International Non-Governmental Organizations
Any survey of international non-governmental organizations must inevitably be
incomplete: there are simply too many in existence. The few outlined here are chosen
simply because of their prominence and the accessibility of their archival collections.
Researchers interested in international and national NGOs working in the United
Kingdom should, as a first port of call, use the DANGO Project from the University of
Birmingham to find the appropriate archive.
Tables of Contents
International Committee of the Red Cross
Rockefeller Foundation
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Inter-Parliamentary Union
World Wildlife Fund
Greenpeace International
Amnesty International
Helsinki Watch/Human Rights Watch
Rotary International
International Olympics Committee
World Scout Movement
Catholic Church
World Council of Churches
1
2
3
4
4
5
6
7
8
8
9
10
10
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/icrc-archives/index.jsp
Geneva, Switzerland
UNESCO/SIO Guide:
http://www.unesco.org/archives/sio/Eng/presentation.php?idOrg=1017
Address:
Phone:
Email:
International Committee of the Red Cross
19, Avenue de la Paix
CH – 1202 Geneva
Switzerland
(00) 41 22 730 29 66; (00) 41 22 730 29 43
fbensi@icrc.org
Hours:
Monday – Friday, 8.30am – 4.30pm (by appointment)
The archives of the ICRC hold files from 1840 onwards, and range from records of the
committee to private papers, to audiovisual and photographic records.
Researchers should, in advance of their visit, notify the head of the historical archives
unit, Mr. Fabrizio Bensi, of their intent by email, telephone, or letter. Valid ID will be
required for a visitor’s pass to be issued. The use of digital cameras is allowed in the
reading room, as long as other readers are not disturbed.
Holdings: http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/icrc-archives/index.jsp (.pdfs in French)
Contacts: http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/misc/contact-archives290506.htm
Rockefeller Foundation
http://www.rockarch.org/
Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
The Rockefeller Archive Center
15 Dayton Avenue
Sleepy Hollow
NY 10591
(00) 1 914 631 4505; (00) 1 914 366 6300
(00) 1 914 631 6017
archive@rockarch.org
Hours:
Closed:
Monday – Friday, 9am – 5.15pm
Holidays
The Rockefeller Archive Center holds the archives of the Rockefeller family, the
Rockefeller Foundation, and the Rockefeller University. Researchers should contact the
Archive Center in advance of a visit specifying the details of research, with the names of
people and institutions interested in, dates, and so on. An archivist will then respond with
details before a visit (for which photo ID is required).
The papers of the Rockefeller Foundation date back beyond the Foundation’s founding in
1913, and include correspondence, administration files, oral histories, and information on
specific projects. The papers of several field offices are also held, detailing on-the-ground
activities. Aside from the Foundation proper, the Archive Center also holds the personal
papers of many key personages from the Foundation’s activities, other of the Rockefeller
family’s philanthropic activities, and other non-profit organizations.
On online archive is currently under construction.
The use of cameras is permitted in the reading room, and photocopying is provided with a
charge. The Archive Center is easily accessible by car and by public transport (the MetroNorth Hudson Line from Grand Central Station in Manhattan): a shuttle bus is provided
from Tarrytown station at the beginning and end of the working day.
About:
http://www.rockarch.org/about/
Information:
http://www.rockarch.org/research/inforesearch.php
Foundation Finding Aids: http://www.rockarch.org/collections/rf/#admin
List of Collections:
http://www.rockarch.org/collections/
Catalogue search:
http://racweb.rockarch.org/rockglobal/
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
http://carnegieendowment.org/about/library/
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/archival/collections/ldpd_4078585/
New York, USA
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Hours:
Columbia University Rare Book & Manuscript Library
Butler Library, 6th Floor
Columbia University
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027
United States of America
(00) 1 212 854 5153
(00) 1 212 854 1365
rbml@libraries.cul.columbia.edu
http://hours.library.columbia.edu/?library=rbml
The archives of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, prior to its move to
Geneva in 1954, are held in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Columbia
University in New York. The archives contain correspondence, memoranda, photographs,
etc., from the Endowment’s New York Office, as well as the files of the Centre Européen
and the Carnegie Endowment in Europe.
