WR 84: American Field Service Clubs Collection |
2 document boxes
(1960-1986)
Worcester County Library: Genealogy and Local History Collection, Snow Hill Branch, Snow Hill, MD
Identifier: |
WR 84 |
Creator(s): | This collection was compiled by Joanne Mason. The items in this collection were created by several creators. |
Acquisition: |
Unknown |
Language(s): | English |
Use: | Records are open for research. Copyright, including literary rights, belongs to the author(s) or their legal heirs. Permission to publish or reproduce must be obtained from the Worcester County Library which extends beyond “fair use”. |
Preferred Citation: |
“Item, collection name, [Box #, Folder #,] Worcester County Library, Snow Hill Branch, Snow Hill, Maryland.” |
Attribution: |
Finding aid written by Erin Pogue, February 2023. |
Related Materials: | WR 23: Snow Hill High School collection, WR 28: Stephen Decatur High School collection, WR 29: Pocomoke High School collection |
Separated Materials: | None. |
This collection pertains to exchange students coming to Worcester County and living with local families and attending school as part of the American Field Service program. Included are newspaper clippings, photographs, pamphlets, graduation announcements, and letters. The dates covered are 1960-1986.
The American Field Service first began in 1915 during World War I as the American Ambulance Field Service, which was a group of American volunteers who helped the French army transport wounded soldiers to hospitals. By 1917 they no longer served only as medical transportation, but worked in other aspects of military transportation, changing their name to simply American Field Service. The group served as an ambulance service again during World War II. After the world wars, the organization shifted away from a military based group, and established the American Field Service International Scholarships, which brought students from across the world to study at high schools in America. The Worcester County schools participated in this program, starting in 1960 at Snow Hill High School, but expanding to the other high schools in the area. Between 1960 and 1986, students came to study from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Jordan, the Netherlands, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, and more countries. They also participated in the Americans Abroad program, where Worcester County students studied in countries around the globe. The AFS program still is in existence, with over 50 organizations in over 80 countries. It is unknown if the Worcester County Public Schools still participates in this organization.
This collection was originally in the format of a scrapbook containing newspaper clippings, photographs, graduation announcements, letters, and other materials related to the students who studied abroad. Over time the scrapbook has deteriorated, and it has been mostly disassembled to preserve the items within. Where possible, the items have been kept in their original order and layout. The original scrapbook was in a loose chronological order, so this collection follows suit.
The American Field Service Clubs collection has been arranged in the same order as the original scrapbook, which is loosely in chronological order, with articles on each student typically grouped together. The collection organization has not been altered from the original organization, so the chronological organization is not exact.
Topical Terms
Education
Travel
Corporate Names
Americans Abroad
American Field Service
Pocomoke High School
Snow Hill High School
Stephen Decatur High School
Worcester County Public Schools
Personal Names
Galatti, Stephen
Hansen-Stomner, Britt
Leenen, Helga
Lorca-Marino, Maria
Mason, Joanne D.
Location Names
Berlin (Md.)
Pocomoke City (Md.)
Snow Hill (Md.)
Box 1
Folder 1 (1960-1972)
Folder 2 (1960-1972)
Folder 3 (1960-1972)
Folder 4 (1972-1976)
Folder 5 (1972-1976)
Folder 6 (1972-1976)
Folder 7 (1976-1979)
Folder 8 (1976-1979)
Box 2
Folder 9 (1979-1981)
Folder 10 (1979-1981)
Folder 11 (1981-1983)
Folder 12 (1981-1983)
Folder 13 (1983-1985)
Folder 14 (1983-1986)