Collection GB 0097 UNA - United Nations Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0097 UNA

Title

United Nations Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Date(s)

  • 1945-1997 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

101 boxes 4 volumes and 1 folder

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The United Nations Association came into being in 1948 with the help of money from the League of Nations Union, which continued as a parallel organisation. After the demise of the League of Nations Union, the UNA took over many of its functions and staff. The UNA describes itself as a "critical fan club of the United Nations" and has always reflected the concerns of the United Nations. Initially, it focussed on the issues of world peace and the danger of war through hunger, and whilst these have remained central issues, the agenda has expanded to include human rights, third world development and the environment as issues of major importance. The range of activities that the UNA undertake has also changed. Initially, it concentrated mainly on lobbying government and meeting civil servants and ministers. However it gradually expanded into campaigning in its own right and educating the public about issues of concern.

Education has become an increasingly significant part of the work of the UNA. It strives to educate the public about the role and activities of the United Nations and how the UNA is involved in these. It also publishes leaflets on various key issues.

The UNA itself is divided into various branches, which are largely independent of the centre, with co-ordinating regional officers who are in touch with both the centre and the branches, committees relating to single issues such as human rights, and a general council which meets once a year to debate issues raised by the branches. Information from the central organisation is sent out to the branches via the Branch Letter and campaign packs are sent out for the annual nationwide UNA campaign. The UNA Trust is the funding arm of the UNA. This body gives grants to projects that conform to the ideals of the UNA and the UN. It is a registered charity. UNA Youth is an organisation that is part of the UNA but has its own constitution and its own structure, which mirrors that of UNA. The UNA is also a members of other organisations that conform to its ideals, such as the National Peace Council.

Archival history

GB 0097 UNA 1945-1997 collection 101 boxes 4 volumes and 1 folder United Nations Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The United Nations Association came into being in 1948 with the help of money from the League of Nations Union, which continued as a parallel organisation. After the demise of the League of Nations Union, the UNA took over many of its functions and staff. The UNA describes itself as a "critical fan club of the United Nations" and has always reflected the concerns of the United Nations. Initially, it focussed on the issues of world peace and the danger of war through hunger, and whilst these have remained central issues, the agenda has expanded to include human rights, third world development and the environment as issues of major importance. The range of activities that the UNA undertake has also changed. Initially, it concentrated mainly on lobbying government and meeting civil servants and ministers. However it gradually expanded into campaigning in its own right and educating the public about issues of concern.

Education has become an increasingly significant part of the work of the UNA. It strives to educate the public about the role and activities of the United Nations and how the UNA is involved in these. It also publishes leaflets on various key issues.

The UNA itself is divided into various branches, which are largely independent of the centre, with co-ordinating regional officers who are in touch with both the centre and the branches, committees relating to single issues such as human rights, and a general council which meets once a year to debate issues raised by the branches. Information from the central organisation is sent out to the branches via the Branch Letter and campaign packs are sent out for the annual nationwide UNA campaign. The UNA Trust is the funding arm of the UNA. This body gives grants to projects that conform to the ideals of the UNA and the UN. It is a registered charity. UNA Youth is an organisation that is part of the UNA but has its own constitution and its own structure, which mirrors that of UNA. The UNA is also a members of other organisations that conform to its ideals, such as the National Peace Council.

This collection consists mainly of the papers of the central organisation of the UNA and relate to the day to day running and administration of the Association. It includes material relating to the establishment and administration of the World Federation of United Nations Associations; minutes and agendas of annual general meetings, organisational committees and campaign committees, including the Working with Africa committee; material relating to the Association's finances and general administration; minutes and correspondence relating to the UNA Trust; correspondence concerning the Media Peace Prize; reports and papers relating to the Falklands War, the Iran/Iraq War, the Middle East, disarmament, peace activities, human rights and the environment; minutes, correspondence and other material relating to International Years; correspondence relating to the United Nations Day and the 40th anniversary of the UN; material relating to the organisation and appraisal of Walk for the World; minutes and newsletters of the International Broadcasting Trust; material relating to the regional groups, the Youth and Student Movement, and the International Student Movement of the United Nations; and UNA publications.

