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A Detroit, Mich. native, Barbara Bassett McIver was part of the second cohort of Peace Corps volunteers and part of the first Peace Corps group to go to the Philippines. The bulk of the material is dated between 1961 and 1964, and includes McIver's diary, a scrapbook, letters home, and ephemera relating to McIver's experiences in the Philippines. Also included in the collection are Peace Corps 25th and 50th anniversary program materials.

The bulk of the material in the collection relates to McIver's time as a volunteer in the Peace Corps. The majority of items dated between 1961 and 1964 include McIver's correspondence (mostly letters to her mother) her diary, and a scrapbook. McIver's letters and her diary describe her daily activities, thoughts, and concerns regarding the Philipines, the Filipino culture, the Peace Corps, and other volunteers. McIver's scrapbook contains maps of the Philippines, photographs of McIver, the Peace Corps volunteers, Filipino students and citizens. Of note (within the scrapbook) are two signed letters to McIver from President John F. Kennedy and four letters from R. Sargent Shriver, the first director of the Peace Corps, as well as two letters from Congresswoman Martha W. Griffiths (D-Michigan; 1955-1974) commending McIver for her work in the Philippines. The scrapbook also contains newspaper clippings (scattered dates), a 1967 Outstanding Young Women of America certificate, a 1961 Peace Corps Volunteer certificate, and a 1961 Pennsylvania State-Peace Corps Training Completion certificate, among other items.

The collection also includes the Peace Corps 25th and 50th anniversary program announcements and itinerary.

Kay Clifford is a University of Michigan alumnus and a member of the first Peace Corps volunteer group which served in Uganda from 1969-1971. Found in the collection are materials that were collected by Clifford and by Bonnie A. Harris McKenna, a Peace Corps volunteer who received her training at the University of Michigan and served in Thailand. Collection includes materials that were used for the University of Michigan's 2010 exhibit, "U-M and the Peace Corps: It All Started Here"-- early Peace Corps publications, Thai language training materials, materials created specifically for the exhibit, a commemorative video recording, and volunteer ephemera.

The Kay Clifford papers comprise 1 linear foot of materials spanning the years 1945 to 2010. The papers contain materials which were collected for the University of Michigan's 2010 exhibit, "U-M and the Peace Corps: It All Started Here," celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Peace Corps, and include early Peace Corps publications, Thai language training materials, and materials created specifically for the exhibit. A significant portion of the collection consists of materials donated to Kay Clifford by Bonnie A. Harris McKenna for the exhibit on the 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps. These materials were acquired during McKenna's training at U of M and while she was active in the Peace Corps.