Title: Nicaragua Exchange Records
Inclusive Dates: 1983-1987

Creator:

• Nicaragua Exchange

Call Number: Mss 829; Tape 1270A; VTA 25; VTA 178

Quantity: 7.0 c.f. (17 archives boxes and 1 card box), 6 tape recordings, and 2 videotapes

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Records, mainly 1984-1987, of Nicaragua Exchange, an organization that coordinated brigades of American volunteer harvest workers in Nicaragua and that worked to promote friendship between Nicaragua and the United States. Included are correspondence with potential and former brigade volunteers, Nicaragua Network, and other organizations concerned with the Nicaraguan policy issue; extensive volunteer applications and evaluations; clippings; administrative records; and promotional materials (including film and sound recordings) produced by Nicaragua Exchange and other organizations. The videotapes include a speech by Daniel Ortega to volunteer workers.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00829

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The precise origins of Nicaragua Exchange are uncertain, although it is known that on November 10, 1983, Nicaragua issued an international emergency call for assistance with its coffee harvest. In the United States the National Network in Solidarity With the Nicaraguan People (NNSNP, later known as the Nicaragua Network), a national organization of sixty local committees opposed to intervention in Central America, undertook the organization of these volunteer brigades. To better utilize the experiences of the returning volunteers (brigadistas) within the movement that opposed the official U.S. policy in Nicaragua, in February 1984 NNSNP began working activists in New York City to publish the Brigadista Bulletin. The editors of this newsletter were Corinne Rafferty and Sara Miles. During 1984 Rafferty and Miles also assumed responsibility for coordinating NNSNP's short-term harvest brigade program, which with support from the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO), eventually emerged by September 1984 as an independent, non-profit organization, Nicaragua Exchange, Inc.

Staffed from New York City, chiefly by Rafferty and Miles, Nicaragua Exchange worked with many independent groups around the country who, in turn, served as the local area organizers for the harvest brigades. They also cooperated with the Comite Nicaraguenes de Solidaridad con los Pueblos (CNSP) in Managua which provided orientation and support while the volunteers were in Nicaragua. Nicaragua Exchange also provided leaders and health workers for each contingent of volunteers. During its first year Nicaragua Exchange sent 400 volunteers to Nicaragua. Nicaragua Exchange differed from other organizations that sent volunteers to Nicaragua in that its brigades were exclusively agricultural rather than technical and they were short in duration (generally two weeks to a month in length). Nicaragua Exchange also stressed continued activism among returned volunteers, and it worked to publicize the volunteers' experiences to a wide audience.

Funding for Nicaragua Exchange came from volunteers and from IFCO and private foundations such as the Stern Fund and the Funding Exchange.

Nicaragua Exchange dissolved in June 1987. It cited as reasons for the termination its ongoing financial problems, but also the fact that other organizations were sponsoring brigades and that specialized volunteers rather than harvest workers had become of highest priority to Nicaragua.

The Records are arranged as CORRESPONDENCE, ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS, PROMOTIONAL RECORDS, and BRIGADE AND LEADERSHIP RECORDS.

The Nicaragua Exchange (NE) records provide incomplete documentation about the organization's own origins and operations, but they contain rich information about the importance that Nicaragua held as an issue to the American people and about the impact that volunteer work in that country had on many individuals. The voluminous files of volunteer applications and evaluations, as well as the clippings and the Brigadista Bulletin (which is available in the SHSW Library), provide extensive data about the individuals recruited for the brigades and about their experiences in Nicaragua.

The CORRESPONDENCE is arranged into three sections: Incoming, Outgoing, and Organizational correspondence. The extensive, chronologically-arranged, incoming correspondence has been weeded to remove routine requests for information. Remaining are letters from applicants that reveal their views on Nicaragua and from returned volunteers that concern their experiences or comment on topics discussed in the Brigadista Bulletin. There are also many letters about local activities in support of the Sandinista government. During the early months of 1984 the correspondence almost exclusively deals with the publication of the newsletter.

Outgoing correspondence is very extensive for 1984 and the early months of 1985. Because of the organization's financial problems after this time Miles and Rafferty were forced to find other employment. The NE office was thereafter managed primarily by volunteer Suzanne Marten, and the diminished volume of outgoing letters reflects this smaller staff. Undated form letters and news releases are filed at the end of the outgoing correspondence.

