Council on Foundations, 1991-1992
A Guide to the Collection of Oral History Interviews at Indiana University
Bloomington
Finding aid prepared by the staff of the Center for
the Study of History and Memory with a grant from the National Endowment for the
Humanities Division of Preservation and Access, 2000-2002
Overview of the Collection
Repository
Indiana University Center for Documentary Research and Practice
Indiana University
Franklin Hall 0030B
601 E. Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405
Phone: 812/855-2856
Fax: 812/855-0002
E-mail: ohrc@indiana.edu
https://cdrp.mediaschool.indiana.edu
Creator
Indiana University Center for the
Study of History and Memory
TitleCouncil on Foundations, 1991-1992
Project No.
ohrc031
Interviews
17 interviews. Audiotapes, transcripts, and collateral
materials.
Physical Location
Interviews are housed in Franklin Hall, Room 0030B. Copies of interview transcripts are also held by the IU Libraries University
Archives.
Contact archives@indiana.edu for more information. For other locations housing the interviews
from this project, please contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice office.
Language
Materials are in English
Abstract
The interviews in this project focus on the history of the Council
on Foundations, its history and development, its function and goals, and its
mission. Central to many of the interviews is the 1969 Tax Reform Act, which
had a profound impact on the structure and practice of American foundational
philanthropy. The majority of the interviewees are philanthropists or
professionals with strong connections to the Council; they share their
insights, criticisms, and descriptions regarding the Council in many areas,
including diversity, philanthropic ethics, principles and practices, the role
of the government, and sources of division within the field of
philanthropy.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains seventeen interviews over the course of three years. Interviews range from thirty-six to one hundred
twenty-eight minutes and consists of typed transcripts and audio tapes.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Oral history interviews conducted by the Indiana University Center for the Study of
History and Memory from 1968 to the present, with particular focus on the history of
twentieth-century America and the Midwest.
Usage Restrictions
The archive of the Center for Documentary Research and Practice at Indiana University is open
to the use of researchers. Copies of transcript pages are available only when such copies
are permitted by the deed of gift. Scholars must honor any
restrictions the interviewee placed on the use of the interview. Since some of our earlier
(pre-computer) transcripts do not exist in final form, any editing marks in a transcript
(deletions, additions, corrections) are to be quoted as marked. Audio files may not be copied for
patrons unless the deed of gift permits it, and a transcript is unavailable for that
interview. The same rules of use that apply to a transcript apply to the audio interview.
Interviews may not be reproduced in full for any public use, but excerpted quotes may be
used as long as researchers fully cite the data in their research, including accession
number, interview date, interviewee's and interviewer's name, and page(s).
Preferred Citation
[interviewee first name last name] interview, by [interviewer first name last
name], [interview date(s)], [call number], [project name], Center for Documentary Research and Practice, Indiana University,
Bloomington, [page number(s) or tape
number and side if no transcript; if digital audio and no transcript, cite time when quote occurs].
Interview List
Interviewee
Chance, Ruth
June 26,
1991
Call Number
91-057
Physical Description
32 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 91 minutes; index; additional
interview of Chance
Interviewer
Lichtenberg, Naomi
Access Status
Restricted (interviewee must be quoted anonymously)
Scope and Content Note
Ruth Chance, involved with and employed by such foundations sa
the Rosenberg Foundation and the Ford Foundation at different times in her
career, discusses the mission, purpose, and goals of the Council on
Foundations. Most important is the Council's position of leadership for its
members. Chance discusses the Council's move from New York City to Washington,
D.C., the importance of foundation staff, the impact on foundations of the
nineteen sixties, the 1969 Tax Reform Act, and the government's role in
philanthropy.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Cox Committee
- Filer Commission
- Rosenberg Foundation
-
-
Personal Names
- Andrews, F. Emerson
- Curti, Merle
- Freeman, David
- Norton, Dolf
- Rich, Wilmer Shields
-
-
Subjects
- 1969 Tax Reform Act
- community foundations
- foundation staff
- government philanthropic role
- nineteen sixties
- private foundations
Interviewee
Cuninggim, Merrimon
July 17,
1991
Call Number
91-058
Physical Description
33 pages; 3 cassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 2 hours, 8 minutes;
index
Interviewer
Lichtenberg, Naomi
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Merrimon Cuninggim describes his work with foundations, starting
in the early nineteen sixties and including his work on the Council of
Foundations, beginning around 1967. He describes the shaping of modern
foundation work in the United States, from 1969 congressional hearings through
the Reagan and George H. Bush presidencies. He describes criticism of the
Council of Foundations, as well as the ethical dilemmas and social impact of
foundations.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Carnegie Foundation
- Commission on the Foundation Field
- Danforth Foundation
- Ford Foundation
- Foundation Center
- Foundation Executives Group
- Rockefeller Foundation
-
-
Geographic Names
- Washington, DC
-
-
Occupations
- foundation trustee
- foundation worker
-
-
Personal Names
- Reagan, Ronald Wilson
-
-
Subjects
- 1969 Tax Reform Act
- American Indians
- foundations
Interviewee
Doermann, Humphrey
April 23,
1991
Call Number
91-050
Physical Description
12 pages; 1 cassette, 1 7/8 ips, 49 minutes; index;
curriculum vita
Interviewer
Lichtenberg, Naomi
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Humphrey Doermann describes his personal involvement in
foundation work, particularly the Bush Foundation in Minnesota. Further, he
talks about the role of the Council on Foundations, its leadership and impact
on membership, and its future.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Bush Foundation
- Harvard University
-
-
Occupations
- foundation president
-
-
Personal Names
- Joseph, James A.
