Skagit Citizens for Nuclear Disarmament and Skagit Peace Education Fund Records, 1983-1995

Overview of the Collection

Title
Skagit Citizens for Nuclear Disarmament and Skagit Peace Education Fund Records
Dates
1983-1995 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.75 linear feet
Collection Number
XOE_CPNWS0341
Summary
Documents the history, concerns and activities of peace and anti-nuclear activist groups based in Skagit County, Washington, during the 1980s and 1990s.
Repository
Western Washington University, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
Goltz-Murray Archives Building
808 25th St.
Bellingham, WA
98225
Telephone: (360) 650-7534
cpnws@wwu.edu
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public.

Languages
English and Russian

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Skagit Citizens for Nuclear Disarmament (SCND) and the Skagit Peace Education Fund (SPEF) were formed in response to the intense nuclear proliferation of the 1970s, building upon the work of Skagitonians Concerned About Nuclear Power to advocate against nuclear build-up and for peace, justice, and the well-being of the environment. The Nuclear Freeze movement gained momentum throughout the 1980s and Nuclear Free Zones were established in over 1,000 locations worldwide. In 1984, a Nuclear Free Zone in Skagit County was approved with 62% of the vote. Once enacted in 1985, the freeze prohibited all development, storage, manufacture or usage of nuclear weapons in the county.

SCND bylaws were approved in 1981, and SPEF was incorporated in the summer of 1986 and awarded non-profit status in 1992. Activities supported by members of SCND and SPEF included publishing the Skagit Network News (which was distributed to over two thousand households in the area in the 1980s and 1990s); developing a Peace Library at the Anacortes Peace Arts Center; hosting film screenings and presentations by authors, artists and dignitaries; collaborating with politicians; working to incorporate peace studies into teacher education; and participating in various local and regional fairs, festivals, and fundraising endeavors.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection documents the history and activities of Skagit County organizations and individuals at the forefront of efforts to promote nuclear disarmament, and peace and justice issues during the 1980s and 1990s. Records include articles of incorporation and bylaws for the Skagit Citizens for Nuclear Disarmament group and the Skagit Peace Education Fund (its successor), plus organizational correspondence, newsletters and other educational materials produced between 1983 and 1995. The collection contains documentation of the annual Skagit "Peace Fair", as well as the successful campaign to establish a Skagit Nuclear Free Zone (enacted through a 1984 ballot measure).

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Skagit Citizens for Nuclear Disarmament and Skagit Peace Education Fund Records, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Archives and Special Collections, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Separated Materials

Historical records of the Skagitonians Concerned About Nuclear Plants (housed at the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies) include some materials produced by the Skagit Citizens for Nuclear Disarmament and Skagit Peace Education Fund. Researchers interested in the history of these groups are advised to consult both collections.

Related Materials

The Skagitonians Concerned About Nuclear Plants records and Whatcom County Nuclear Freeze records are housed and available at the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies.

Custodial History

The collection was donated to the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies on March 2, 2016, by Grace Hubbard, past SCND chair. Additional materials relating to the Sister Cities program were donated by Joan Cross in November 2018.

Processing Note

About Harmful Content

To learn more about problematic content in our collections, collection description and teaching tools (including how to provide feedback or request dialogue on this topic), see the following Statement About Potentially Harmful Language and Content.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1 Correspondence 1983-1987
1 2 Peace Fair Newsletters 1985-1988
1 3 Peace Fair: "In The Press" news clippings 1986-1993
1 4 Peace Fair 1989-1993
1 5 Auctions 1986-1993
1 6 Alice in Blunderland
"Reflections of a Nuclear Age" performance
1985
1 7 War in the Middle East (news clippings) 1990-1991
1 8 Skagit Peace Education Fund Meeting Minutes 1994
1 9 Skagit Network newsletter 1989
1 10 Skagit Network newsletter 1990
1 11 Skagit Network newsletter 1991
1 12 Skagit Network newsletter 1992
1 13 Skagit Network newsletter 1993-1995
1 14 Event Posters 1991-1995
1 15-16 Miscellaneous materials
includes a Grassroots Peace Directory, Defense and Arms Sales monitor, Calypso Log.
undated
1 17 Skagit Peace Education Fund - Articles of Incorporation 1986
1 18 Skagit Citizens for Nuclear Disarmament - Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and Voluntary Dissolution files 1981-1986
1 19 Skagit Peace Education Fund - Certificate of Incoporation, Non-profit reinstatement, annual report and by-laws 1986
1 20 Skagit Citizens for Nuclear Disarmament - Tax and Financial Information 1984-1988
1 21 Information re: tax exempt status 1983-1989
2 1 Sister Cities Program with Ol'ga - La Conner, Community Profile, Clippings, and other papers approximately 1983
2 2 Sister Cities Program with Ol'ga - Correspondence and Photographs
Correspondence in Russian with English translations
approximately 1990 - 1992
Song To A Russian Mother - Audio Recording [Digital File: mp3]
Rerecording by Holly Near of her song written in approximately 1983, in conjunction with efforts by La Conner residents to establish a Sister City connection with Ol'ga. The Sister City files listed above include a copy of sheet music for this song.
Please contact cpnws staff in advance to request access to this digital resource.
undated
Box item
MC_U02 3 9th Annual Peace Auction Poster 1993

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Antinuclear movement--Washington (State)--Skagit County--History--Sources.
  • Civic activism
  • Community education--Washington (State)--Skagit County--History--Sources.
  • Nuclear-weapon-free zones--Washington (State)--Skagit County--History--Sources.
  • Peace movements--Washington (State)--Skagit County--History--Sources.

Corporate Names

  • Skagit Citizens for Nuclear Disarmament--Archives.
  • Skagit Peace Education Fund--Archives.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Newsletters.
  • Records (Documents)