From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Phelps Stokes Fund
Phelps Stokes Fund
1911 - 1941
During the first thirty years, PS made small grants to-
taling approximately $19,000 for Indian schools, organi-
zations, and scholarships. Its first grant was allocated in
1915 with $1,000 to Reverend Henry Roe Cloud and Pro-
fessor F.A. McKenzie to conduct a preliminary survey of
the state of Indian schools.
Phelps Stokes In 1926, PS gave a $5,000 grant to the Institute for
Government Research (now the Brookings Institution) to
PS)
The Phelps Stokes Fund (PS is a nonprofit fund es- conduct a research project under the leadership of Lewis
tablished in 1911 by the will of a member of the Phelps Meriam. John Rockefeller, Jr. provided primary financial
Stokes family. Created as the Trustees of Phelps Stokes Fund, underwriting for that program. The report, The Problem
Phelps Stokes connects emerging leaders and organiza- of Indian Administration, commonly known as the Meriam
tions in Africa and the Americas with resources to help Report, served as the basis in the 1930s for the Roosevelt
them advance social and economic development. Administration’s policy towards American Indians. This
Among the many organizations that trace their roots policy, groundbreaking for its time, urged the U.S. gov-
to Phelps Stokes are UNCF, the Booker Washington Agri- ernment to allow American Indians to exist as cultural-
cultural and Industrial Institute (BWI), the American In- ly unique peoples, and to retain reservation land bases in
dian College Fund, the American Indian Higher Education their control. The policy also established most of the con-
Consortium, the Jackie Robinson Foundation and the As- temporary tribal governments through the Indian Reor-
sociation of Black American Ambassadors. ganization Act.
Phelps Stokes is especially known for its contribution In 1939, the Indian Rights Association (IRA) requested
to education in the U.S. South and British colonial Africa. assistance to study the controversy over the range man-
Indeed, Edward Berman writes that between 1911 and agement controversy on the Navajo Reservation. Phelps
1945, Phelps Stokes "played a role in American Negro and Stokes provided $1,800 for the study. This inquiry was
especially in African education disproportionate to the eventually published by Thomas Jesse Jones as The Navajo
rather meagre financial resources it contributed directly Problem: An Inquiry. One aspect of that study was Ella
to these endeavors between 1911, when it was incorpo- Deloria’s The Navajo Indian Problem. That year, PS also
rated, and 1945. [Phelps Stokes’] endowment of slightly helped found the American Indian Institute in Wichita,
less than $1 million was small when compared with oth- Kansas under the leadership of Henry Roe Cloud.
er philanthropic organizations established early in the
twentieth century." [1] 1942 - 1969
Phelps Stokes’ involvement in American Indian commu-
Work in the United States nities waned after World War II until the appointment of
Phelps Stokes has promoted a number of published stud- Dr. Wilton Dillon as Executive Secretary and Director of
ies on critical social issues. In the United States, it com- Research in 1957. During the initial years of Dillon’s lead-
missioned groundbreaking studies of black intellectual ership, PS became involved in planning studies and con-
potential for college education at the University of Vir- ferences related to American Indian development. This
ginia and the University of Georgia. Phelps Stokes also assistance typically came in the form of $1,500 grants to
supported the historic Jeanes Teachers Program, which organizations such as Arrow, Inc., an affiliate of the Na-
became a model for education in the rural South. tional Congress of American Indians.
The original charter of Phelps Stokes (PS) included In 1958, Phelps Stokes provided $1,500 for a group of
deliberate attention to the needs of American Indians, American Indian leaders to travel to Puerto Rico. There,
particularly for the educational and human development the group studied a local community development pro-
of those historically underrepresented and marginalized. gram, which resulted in scholarships for Indian students
Throughout its history, PS has built upon this foundation to study at the University of Puerto Rico. On a smaller
in a variety of ways. scale, PS informally helped the Museum of Primitive Art
in New York to organize an art exhibit.