- Reagan, Ronald Wilson
-
-
Subjects
- 1969 Tax Reform Act
- ethics
- government vs. private sector
- philanthropy
- trustee compensation
Interviewee
Fairfax, Jean
December 5,
1992
Call Number
92-033
Physical Description
23 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 102 minutes; index
Interviewer
Lichtenberg, Naomi
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Jean Fairfax discusses her background and career, and how each
of these involved and influenced her active participation in charity,
volunteerism, and philanthropic foundation work. Fairfax speaks of the history
of the Council on Foundations and its goal, in her view, of the promotion of
justice. She comments on philanthropy in the context of civil rights,
diversity, and ethics, placing a special emphasis on the historical patterns of
African-American philanthropic or charitable giving.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- American Friends Service Committee
- Dan and Inez Wood Fairfax Fund
- Regional Associations of Grantmakers
- Southern Education Foundation
- Women in Foundations
-
-
-
Subjects
- African-Americans
- Civil Rights Movement
- desegregation
- diversity
- ethics
- philanthropy
- volunteerism
Interviewee
Freeman, David F.
October 9,
1991
Call Number
91-111
Physical Description
33 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 111 minutes; index
Interviewer
Lichtenberg, Naomi
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
David F. Freeman, former president of the Council on
Foundations, discusses his upbringing, education, and the development of his
values with regard to his eventual dedication to civic service and career in
philanthropy. He speaks of the early history and the role or purpose of the
Council on Foundations, and the effects of the 1969 Tax Reform Act on the
Council and on foundations, in general. Freeman also speaks of his work at the
Scherman Foundation, emphasizing the concerns of social welfare. Finally, he
speaks of the generational differences he perceives in foundation
administration.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Book of the Month Club
- Ford Foundation
- Fund for the Republic
- Scherman Foundation
-
-
Personal Names
- Bundy, McGeorge
- Pifer, Alan
-
-
Subjects
- 1969 Tax Reform Act
- 1969 tax reform hearings
- diversity
- foundations
- grant making
-
The Handbook on Private
Foundations
- philanthropy
Interviewee
Goheen, Robert F.
June 17,
1991
Call Number
91-056
Physical Description
18 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 59 minutes; index
Interviewer
Lichtenberg, Naomi
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Robert F. Goheen, former chairman and chief executive officer of
the Council on Foundations, discusses his career and experiences at the
Council. He speaks of his philosophy of philanthropy and the impact of the 1969
Tax Reform Act on foundations. In addition, Goheen comments on his Presbyterian
upbringing as a central influence on the development of his values and career
in philanthropy.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Mellon Foundation
- philanthropist
- Points of Light Foundation
-
-
Personal Names
- Joseph, James A.
-
-
Subjects
- 1969 Tax Reform Act
- diversity
- foundations
- grant evaluation
- Mellon Fellowships in the Humanities
Interviewee
Johnson, Dorothy
June 8,
1993
Call Number
92-035
Physical Description
17 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 57 minutes; index
Interviewer
Lichtenberg, Naomi
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Dorothy Johnson,a career philanthropist, speaks of the role and
activities of the Council on Foundations. She discusses the Council's
philanthropic principles and practices, and how these relate to the ethics of
foundations, in general. Johnson also comments on Regional Associations of
Grantmakers, or RAGs, specifically, on her involvement with the RAG in
Michigan. Finally, she discusses her views on the role the government should
take with regard to philanthropy.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Affinity Group
- Council of Michigan Foundations
- Regional Associations of Grantmakers
-
-
Geographic Names
- Michigan
-
-
Occupations
- philanthropist
-
-
Personal Names
- Joseph, James A.
