SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Materials relating primarily to Kuropas’s work as Special Assistant to the President for Ethnic Affairs in 1976, including arrangements for meetings with ethnic groups and background information on ethnic issues. A few items concern his duties in 1977 as Legislative Assistant to Senator Robert Dole.

QUANTITY
9.8 linear feet (ca. 19,000 pages)

DONOR
Myron B. Kuropas (accession number 92-NLF-009)

ACCESS
Open. Some items may be temporarily restricted under terms of the donor's deed of gift, a copy of which is available on request, or under National Archives and Records Administration general restrictions (36 CFR 1256).

COPYRIGHT
Myron B. Kuropas donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain.

Prepared by Elizabeth Druga, June 2012
[S:\BIN\Finding Aids & Guides\Kuropas, Myron - Papers]

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Myron B. Kuropas

Nov. 15, 1932 - Born in Chicago, IL

1949-53 - B.S., Loyola University, Chicago, IL

1953-55 - M.A., Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL

1956-71 - Teacher, principal, Chicago Board of Education, Chicago, IL

1973-74 - Ph.D. in education, University of Chicago

1971-75 - Deputy Director, Regional Director, ACTION, Chicago, IL

1976 - Special Assistant to the President for Ethnic Affairs, White House Office of Public Liaison

1977 - Legislative Assistant to Senator Robert Dole, Washington, DC

1991 - Author, The Ukrainian Americans

1991-2008(?) - Adjunct professor, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL

2000 - School principal, DeKalb, IL, retired

INTRODUCTION

Myron B. Kuropas joined the White House staff in January 1976 as Special Assistant for Ethnic Affairs. The purpose of this newly created position was to maximize communication between government officials and ethnic communities, a key demographic group for the upcoming election. As part of the Office of Public Liaison (OPL) this position reported directly to William J. Baroody, Jr. Kuropas had previously served as the regional director of ACTION, a federal umbrella agency that combined several volunteer agencies including the Peace Corps and VISTA, in Chicago, developing programs such as Project Senior Ethnic Find, and also was active in various Ukrainian community groups. Prior to his appointment, the work of ethnic liaison was handled in OPL by Theodore Marrs.

Kuropas acted as White House liaison with leaders of major ethnic organizations, including fraternal, civic, religious and academic associations. He met with representatives of ethnic groups, represented the White House at ethnic functions, advised the President on ethnic concerns and worked with federal agencies on programs regarding ethnic affairs. A “Special Assistant to the President for Ethnic Affairs Activities Report” that Kuropas submitted to Baroody, located in box 18, provides an overview of his tenure in this position.

Kuropas used OPL's Tuesday and Wednesday Meetings to help accomplish his liaison goals. He organized several regarding ethnicity and other topics, including neighborhood revitalization (May 5, 1976), education (May 18, 1976), and the 1980 census (June 1, 1976). Other meetings were arranged for the heads of ethnic organizations such as American Ethnic Leaders and Newspaper Editors (March 9, 1976) and Eastern European Ethnic Leaders (October 12, 1976). Kuropas also assisted with meetings not focused on ethnic issues, for instance the White House Conference on Historic Preservation (September 28, 1976).

Materials pertaining to these and other White House meetings can be found in the Subject File series. These folders usually include lists of invitees, agendas, handouts, memos, and White House paperwork for organizing such events. The bulk of the subject file consists primarily of routine background material on ethnic perspectives and election issues, including reports, articles, contact lists, correspondence, publications, and event programs. Exceptions are the files on the President’s Committee on Urban Development and Neighborhood Revitalization, Ethnic Campaign 1976, the National Republican Heritage Groups (Nationalities) Council, and the Presidential debate “Eastern Europe Gaffe.” These folders contain non-routine materials such as memos, agendas, and drafts of remarks. A few folders scattered throughout the subject file contain materials relating to Kuropas’s previous work at ACTION and his later position in Senator Dole’s office.

While some letters can be found in the Subject File, the bulk of Kuropas’s correspondence is located in the chronological file. Correspondence and memoranda exchanged between Kuropas and representatives of ethnic groups, the media, and other White House staff members concern participation in ethnic events, requests for statements, and some routine administrative matters such as requests for travel or information from other White House offices.

Additional routine background materials can be found in the newspaper file. It contains a mixture of both full editions and clippings, mostly from ethnic newspapers but with a small portion of material from mainstream publications such as the New York Times. The majority feature stories about White House meetings with ethnic groups and ethnic concerns relating to the 1976 election.

Related Materials (June 2012)
The closely-related Kuropas Files, received in 1977 as part of President Ford’s papers, contain materials documenting Kuropas’s relationship with specific ethnic groups and the wide variety of events he attended as Special Assistant for Ethnic Affairs. They also contain more materials relating to his work as regional director of ACTION. Theodore Marrs, Special Assistant for Human Resources in the Office of Public Liaison, handled ethnic affairs prior to the creation of Kuropas’s position and related materials can be found in his files. The President Ford Committee Records contain materials relating to ethnic groups and the 1976 election, particularly in the Thomas Ruffin Files and Ethnic Desk Files from the People for Ford Office.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Chronological File, 1975-77.  (Boxes 1‑2, 0.8 linear feet)
Correspondence between Kuropas and representatives of ethnic groups and media, as well as memoranda to and from other White House staff members. Topics include possible government employment for ethnics, invitations to White House meetings, requests for appearances by Kuropas or President Ford, and other ethnic concerns. Letters are sorted as incoming and outgoing by month, although no incoming correspondence is filed for over half of the months.

Arranged chronologically.