This collection is arranged in 26 sections:

  1. World Federation of United Nations Associations, 1946-1989.
  2. Annual General Meetings, 1946-1990.
  3. Administrative Committees, 1945-1992.
  4. Campaign Committees, 1945-1992.
  5. Finance, 1959-1989.
  6. Administration, 1947-1989.
  7. United Nations Association, 1976-1988.
  8. Media Peace Prize, 1983-1985.
  9. Falklands War, 1982-1986.
  10. Iran/Iraq War, 1987-1988.
  11. Middle East, 1973-1989.
  12. Disarmament, 1977-1992.
  13. Peace, 1958-1989.
  14. Human Rights, 1973-1989.
  15. International Years, 1978-1987.
  16. United Nations Day, 1977-1980.
  17. United Nations 40th Anniversary, 1985-1986.
  18. Walk For The World, 1986-1988.
  19. Working With Africa Appeal, 1986-1989.
  20. International Broadcasting Trust, 1984-1988.
  21. Environment, 1988-1994.
  22. United Nations Association Regions, 1946-1990.
  23. United Nations Association Youth, 1947-1992.
  24. International Student Movement of the United Nations, 1973-1984.
  25. United Nations Associations Publications, 1945-1986.
  26. Miscellaneous, 1957-1989.

OPEN

COPYRIGHT IS HELD BY THE DONOR
English

Printed handlist and online catalogue available.

Output from CAIRS using template 14 and checked by hand on May 29, 2002 May 29, 2002 Africa Conflict resolution Disarmament Ecology Environmental sciences Falkland Islands Falklands War (1982) Human rights International Broadcasting Trust International conflicts International Student Movement Of The United Nations Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) Iran, Islamic Republic Iraq Middle East Peace South America United Nations Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland United Nations Association Trust UN , United Nations x United Nations War World Federation Of United Nations Associations Wars (events)

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

This collection consists mainly of the papers of the central organisation of the UNA and relate to the day to day running and administration of the Association. It includes material relating to the establishment and administration of the World Federation of United Nations Associations; minutes and agendas of annual general meetings, organisational committees and campaign committees, including the Working with Africa committee; material relating to the Association's finances and general administration; minutes and correspondence relating to the UNA Trust; correspondence concerning the Media Peace Prize; reports and papers relating to the Falklands War, the Iran/Iraq War, the Middle East, disarmament, peace activities, human rights and the environment; minutes, correspondence and other material relating to International Years; correspondence relating to the United Nations Day and the 40th anniversary of the UN; material relating to the organisation and appraisal of Walk for the World; minutes and newsletters of the International Broadcasting Trust; material relating to the regional groups, the Youth and Student Movement, and the International Student Movement of the United Nations; and UNA publications.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

This collection is arranged in 26 sections:

  1. World Federation of United Nations Associations, 1946-1989.
  2. Annual General Meetings, 1946-1990.
  3. Administrative Committees, 1945-1992.
  4. Campaign Committees, 1945-1992.
  5. Finance, 1959-1989.
  6. Administration, 1947-1989.
  7. United Nations Association, 1976-1988.
  8. Media Peace Prize, 1983-1985.
  9. Falklands War, 1982-1986.
  10. Iran/Iraq War, 1987-1988.
  11. Middle East, 1973-1989.
  12. Disarmament, 1977-1992.
  13. Peace, 1958-1989.
  14. Human Rights, 1973-1989.
  15. International Years, 1978-1987.
  16. United Nations Day, 1977-1980.
  17. United Nations 40th Anniversary, 1985-1986.
  18. Walk For The World, 1986-1988.
  19. Working With Africa Appeal, 1986-1989.
  20. International Broadcasting Trust, 1984-1988.
  21. Environment, 1988-1994.
  22. United Nations Association Regions, 1946-1990.
  23. United Nations Association Youth, 1947-1992.
  24. International Student Movement of the United Nations, 1973-1984.
  25. United Nations Associations Publications, 1945-1986.
  26. Miscellaneous, 1957-1989.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

OPEN

Conditions governing reproduction

COPYRIGHT IS HELD BY THE DONOR

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Printed handlist and online catalogue available.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

British Library of Political and Economic Science

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area