The organizational correspondence contains exchanges with Nicaragua Network, Nuevo Instituto de Centro America (NICA), Student Brigades for Peace, and several other groups actively involved with the Nicaragua issue. The Nicaragua Network files contain both correspondence and informational mailings (many of which are undated). Although there is some correspondence with Debbie Reuben, national coordinator of NNSNP in Washington, D.C., it is likely that these files are incomplete. The incomplete nature of the correspondence is especially prominent for 1983 and early 1984 when NNSNP was still responsible for organizing the harvest brigades as well as the special project brigades. A letter dated February 19, 1985, from Reuben to Dale Wiehoff, another NE staff member, indicates that relations between the two groups were strained at the time. Also of interest is a memo concerning a meeting with Reuben which discussed the role of Abbie Hoffman in the Nicaragua movement. While the NNSNP correspondence appears incomplete, the flyers and informational mailings in the collection provide relatively good coverage of NNSNP's own activities through early 1987.

The files about NICA are similar but much smaller. About CNSP there is a memo on a brigade evaluation meeting in Managua dated October 14, 1985. Also of interest are files on the FBI harassment experienced by some brigadistas and on the Third World Brigade, one of the special groups organized by Nicaragua Exchange. (Other special brigades were comprised of senior citizens, women, and students and youth.) This file documents the work of Audrey Seniors in organizing a brigade composed of third world and Black volunteers.

The ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS contain fragmentary information about the operation of NE's New York City office. Included are phone messages, notes, and appointment calendars, but administrative documentation as basic as the articles of incorporation are missing. In addition, although it is very clear that Nicaragua Exchange suffered from financial problems, the only records of this type are receipts from a special 1985 fundraising effort. Also of interest are applications completed by office volunteers (including Gail Gabler who handled NE's peace outreach activities and who figured prominently in the outgoing 1984 correspondence) and a sample of the release form that was signed by all volunteers.

PROMOTIONAL RECORDS suggest the emphasis that Nicaragua Exchange placed on using the experiences of brigadistas to educate the American public about conditions in Nicaragua. Information of this type may be found in newspaper clippings and in the file entitled “Recollections,” as well as in the Brigadista Bulletin, which is available in the SHSW Library. Also part of the collection are several promotional films and tape recordings produced by other organizations which referred potential volunteers to Nicaragua Exchange. Of special interest is the RKO news feature “An American in Nicaragua” which includes an interview with Sara Miles.

The questionnaires completed by volunteers concerning their willingness to do outreach and publicity about Nicaragua also contain some information on newsworthy events volunteers witnessed during their stay in Nicaragua. Also part of this series is recruiting material such as posters and leaflets and several public service announcements and programs prepared by other organizations that mentioned Nicaragua Exchange.

BRIGADE AND LEADERSHIP RECORDS are subdivided into information about each brigade, which is then arranged chronologically by date of departure, and separate files on each of the brigade leadership positions: area organizers, group leaders, and health personnel (which Nicaragua Exchange referred to as Health Responsibles).

About each of the brigades, even those sponsored by NNSNP in 1983 and 1984, there are applications and evaluations, although the evaluations appear less complete than the application files. The 1983-1984 evaluations have been combined into one file, while the later evaluations are separated by brigade. The applications provide information about each individual, their backgrounds, and their reasons for wishing to work in Nicaragua. Several brigades are also documented here by correspondence and promotional materials. Separate files of passport photographs are included for some delegations, while photos of applicants are attached to the applications of later brigades. These files are followed by folders containing applications from volunteers who withdrew and a smaller category of applications and correspondence pertaining to individuals whose applications were rejected.

Use Restrictions

As of July 31, 2001, the copyright is held by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Nicaragua Exchange, 1991. Accession Number: M91-175

Processing Information

Processed by Linda Sperber (Intern), 1993.