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Phelps Stokes Fund
In 1960, Dillon organized a symposium on economic Inn on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. As a result
development in regards to American Indian during the of that meeting, PS and AIHEC published a report on In-
annual meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology dian Higher Education and Philanthropy. Baker, Martin
held at the University of Pittsburgh. Over the next sev- and Katus conducted the research and wrote The Direc-
eral years, PS continued to provide small grants for pro- tory of American Indian Private Funding Sources, pub-
jects. For example, in 1961, PS gave $500 for a photo- lished by AIHEC. This directory was critically reviewed
graphic study of Navajo education. In 1963, Dillon repre- by The Foundation News as “the best [funding directory]
sented PS at the National Congress of American Indians ever published.”
Leadership Conference where PS sponsored discussions In 1975, Paige Baker, Jr. became the Director of Amer-
focused on juvenile delinquency, law enforcement, land ican Indian Programs at PS, where he continued to devel-
tenure problems and relationships with state govern- op international exchange programs with Ghana, South
ments. Africa’s Bantustans, Kenya, and Latin American Indians.
In 1976, Phelps Stokes secured an initial grant to
1970s launch the Native-American Philanthropic News Service
In 1970, Franklin Williams became president of Phelps (NAPNS), its new director journalist Rose Robinson
Stokes. Williams began organizing conversations with (Hopi). She published The Exchange, a quarterly publica-
various organizations, such as the American Indian Com- tion for information exchange between Indians and the
munity House to help revitalize and strengthen Phelps Philanthropic world; The Roundup, news briefs and op-
Stokes’ presence in Indian communities. portunities for Indian groups; Bulletins, an information
The following year, PS began work on the American piece on meetings and events; and the famed Red Book, a
Indian Reference Book, modeled after its American Negro pocket size directory updated quarterly of all key feder-
Reference Book, using a $7,500 Ford Foundation grant. al officials with an interest in Native American programs.
Fred Dockstader, Director of the Museum of the Ameri- In 1977, Robinson succeeded Baker as Director of Phelps
can Indian in New York, was a member of the committee. Stokes’ Native American programs.
The Museum was later absorbed by the National Museum In 1977, Katus established the western office of Phelps
of the American Indian (NMAI). Because the Smithsonian Stokes, located in Rapid City, South Dakota and launched
Institution was launching a more extensive Native Amer- the Rural Ethnic Institute. One Feather and Katus co-
ican Reference Book, PS ceased its efforts and returned hosted the Red-White TV Dialogue; for seven years, this
the remaining grant money to the Ford Foundation in program aired on over 20 commercial television stations
1957. in eight states, reaching an audience of 4.3 million view-
In 1973, Tom Katus joined PS as Program Coordinator. ers. In 1977, PS created an Indian Advisory Board, which
Katus assisted the development of the American Indian toured Mexico and Guatemala considering a exchange
Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) and initiated PS’s program between Central and North American Indian
Indian Educational Development Internship Program. groups.
Discussions began with the Bureau of Educational and Phelps Stokes’ American Indian Program relied pri-
Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State to devel- marily on grants from foundations and corporations, in-
op International Indigenous Educational Exchange Pro- cluding General Mills Foundation, Donner Foundation,
grams for American Indians and indigenous groups Aetna Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, New Land
throughout the world. Foundation, Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, AMAX
Phelps Stokes implemented an international Indian Corporation and Union Carbide. By the end of the 1970s,
educational exchange conference by enabling a Navajo the Phelps Stokes budget for American Indian programs
Community College staff member to participate in an ex- was $114,000.
change with Caribbean and African educators. It also
helped found the Turtle Mountain Community College in 1980s and 1990s
Belcourt, North Dakota. In 1974, PS started to develop the In the 1980s, international exchanges continued. In 1983,
American Indian College Fund, based on the model of the PS staff traveled to West Africa (Nigeria, Ivory Coast,
United Negro College Fund whose creation Phelps Stokes Sierra Leone, and Morocco) to study legal and educa-
supported. Barbara Bratone, Development Officer at PS, tional institutions in those countries in comparison to
helped AIHEC launch AICF, and offices were initially lo- American Indian institutions. Rose Robinson became a
cated at the Phelps Stokes headquarters in New York Ci- Vice President of Phelps Stokes. PS worked with the Na-
ty. tive American Science Association as on the suicide pre-
PS, the Johnson Foundation, and AIHEC co-sponsored vention work of Zelma Minthorn. Phelps Stokes’ involve-
the first philanthropic conference ever held in “Indian ment with American Indian issues waned again in the
Country.” More than 40 philanthropists from throughout 1990s.
