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University of Michigan department responsible in part for the development of materials for the teaching of English as a second language. The English Language Institute records contain correspondence, notes from staff meetings, publications, reports, photographs, and administrative records, especially records of South East Asia Regional English Program and the Ford-Japan Project. The records also include files of directors Charles C. Fries and Robert Lado and administrator George E. Luther. Also includes photos of Institute staff, students, and activities, including international students at the University of Michigan and the institute's South East Asia Regional English Project (1957-1965).

The records of the English Language Institute encompass the period, 1940-2012, and contain 11 series: Correspondence; C.C. Fries Correspondence; Books; Manuscripts and Publications; Scrapbooks; Project Files; Administrative Files; South East Asia Regional English Project (SEAREP); Ford-Japan Project; Publications; and Photographs. The bulk of the collection deals with routine business such as student requests for admission, inquiries from throughout the world regarding the operation of the Institute, requests for linguistic materials available from the Institute, and staff meeting minutes. There is an abundance of information on the relationship between the English Language Institute, its staff and similar institutions both at the University of Michigan and elsewhere; including the University of Michigan International Center, the Civil Aeronautics Administration, the English Language Institute in Mexico, the Ford Foundation, the Inter-American Educational Foundation, the Kellogg Foundation, the Linguistic Institute, Rockefeller Foundation, and the U.S. Office of Education. Also in the collection are extensive files of directors Charles C. Fries and Robert Lado and administrator George E. Luther.

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.