Mss 829	Series: Correspondence
	Incoming
Box   1	1984, February-1986, April
Box   2 Folder   1-4	1986, May-1987
Box   2 Folder   5-6	Area organizers, 1984-1986
	Outgoing
Box   2 Folder   7-11	1984, March-1987, March, undated
Box   2 Folder   12	, Undated form letters
	Organizations
Box   2 Folder   13	Comite Nicaraguense de Solidaridad con los Pueblos (CNSP), 1984-1986
Box   3 Folder   1	FBI harassment, 1985-1986
Box   3 Folder   2	INCINE, correspondence for Estos, si Pasaron film, 1985
Box   3 Folder   3	Marazul Tours, 1985-1986
Box   3 Folder   4	New Jewish Agenda, 1985
	Nicaragua Network (National Network in Solidarity with the Nicaragua People)
Box   3 Folder   5-8	General correspondence and mailings, 1983-1987, undated
Box   3 Folder   9	Environmental project, undated
Box   3 Folder   10	“Let Nicaragua Live” campaign mailings, 1986
Box   3 Folder   11	Nuevo Instituto de Centro America (NICA), 1984-1986
Box   3 Folder   12	Peace groups, 1984-1985
Box   3 Folder   13	Student Brigades For Peace, 1986-1987
Box   3 Folder   14	Third World Brigade (Audrey Seniors), 1985
Box   3 Folder   15	Tropical Tours, 1984-1985
Box   3 Folder   15a	Veterans, 1985
Box   3 Folder   16	Witnesses to Central America Conference (Abbie Hoffman), 1985
	Series: Administrative Records	⇧
Box   3 Folder   17	Appointment calendars, 1985-1986
Box   4 Folder   1	Notes, undated
Box   4 Folder   2-3	Phone messages, 1985, undated
Box   4 Folder   3a	Release form (sample), undated
Box   4 Folder   4	Reunion, 1986
Box   4 Folder   5	Scholarship information, 1984-1985
Box   4 Folder   6	Statistics on brigadistas, 1985-1986
Box   4 Folder   7	Volunteer forms, undated
	Series: Promotional Records	⇧
Box   4 Folder   8	Advertising, 1985-1986
Box   4 Folder   9	Area organizers training manuals, 1986-1987
Box   4 Folder   10	Art work, undated
Box   4 Folder   11	Books and leaflets, undated
	Clippings
Box   4 Folder   12	Sorted by brigades
Box   4 Folder   12a	General
Box   4 Folder   13	Lists, 1984-1985
Box   4 Folder   14	Clippings
Box   5 Folder   1	College lists, 1985-1986
Box   5 Folder   2	“Eyewitness Accounts from Brigadistas,” undated
Box   17	Flyers from related organizations
Box   5 Folder   3	“How To Deal With the Press,” 1985
Box   5 Folder   4-5	Miscellaneous outreach material, undated
Box   5 Folder   6	Posters, undated
Box   5 Folder   7	Press contacts, 1984-1985
Box   23 Folder   1	Index card of press contacts and phone notes, undated
Box   5 Folder   8	Press kit (NNSNP), circa 1984
Box   5 Folder   9	Public service announcements, 1985
Box   5 Folder   10	Press work volunteer questionnaires, undated
Box   5 Folder   11	Recollections and writings of brigadistas, 1984-1985
Box   5 Folder   12	Slide shows
	Tape and video recordings
VTA 25	Video of KXAS-TV news features on Nicaragua and Texas volunteers, January 1985
Tape 1270A No.   2	Tape-recorded KPFA news feature by Penny Rossenwasser, circa February, 1985
No.   4	Tape-recorded “An American in Nicaragua” RKO-Radio news feature, includes interview with Sara Miles of Nicaragua Exchange, March 17, 1985
VHA 178	Amateur video of Daniel Ortega addressing Comites de Solidaridad del Mundo, July 20, 1985
Tape 1270A No.   5-6	Third World Brigade public service announcements (2), circa 1985
No.   1	NPR feature story about volunteer workers, undated
No.   3	“Harvest of Peace,” undated, by Turning Tide Productions, Amherst
Mss 829	Series: Brigade and Leadership Records	⇧
	Area organizers