Files relating to the Endowment’s activities after 1954 are not archived, and are
unavailable to the public.
Researchers are strongly advised to contact the library before arrival, though no
appointment is strictly necessary. Digital photography is allowed in the reading room,
and internet is provided.
NYC/Washington Finding
Aid: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/archives/rbml/CEIP/index.html
Centre Européen Finding
Aid: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/archives/rbml/CEIPEuro/index.html
Online Catalogue:
http://clio.cul.columbia.edu/cgibin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBRecID=4078585&v2=1
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
http://www.ipu.org/english/home.htm
Geneva, Switzerland
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Inter-Parliamentary Union
5, Chemin du Pommier
Case Postale 330
CH–1218 Le Grand-Saconnex / Geneva
Switzerland
(00) 41 22 919 41 50
(00) 41 22 919 41 60
postbox@mail.ipu.org
Hours:
Monday – Friday, 8.30am – 4.30pm
The archives of the Inter-Parliamentary Union date back to 1889, and are held at IPU
headquarters in Geneva. The archives contain IPU statutes, conference records, records of
study committees, IPU national groups, administrative records, correspondence, and a
few photographs. The documents of the Executive Committee and the Committee on the
Human Rights of Parliamentarians may be accessible on application. The principal
finding aid is a paper inventory, with collection level descriptions. This is available only
onsite.
The summary records of IPU conferences have been scanned, and will eventually be
published online.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
http://www.worldwildlife.org/home-full.html
Washington D.C., USA
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Information Resource Center
World Wildlife Fund
1250 24th St NW
Washington, D.C. 20037
United States of America
(00) 1 202 495 4636
(00) 1 202 331 8836
library@wwfus.org
The World Wildlife Fund does not, at this time, have established archives. The library,
however, does possess a large amount of historical material which has been used in the
past, such as annual report series, minutes of board meetings, etc.. There is no finding
aid. Potential researchers are advised to get in touch directly with the library or the wider
WWF for more details.
Greenpeace International
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/
Vancouver, Canada; Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The archives of Greenpeace International are split between Vancouver, where it was set
up, and Amsterdam, where it currently resides.
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
City of Vancouver Archives
1150 Chestnut Street
Vancouver, B.C.
V6J 3J9
Canada
(00) 1 604 736 8561
(00) 1 604 736 0626
archives@vancouver.ca
Hours:
Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
The city of Vancouver holds many papers relating to the founding of Greenpeace in its
municipal archives. Documents, photographs, financial records, and correspondence are
all held in the archive.
Researchers must bring photo ID and fill in a registration form; it is suggested that they
contact the library before arrival, and remember that a reply might take a while.
About:
http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/archives/about/usingarc.htm
Map:
http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/archives/about/index.htm
Fonds:
http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/greenpeace-foundation-fonds;rad
City of Vancouver Archives:
http://vancouver.ca/your-government/city-of-vancouver-archives.aspx
Later papers of Greenpeace, especially from 1980 onwards, are held in Amsterdam.
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Hours:
International Institute of Social History
Cruquiusweg 31
1019 AT Amsterdam
The Netherlands
(00) 31 20 6685866
(00) 31 20 6654181
General:
info@iisg.nl
Reading Room: ask@iisg.nl
Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
These archives contain correspondence, minutes of board meetings, some files of
regional offices, files of directors, and so on. Many papers are still held by the
Greenpeace central office (especially financial records).
Permission is required to use these files, and may be granted by filling in a form. Files
will be pre-fetched with 24 hours’ notice, but contacting the library before arrival is not
strictly necessary.
Description:
http://www.iisg.nl/archives/en/files/g/10918786.php
Finding aid:
http://www.iisg.nl/archives/pdf/ARCH02597.pdf
About IISH:
http://www.iisg.nl/address.php
Reading room: http://www.iisg.nl/services/readingroom.php
FAQs:
http://www.iisg.nl/services/faq.php
Amnesty International (AI)
http://www.iisg.nl/archives/en/files/a/10739035.php
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The papers of the International Secretariat of Amnesty International are held at the
International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam. AI’s secretariat is based in
London, and has consultative status with the UN, UNESCO, and the Council of Europe.