the United States attended a conference at the Chief Gall
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Phelps Stokes Fund
21st century In 1924, the Fund convened an Advisory Committee
on education in Liberia led by James Sibley, a strong pro-
Badi Foster became Phelps Stokes’ sixth president in
ponent of the Booker Washington education philosophy.
2001. In 2007, Phelps Stokes hosted a three-day confer-
The Committee concluded that most of the work con-
ence and film festival at the Fond du Lac Ojibwe School
ducted by religious missions was superficial and lacked
in Cloquet, MN. One of the other major projects of Phelps
contact with the community. Sibley later organized a
Stokes is its involvement as a national programming or-
Teacher lecture series that was attended by 95% of teach-
ganization for the State Department’s International Visi-
ers in Liberia and ultimately persuaded the government
tor Leadership Program.
to contribute money towards publication of textbooks
adapted to Liberian and West African conditions. In 1927,
Work in Africa Sibley organized the Association of Jeanes Teachers for
Liberia which supported the much-needed expansion of
General the Methodist Episcopal’s St. Paul River Industrial Insti-
tute and changed its name to the Booker Washington In-
Phelps Stokes convened several commissions to study
stitute. In late 1927, the Liberian Legislature granted a
the educational conditions and needs of black Africans,
charter to the Association to incorporate the Booker T.
and made recommendations for improving access and
Washington Agricultural and Industrial Institute. At the
quality. Dr. James E. K. Aggrey, known as “the Booker T.
same time, Ms. Olivia Egleston Phelps Stokes, whose be-
Washington of Africa,” helped to lead the commissions
quest established the Phelps Stokes Fund, provided sig-
and formulate a comprehensive model for education.
nificant financial support to the newly established Book-
Currently, Phelps Stokes supports the DuBois Center
er Washington Institute, and the fund has continued to
for Pan-African Culture in Accra, established in 1985 as a
work with the institute. Phelps Stokes President Badi
national monument of Ghana.
Foster accepted appointment to the BWI Board of Gover-
Phelps Stokes’ relationship with South Africa began
nors in spring 2008.
in 1929 with the establishment of the South African Com-
Phelps Stokes also contributed to the development
mittee on Race Relations, which later became the South
of other postsecondary education institutions in Liberia.
African Institute on Race Relations. The Fund also op-
Specifically, Phelps Stokes helped to develop the curric-
erated the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Southern Africa
ula and training faculty at Cuttington College and hosted
Refugee Scholarship Fund and the Southern African
Cuttington College in exile at the Phelps Stokes offices
Scholarship Fund, which in the 1980s provided free col-
in New York City during the height of the Liberian civil
lege education to hundreds of black young adults from
war. Phelps Stokes supported the development of the
southern Africa.
Ricks Institute in Virginia, Liberia. When the Liberian civ-
il war ceased temporarily in 1997, the Fund implemented
Liberia
a training program for former combatants at the Book-
The Phelps Stokes family played an active role in assist- er T. Washington Institute (BWI) in collaboration with
ing freed U.S. slaves to settle in Liberia, and the first USAID. As a result of this program nearly 2,500 Liberians
flag of Liberia was sewn in the home of Anson Phelps were trained as artisans and skilled technicians. In ad-
Stokes in the mid nineteenth century. The first President dition to this training program, the library and several
of Liberia, Joseph Jenkins Roberts, was well acquainted buildings at BWI were also renovated.