Box   5 Folder   13	Evaluations, 1983-1985
Box   5 Folder   14-16	Lists, 1983-1986, undated
	Group leaders
Box   5 Folder   17	Evaluations, 1985-1986
Box   5 Folder   18	Lists and potential leaders, 1983-1985
	Health responsibles
Box   6 Folder   1	Health information master kit
Box   6 Folder   2	Evaluations, 1985-1986
Box   6 Folder   3	Manager (Carol Unger), 1985
Box   6 Folder   4	Supplies, 1985
Box   6 Folder   5	Leadership materials, 1985-1986
	Brigade records
Box   6 Folder   6	December 18-30, 1983
Box   6 Folder   7-9	January 1-15, 1984
Box   6 Folder   10-11	January 15-29, 1984
	January 29-February 12, 1984
Box   6 Folder   12	A-L
Box   7 Folder   1	M-Z
Box   7 Folder   2-4	February 12-26, 1984
	Reforestation Brigade
Box   7 Folder   5-6	Applications
Box   7 Folder   7	Correspondence
Box   7 Folder   8	Leadership candidates
	October 28-November 25, 1984
Box   7 Folder   9	Applications
Box   8 Folder   1	Funding proposal
Box   8 Folder   2	November 28-December 19, 1984
Box   8 Folder   3-4	, 1983-1984 Evaluations
	December 18, 1984
Box   8 Folder   6	Applications
Box   8 Folder   7	Evaluations
Box   8 Folder   8	Passport photographs
	January 4-February 1, 1985
Box   8 Folder   9	Applications
Box   9 Folder   1	Evaluations
	January 8-30, 1985
Box   9 Folder   2-4	Applications
Box   9 Folder   5	Evaluations
	February 1-27, 1985 (Veterans)
Box   9 Folder   6-7	Applications
Box   9 Folder   8	Evaluations
Box   10 Folder   1	Passport photographs
	February 10-25, 1985
Box   10 Folder   2-3	Applications
Box   10 Folder   4	Evaluations
	February 19-March 3, 1985 (Peace Brigade)
Box   10 Folder   5	Applications
Box   10 Folder   6	Evaluations
	November 30, 1985
Box   10 Folder   7	Applications
Box   10 Folder   8	Evaluations
	December 21, 1985 (Unitarians)
Box   10 Folder   9-10	Applications
Box   10 Folder   11	Correspondence
Box   10 Folder   12	Evaluations
	January 4, 1986
Box   11 Folder   1-2	Applications
Box   11 Folder   3	Evaluations
	January 4, 1986 (Third World Brigade)
Box   11 Folder   4	Applications
Box   11 Folder   5	Evaluations
	January 11, 1986
Box   11 Folder   6	Applications
Box   11 Folder   7	Evaluations
	January 18, 1986 (Elders)
Box   11 Folder   8	Applications
Box   12 Folder   1	Applications, continued
Box   12 Folder   2	Correspondence
Box   12 Folder   3	Evaluations
	February 1, 1986
Box   12 Folder   4	Applications
Box   12 Folder   5	Evaluations
	February 22, 1986
Box   12 Folder   6	Applications
Box   12 Folder   7	Evaluations
	December 6, 1986 (Women's Brigade)
Box   12 Folder   8	Applications
Box   12 Folder   9	Correspondence
Box   12 Folder   10	Evaluations
	December 6, 1986 (Third World Brigade)
Box   12 Folder   11	Applications
Box   12 Folder   12	Evaluations
Box   13 Folder   1	Correspondence
	December 20, 1986 - January 21, 1987
Box   13 Folder   2-3	Applications
Box   13 Folder   4	Evaluations
	January 3-17, 1987 (Student Brigade)
Box   13 Folder   5-7	Applications
Box   13 Folder   8	Evaluations
	January 10-31, 1987 (Elders Brigade)
Box   13 Folder   9	Applications
Box   14 Folder   1	Evaluations
	February 7-28, 1987
Box   14 Folder   2	Applications
Box   14 Folder   3	Evaluations
	February 14-March 7, 1987
Box   14 Folder   4	Applications
Box   14 Folder   5	Evaluations
	Dropout applications
Box   15 Folder   1-3	1984
	1985-1986
Box   15 Folder   4-5	A-M
Box   16 Folder   1	N-Z
Box   16 Folder   2-4	1986-1987
Box   16 Folder   5-7	Rejected applications, 1984-1987