-
-
Subjects
- 1969 Tax Reform Act
- ethics
- foundation staff
- foundations
- government philanthropic role
Interviewee
Joseph, James A.
April 23,
1991
Call Number
91-051
Physical Description
14 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 42 minutes; index; fact sheet
on Council on Foundations, curriculum vitae of interviewee
Interviewer
Lichtenberg, Naomi
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
James Joseph, who provided leadership to the Council on
Foundations beginning in 1971, discusses the beginnings of the Council and its
original initiative of information sharing between foundations. He speaks of
the 1969 tax reform debate, the diversity controversy which rose to the surface
in 1971 in a Montreal protest and resulted in his election to the Council's
board of trustees, and the many changes, which characterized his time at the
Council in the nineteen eighties. Finally, Joseph comments on the Council's
mission, particularly the goal of improving the public's understanding of
organized philanthropy.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Association of Black Foundation Executives
-
-
Personal Names
- Bolling, Landrum
- Goheen, Robert
-
-
Subjects
- 1969 Tax Reform Act
- corporate philanthropy
- diversity
- foundations
- nineteen eighties
- public foundations
- public relations
-
Statement on Principles and Practices for Grantmakers
Interviewee
Mawby, Russell G.
December 2,
1992
Call Number
92-032
Physical Description
19 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 65 minutes; index
Interviewer
Lichtenberg, Naomi
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Russell G. Mawby, president and chief executive officer of the
W.K. Kellogg Foundation, relates his association and perspective on the Council
on Foundations. He cites the Council's main role as being a forum for important
leadership and communication within the philanthropic world. In addition, Mawby
discusses the 1969 Tax Reform Act and its impact on foundations.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Council of Michigan Foundations
- philanthropist
- United Way of America
- W.K. Kellogg Foundation
-
-
Personal Names
- Bolling, Landrum
- Goheen, Robert
- Joseph, James
- Struckhoff, Eugene
-
-
Subjects
- 1969 Tax Reform Act
- diversity
- ethics
- foundations
- social welfare
Interviewee
Miller, J. Irwin
September 17,
1992
Call Number
92-031
Physical Description
16 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 55 minutes; index
Interviewer
Lichtenberg, Naomi
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
J. Irwin Miller speaks about his and his family's traditional
involvement with philanthropy, and the Council on Foundations' impact on
philanthropy. In addition, Miller discusses ethics and the crisis facing public
education in the United States. He also comments on James Joseph's success as a
leader of the Council on Foundations.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Cummins Foundation
- Irwin-Swenney-Miller Foundation
- Lilly Endowment
- United Way of America
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Joseph, James
-
-
Subjects
- ethics
- philanthropy
- public education
Interviewee
Nason, John W.
April 19,
1993
Call Number
92-034
Physical Description
14 pages;1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 41 minutes; index; curriculum
vitae
Interviewer
Lichtenberg, Naomi
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
John W. Nason speaks of his background, career, and involvement
with the Council on Foundations. He emphasizes the Council's role in creating a
better environment for and perception of foundations on Capitol Hill. In
addition, Nason comments on the Council's leadership capacity and the great
impact it has had on American philanthropy, especially in the aftermath of 1969
Tax Reform Act.
-
Keywords
-
-
Subjects
- 1969 Tax Reform Act
- diversity
- ethics
- tax exempt status
Interviewee
Petersen, Eleanor
April 23,
1991
Call Number
91-052
Physical Description
19 pages; 1 cassette, 1 7/8 ips, 58 minutes;
index
Interviewer
Lichtenberg, Naomi
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Eleanor Petersen, head of a regional association of the Council
on Foundations, describes her work with the Council beginning in 1974,
including the 1969 Tax Reform Act, ethical issues, leadership, and the relation
of philanthropy to government.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Donor's Forum
- United Way of America
-
-
Geographic Names
- Chicago, Illinois
- New York, New York
-
-
Occupations
- foundation worker
- philanthropist
-
-
Personal Names
- Bolling, Landrum
- Rooks, Charlie
- Goheen, Robert
- Joseph, James A.