Papers date back to its founding in 1961, and include notes of meetings, working papers,
internal correspondence, papers of Secretaries-General (including the personal papers of
Eric Baker), and various other documents. There is also an oral history collection. For
further information on the International Institute of Social History, see the entry for
Greenpeace International in this guide.
Permission may be required to access some files, but many are open. Researchers should
best check directly with the reading room to find out if permission (which may require up
to two months) is required. If the information required was created after 1990, it may be
available via an online search.
Contact page:
http://www.iisg.nl/address.php
Complete finding aid: http://www.iisg.nl/archives/pdf/10739035.pdf
The papers of Amnesty International USA are held by the Center for Human Rights
Documentation & Research at Columbia University, via the Rare Book and Manuscript
Library. Researchers wanting to use AIUSA’s papers should contact the Rare Book and
Manuscript Library directly.
Address:
Columbia University Rare Book & Manuscript Library
Butler Library, 6th Floor
Columbia University
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027
Phone:
Fax:
United States of America
(00) 1 212 854 5153
(00) 1 212 854 1365
Email:
rbml@libraries.cul.columbia.edu
Hours:
http://hours.library.columbia.edu/?library=rbml
CHRDR:
http://library.columbia.edu/indiv/humanrights/about.html
Information:
http://library.columbia.edu/indiv/humanrights/archive_collections/aius
a.html
Finding
aid:
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/libraries/inside/projects/findingaids/scans/pdfs/AI
USA_NatOffice.pdf
Helsinki Watch/Human Rights Watch
http://www.hrw.org/en/node/75134
New York, USA
The papers of Human Rights Watch, including regional files relating to Africa, Asia,
and the Middle East, are held by Columbia University’s Center for Human Rights
Documentation & Research, and are therefore available through Columbia University’s
Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The HRW collection also contains over 270 feet of
records of the Helsinki Watch group. There is currently only a finding aid for the
Helsinki Watch portion of the papers; other papers are more recent. The papers of HRW
are held off-site, and therefore 24 hours’ notice is required for use (contact the library
directly).
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
Columbia University Rare Book & Manuscript Library
Butler Library, 6th Floor
Columbia University
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027
United States of America
(00) 1 212 854 5153
(00) 1 212 854 1365
Email:
rbml@libraries.cul.columbia.edu
Hours:
http://hours.library.columbia.edu/?library=rbml
CHRDR:
http://library.columbia.edu/indiv/humanrights/about.html
Collections:
http://library.columbia.edu/indiv/humanrights/archive_collections/hrw.
html
Helsinki
Watch:
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/archival/collections/ldpd_6062290/index.
html
Helsinki Watch Finding
Aid: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/libraries/inside/projects/findingaids/scans/pdfs/HRW
_Helsinki.pdf
Rotary International
http://www.rotary.org/en/AboutUs/History/ResearchRotary/Pages/ridefault.aspx
Lincolnwood, Illinois, USA
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Rotary History and Archives
7100 N. Lawndale Avenue
Lincolnwood
IL 60712
United States of America
(00) 1 847 866 3193
(00) 1 847 866 3276
history@rotary.org
Hours:
Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm
The archives of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation document the
activities of notable Rotarians, and contain correspondence between Rotarian presidents
and leaders, photographs, and so on. The archives also contain collections of the issues of
The Rotarian magazine, proceedings of conventions, and an official directory, all from
1910 to the present day.
Access to the archives is by permission only and priority is given to Rotarians. Research
questions should be emailed, and answers may require six weeks. For an appointment,
contact should be made with the library at least one week in advance.
