Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1955 - 2003 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
Extent156 boxes, 3 albums
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
In the year 1955 the American Friends Service Committee held a conference at Haverford College, to examine the value of two-way exchanges between the Union (of South Africa) and the United States, to determine the most effective type of exchanges, and to explore the organisational and financial resources for carrying out such exchange programs. South African leaders were approached with the intention of finding people with a similar commitment to problem-solving by international contact. The South Africans were interested, and plans were made for the creation of an organisation that would co-operate in bringing together leaders from various ethnic and political groupings in the two countries by means of exchange visits. The organisation was founded in 1957 with the name USSALEP (United States-South Africa Leadership Exchange Program: later renamed the United States-South Africa Leader Development Program) and in December 1957, the African-American Institute agreed to add USSALEP to its existing projects. In 1960 USSALEP separated from the African-American Institute and became an independent organisation a private, voluntary, non-profit corporation. Over the next half-century large numbers of leaders and potential leaders from South Africa and the United States benefited from exchange visits, cultural contacts, conferences and training opportunities arranged by USSALEP. Exchangees were encouraged to travel and meet people who could assist them in gaining insight into their countrys problems and possible solutions. As well as the exchange visits, conferences were arranged and various training and empowerment projects were launched (See B: History of USSALEP)
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The papers were deposited at Wits University in 2007.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The papers consist mainly of historical information on USSALEP, minutes, correspondence, records of the various projects and individual files on management committee members and some exchangees. Not all files have been retained; in the case of fundraising correspondence and individual files a sample was considered sufficient to indicate the scope of the project for historical purposes. There is a certain amount of duplication; for the convenience of researchers the minutes have been collected separately in D and additional copies may be found in the correspondence files and mailings to members; material of historical interest may also be found in correspondence files, which are a rich source of information on the organisation. Some photographs are in the original personal files and some have been assembled under N. A number of photos are not identified.