with both Anson Greene Phelps and Thomas Stokes. An- In 2006, the Phelps Stokes Fund created the Girls and
son Phelps provided funding for a theological depart- Women’s Empowerment and Leadership program that
ment in Liberia, which led to the founding of Liberia utilized radio and information communications technol-
College in 1851. Between 1911 and 1946 many African ogy to give a voice to victimized girls and women of
students passed through the office receiving almost Liberia. The program delivered non-formal and formal
$21,000.00 in educational support. educational information to individuals, particularly
In 1898, Caroline Phelps Stokes, Anson’s granddaugh- women and young people, who lacked access to tradi-
ter, endowed the Roberts Memorial Scholarship at tional schools. Phelps Stokes partnered with local orga-
Tuskegee College in honor of the first president of nizations to form radio clubs whose members learned
Liberia. In addition to the scholarship Caroline also the technical components of producing content for dis-
willed a generous amount of money to support the cre- semination via community radio stations, satellite radio,
ation of the Phelps Stokes Fund upon her passing in 1909. and other media outlets. In 2007, this program expanded
Through this bequest, the Phelps Stokes Fund was offi- to free computer and adult literacy courses to the un-
cially established in 1911. Phelps Stokes has maintained, derserved population of Monrovia. Other Phelps Stokes
with only brief interruptions due to war, an official pres- initiatives in Liberia include convening a joint advisory
ence in Liberia since the 1920s. committee on education, appointing an educational ad-
visor to support the Liberian government, performing
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Phelps Stokes Fund
multiple third-party needs assessments on education in
Liberia, and fielding and funding proposals for private
Further information
sector projects. The Anson Phelps Stokes Papers are housed at the Yale
University Library. The Phelps Stokes Fund papers are
housed at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black
Presidents Culture. Several important works have been published
• 1911-1946 Anson Phelps Stokes II about Phelps Stokes. They include:
• 1946-1947 Jackson Davis • Eric S. Yellin. (Winter 2002). The (White) Search for
• 1947-1958 Isaac Newton Phelps (Ike) Stokes II (Black) Order: The Phelps Stokes Fund’s First Twenty
• 1958-1969 Frederick Douglass Patterson Years, 1911-1931. The Historian.
• 1970-1990 Franklin Williams • Sister Anthony Scally. (Winter-Autumn 1991).
• 1990-2000 Wilbert LeMelle Phelps-Stokes confidential memorandum for the
• 2000- Badi Foster Trustees of the Phelps-Stokes Fund Regarding Dr.
In 1958, the Phelps Stokes Board of Trustees changed Carter G. Woodson’s Attacks on Dr. Thomas Jesse
the title of president to Chairperson of the Board and Jones. The Journal of Negro History.
changed the title of Educational Director to President. • R. Hunt Davis Jr. (September, 1976). Charles T. Loram
Educational directors prior to this transition were: and an American Model for African Education in
• 1917-1945 Thomas Jesse Jones South Africa. African Studies Review.
• 1946-1953 Channing Tobias • Aaron Brown. (Autumn, 1956). The Phelps-Stokes
• 1953-1958 Frederick Patterson Fund and its Projects. The Journal of Negro Education.
• Patti McGill Peterson. (June, 1971). Colonialism and
Notable Trustees Education: The Case of the Afro-American.
Comparative Education Review.
• Ralph J. Bunche • Edward H. Berman. (June 1971). American Influence
• The Most Rev. Desmond Tutu (Honorary) on African Education: The Role of the Phelps-Stokes
Fund’s Education Commissions. Comparative Education
References Review.
• B. H. Y. Chiu. (2009). Carrie’s will: A Family Narrative
[1] Edward Henry Berman. (1969). Education in Africa of the Phelps-Stokes Fund. Doctoral Dissertation,
and America: A History of the Phelps-Stokes Teachers College, Columbia University.
Fund,1911-1945. Dissertation, Teachers College,
Columbia University.
External links
• Official Phelps Stokes Website
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phelps_Stokes_Fund&oldid=467172857"
Categories:
• Foundations based in the United States
• Education in Liberia
• Indigenous peoples in the United States
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