- Reagan, Ronald Wilson
-
-
Subjects
- 1969 Tax Reform Act
- African-Americans in foundation work
- ethics
- government vs. private sector
- libraries
- philanthropy
- race relations
Interviewee
Pifer, Alan
October 10,
1991
Call Number
91-110
Physical Description
13 pages, 1 cassette, 1 7/8 ips, 51 minutes;
index
Interviewer
Lichtenberg, Naomi
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Alan Pifer, a one-time member of the board of the Council on
Foundations, describes the history of foundations in the U.S. from the nineteen
fifties to the nineteen nineties. He discusses the role of United States
Congressional hearings and the 1969 Tax Reform Act on foundations and the
subsequent influence of the Council of Fundations on United States
philanthropy.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Carnegie Corporation
- Foundation Center
- Foundation Library Center
- Independent Sector
-
-
Geographic Names
- South Africa
-
-
Occupations
- foundation officer
-
-
Personal Names
- Freeman, David
- Gardner, John
- Goheen, Robert
- Joseph, James A.
- Patillo, Manning
-
-
Subjects
- 1969 Tax Reform Act
- philanthropy
Interviewee
Shannon, James
April 21,
1991
Call Number
91-053
Physical Description
19 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 69 minutes; index
Interviewer
Lichtenberg, Naomi
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
James Shannon, former chairman of the board of the Council on
Foundations, speaks of the Council's history and his own involvement with the
Council and with philanthropy. He emphasizes the leadership qualities of the
Council's current chairman, James Joseph, and the positive attributes of other
of his Council co-workers who helped to focus and achieve the Council's mission
and responsibilities. In addition, Shannon speaks of certain phenomena and
groups that had critical, or even negative effects on the world of philanthropy
and on the foundations themselves.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- United States Treasury Department
-
Foundation
News
- Independent Sector
- philanthropist
-
-
Personal Names
- Bolling, Landrum
- Joseph, James A.
- Miller, J. Irwin
- Struckhoff, Eugene
-
-
Subjects
- 1969 Tax Reform Act
- diversity
- philanthropy
- Reagan administration
-
Statement on Principles and
Practices for Grantmakers
Interviewee
Troyer, Thomas
July 18,
1991
Call Number
91-059
Physical Description
10 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 36 minutes; index
Interviewer
Lichtenberg, Naomi
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Thomas Troyer, an attorney who has represented the Council on
Foundations since the early Seventies, discusses the impact of the 1969 Tax
Reform Act on the Council and on the field of philanthropy. He speaks of the
interplay and relations between foundations and Congress, and how these too
were influenced by the 1969 Tax Reform Act. In addition, Troyer comments on the
reasoning behind the Council's move from New York City to Washington, D.C.,
describes the history and growth of the Council, and emphasizes the Council's
role as a force in the professionalization of the field of philanthropy.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- United States Congress
- United States Treasury Department
-
-
-
Subjects
- 1969 Tax Reform Act
- 1969 tax reform hearings
- foundations
- Reagan administration
Interviewee
Wadsworth, Homer
April 22,
1991
Call Number
91-054
Physical Description
19 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 79 minutes; index
Interviewer
Lichtenberg, Naomi
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
In this interview, Homer Wadsworth discusses his involvement in
the field of philanthropy and, more specifically, in the Council on
Foundations. He speaks about the history, development, and function of the
Council, as well as engaging in an assessment of the Council's recent
activities. In addition, Wadsworth comments on the reasons for the 1969 Tax
Reform Act and its impact on foundations and the Council.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- board of trustees
- Independent Sector
- United States Congress
-
-
Personal Names
- Alinsky, Saul
- Joseph, James A.
- Rich, Wilmer Shields
-
-
Subjects
- 1969 Tax Reform Act
- community foundations
- diversity
- foundations
- philanthropy
Interviewee
Ylvisaker, Paul
April 22,
1991
Call Number
91-055
Physical Description
15 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 48 minutes; index
Interviewer
Lichtenberg, Naomi
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Paul Ylvisaker discusses the history of the Council on
Foundations and emphasizes its functional leadership role in the field of
philanthropy. He comments on the split between liberal and conservative members
of the Council, and the connection between philanthropic ethics and the
importance of self-discipline to foundations. In addition, Ylvisaker speaks of
the impact of the 1969 Tax Reform Act and the dynamic leadership the Council
has received throughout its history, especially under the administration of
James Joseph.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Filer Commission
- Ford Foundation
- Independent Sector
-
-
Personal Names
- Goheen, Robert
- Joseph, James A.
-
-
Subjects
- 1969 Tax Reform Act
- community foundations
- diversity
- international philanthropy
- philanthropy