Map:
http://www.rotary.org/en/AboutUs/History/ResearchRotary/Pages/guidelines.a
spx
FAQs:
http://www.rotary.org/en/AboutUs/History/ResearchRotary/Pages/questions.
aspx
History:
http://www.rotary.org/en/aboutus/history/rihistory/Pages/ridefault.aspx
Timeline: http://www.rotary.org/en/AboutUs/History/RotaryTimeline/Pages/ridefault.a
spx
International Olympic Committee (IOC)
http://www.olympic.org/historical-archives
Lausanne, Switzerland
Address:
Olympic Studies Centre
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Hours:
Quai d’Ouchy 1
1001 Lausanne
Switzerland
(00) 41 21 621 6318
(00) 41 21 621 6718
studies_centre@olympic.org
April – October:
Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
November – March: Tuesday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
The archives of the International Olympic Committee date back to the modern
Movement’s founding in 1894, and document the Committee and the Movement’s
activities up to the last twenty years. Paper folders and microfilms equate to one linear
kilometre of files, and the archive also contains collections related to the Movement and
private archives. Though many files are opened under a twenty-year rule, personal papers
of IOC members, as well as the minutes of the Nominations and Ethics commissions, are
opened under a hundred-year rule.
Access to the archives is by permission only, by the filling in of an online form. The
Olympic Studies Centre makes several grants available every year for postgraduate
students embarking on research involving the IOC or the Olympics.
Access regulations:
http://www.olympic.org/Assets/OSC Section/pdf/Info P_3E.pdf
Permission form:
https://secure.registration.olympic.org/en/visit
Finding aids (.pdf): http://www.olympic.org/content/the-olympic-studiescentre/categories-container/list-of-resources/
Research grants:
http://www.olympic.org/olympic-studies-centre?articleid=126964
Academic network: http://www.olympic.org/content/the-olympic-studiescentre/categories-container/academic-activities-and-network/
University relations:
http://www.olympic.org/university-relations
Image archive:
http://www.olympic.org/image-archives
Library:
http://www.olympic.org/library
World Scout Movement
http://scout.org/
Geneva, Switzerland
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
World Organization of the Scout Movement
Rue du Pré-Jerôme 5
P.O. Box 91
CH-1211 Geneva 4 Plainpalais
Switzerland
(00) 41 22 705 10 10
(00) 41 22 705 10 20
worldbureau@scout.org
In addition to any records held by national scout groups or elsewhere, the central office of
the World Scout Bureau in Geneva holds historical documents dating back to Baden
Powell.
There is no website for the archives section, but a catalogue by subjects is available in
Geneva, and visitors can consult it together with the archives on site.
Potential researchers should contact the Geneva office directly to make an appointment.
Catholic Church
http://www.archiviosegretovaticano.va/
Vatican City
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Hours:
Archivio Segreto Vaticano
Cortile del Belvedere
00120 Città del Vaticano
(00) 39 06 69883314; (00) 39 06 69883211
(00) 39 06 69885574
asv@asv.va
Monday – Saturday, 8.15am – 1pm (afternoons by permission only)
The Vatican Secret Archive allows access to papers up to 1939 (the death of Pius XI)
for researchers already possessing a university degree.
A request for an entry card must be made to the Prefect of the Archive, providing
personal details, profession, research outline, a letter of introduction from a professor, a
photograph, and a copy of valid ID. An entry card will then be issued between 8.15am
and 10.30am by the Admission Secretariat on the day of arrival (provided that nobody is
already working in the archives on the same topic).
Rules:
http://www.archiviosegretovaticano.va/?file_id=8
Outline:
http://www.archiviosegretovaticano.va/en/patrimonio/
File Index (It): http://www.archiviosegretovaticano.va/?file_id=2
World Council of Churches
http://library.oikoumene.org/home.html
Geneva, Switzerland
Address:
World Council of Churches Library and Archives
P.O. Box 2100
[7, Route des Morillons]
CH-1211 Geneva 2
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Hours:
Switzerland
(00) 41 022 791 62 79
(00) 41 022 791 62 75
library@wcc-coe.org
Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
The archives of the World Council of Churches, which brings together innumerable
denominations and national Churches in a single ecumenical body, are held in Geneva.
The archive holds hundreds of thousands of documents, as well as sound recordings,
photographs, and videos.
Potential researchers are asked to fill in an access request form and email it in.
Access/hours: http://library.oikoumene.org/home/access-and-opening-hours.html
Archives:
http://library.oikoumene.org/archives.html
Papers:
http://library.oikoumene.org/archives/paper-collection.html
Search:
http://archives.oikoumene.org/Query/archivplansuche.aspx