdrawal.

Series 3 contains information about the Civic Education Project program, including a description of the program, information on book donations and statistics.

Series 4 includes financial information, budgets, accounts, tax information and correspondence with attorneys and the U.K. Charity Commission.

Series 5 contains correspondence between George Soros, the Civic Education Project and the Open Society Institute.

Series 6 contains information on funding and various grants, including grant applications.

Series 7 contains information on the Civic Education Project's foreign offices, including charters and legal documents from a number of countries in Europe and Asia.

Series 8 contains publications by the Civic Education Project, including annual reports, newsletters and directories.

Series 9 contains conference materials.

Series 10 contains photos and slides from conferences and meetings held between 1991 and 2004.

Series 11 contains power points, VHS and CDs from conferences and orientations.

Series 12 contains memorabilia, including a T-shirt and a corporate seal.

Biographical / historical:

The Civic Education Project was a non-profit organization that provided Western-trained teachers and lecturers in the social sciences to universities in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union after the fall of communism. Beginning in 1991 with the support from George Soros through his Open Society Institute (OSI), lecturers were sent to teach at eight universities in Czechoslovakia. This Visiting Lecturers program was expanded throughout Eastern Europe over the next several years. In 1996 the mission of the CEP was enhanced by the addition of the Eastern Scholars program, which assisted regional universities by funding local scholars and encouraging them to stay in academia. The CEP was successful, but in 2003, the OSI, the major funding source of the CEP, suggested that the CEP and Higher Education Support Program-HESP, a similar organization created by the OSI, merge. An independent evaluation was completed and recommendations for a possible merger made, but the Board of Directors did not move ahead with the merge and, in the absence of their major funding source, decided to cease operation of the CEP in 2004.

Acquisition information:
Donated by T. Mills Kelly in 2009.
Arrangement:

Organized into twelve series.

  • Series 1: Board of Directors Information, 1993-2004 (Boxes 1-3)
  • Series 2: Administrative Information, 1992-2003 (Boxes 3-4)
  • Series 3: CEP Program Information, 1992-2002 (Box 4)
  • Series 4: Finance Information, 1992-2003 (Box 5)
  • Series 5: George Soros/Open Society Institute/HESP, 1992-2004 (Box 6)
  • Series 6: Funding/Grants, 1995-2004 (Boxes 7-9)
  • Series 7: Foreign Country Office Information, 1997-2004 (Boxes 9-10)
  • Series 8: Publications, 1994-2004 (Boxes 11-14)
  • Series 9: Conference Materials (chronological), 1995-2003 (Boxes 14-17)
  • Series 10: Photos/Slides, 1991-2004 (Boxes 18-25)
  • Series 11: Other Media, 1994-2004 (Boxes 26)
  • Series 12: Memorabilia, 1992-2004 (Boxes 27)