View container list for this series

Subject File, (1963-74) 1975-77.  (Boxes 3‑20, 7.5 linear feet)
Correspondence, memoranda, clippings, newsletters, printed materials, and press releases. Subjects include background materials for White House meetings addressing ethnic concerns, the administration’s position on captive nations in Eastern Europe and the Sonnenfeldt Doctrine, ethnic groups and the 1976 election, and ethnic Bicentennial celebrations. Several folders relate to his work in Senator Dole’s office. Some of the materials date back to the 1960s and may have been collected while Kuropas was working for ACTION.

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

View container list for this series

Newspaper File, 1975-77. (Boxes 21‑23, 1.2 linear feet)
A mixture of full editions and clippings, predominantly from various ethnic newspapers written in English and foreign languages, featuring stories about Dr. Kuropas, White House meetings with ethnic groups, and ethnic concerns and endorsements relating to the 1976 election. Clippings from mainstream newspapers such as the New York Times and the Washington Post that pertain to ethnic affairs, particularly in relation to the election, are also included.

Arranged alphabetically by ethnic group.

View container list for this series

CONTAINER LIST

Box 1 - Chronological File

• December 1975, Incoming
• December 1975, Outgoing
• January 1976, Incoming
• January 1976, Outgoing
• February 1976, Incoming
• February 1976, Outgoing (1)-(2)
• March 1976, Incoming
• March 1976, Outgoing (1)-(2)
• April 1976, Incoming
• April 1976, Outgoing (1)-(3)
• May 1976, Incoming
• May 1976, Outgoing (1)-(2)
• June 1976, Incoming [empty]
• June 1976, Outgoing (1)

Box 2 - Chronological File

• June 1976, Outgoing (2)-(3)
• July 1976, Incoming [empty]
• July 1976, Outgoing (1)-(2)
• August 1976, Incoming [empty]
• August 1976, Outgoing (1)-(2)
• September 1976, Incoming [empty]
• September 1976, Outgoing (1)-(2)
• October 1976, Incoming [empty]
• October 1976, Outgoing (1)-(2)
• November 1976, Incoming [empty]
• November 1976, Outgoing
• December 1976, Incoming [empty]
• December 1976, Outgoing
• January 1977, Incoming [empty]
• January 1977, Outgoing

Box 3 - Subject File

• ACTION Ethnic Projects
• ACTION - Region V - Depolarization Projects
• Addressing the Needs of Ethnic America: A Proposal
• Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
• Affirmative Action
• Alliance to Save Energy
• Alliance to Save Energy Organizational Handbook (1)-(2)
• Ambassadorial Appointments for Ethnics
• American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies Convention
• American Ethnic Leaders and Newspaper Editors Meeting, March 9, 1976
• American Ethnic Leaders and Newspaper Editors Meeting, March 9, 1976 - State Department Briefing Materials
• American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA)
• American Jewish Committee Seventieth Anniversary Dinner Program
• American Revolution Bicentennial Administration - Ethnic and Minority Conference (1)

Box 4 - Subject File

• American Revolution Bicentennial Administration - Ethnic and Minority Conference (2)-(3)
• Asia Foundation (1)-(2)
• Balch Institute
• Baroni, Geno C. - Testimony for Subcommittee on Housing and Community Development
• Baroody, William
• Baroody Press Release on Kuropas Appointment
• Bicentennial Messages of President Ford
• Black Power
• Black/White Ethnic Relations
• Blue Collar Workers (1)-(2)
• Busing
• Captive Nations Week Proclamation, 1976
• Carter and the Ethnics
  

Box 5 - Subject File

• Carter Articles
• Carter Ethnic Pieces
• Catholic Conference on Ethnic Parishes (1)-(2)
• Catholic Vote (1)-(2)
• Cedar Rapids Community Schools Ethnic Workshop, August 1970
• Census Data
• Columbus Day Proclamation, 9/7/76
• Contact Information for Leaders of Ethnic Organizations
• Correspondence, Incoming (1)-(2)
• Correspondence, Outgoing
• Czechoslovak National Council of America - Documentation on Violations of the Helsinki Accords
• Democratic Platform Committee - 10 Points Submitted by Latvian Association
• Derwinski/Annunzio Press Release on Kuropas Appointment
• Détente (1)-(3)
• Détente - Helsinki - Sonnenfeldt

Box 6 - Subject File

• Dole, Bob - Speeches
• Dole Ethnic Press Clippings
• Eastern Europe Gaffe
• Ethni-City: A Guide to Ethnic Detroit, Vol. 2
• Ethnic Affairs Post-Carter Win
• Ethnic American Presses
• Ethnic Americans Questions to President Ford
• Ethnic Bicentennial Celebrations (1)-(2)
• Ethnic Brochure
• Ethnic Campaign, 1976 (1)-(3)
• Ethnic Clergy
• Ethnic Conferences
• Ethnic Issue Responses

Box 7 - Subject File

• Ethnic Mailing Lists (1)-(3)
• Ethnic Media
• Ethnic Millions Political Action Committee (EMPAC)
• Ethnic Politics (1)-(2)
• Ethnic Position Papers (1)-(4)

Box 8 - Subject File

• Ethnic Position Papers (5)-(8)
• Ethnic Programs in National Endowment for the Humanities
• Ethnic Publications (1)-(6)
• Ethnic Research Center - City University of New York

Box 9 - Subject File

• Ethnic Studies - General (1)-(4)
• Ethnic Studies Heritage Bill (1)-(3)
• Ethnic Women
• Ethnic Youth
• Ethnicity and Affirmative Action
• Ethnicity and the 1980 Census Meeting, June 1, 1976 (1)-(3)

Box 10 - Subject File

• Ethnicity and Education Meeting, May 18, 1976 (1)-(4)
• Ethnicity and Mental Health Meeting, June 14, 1976 (1)-(4)
• Ethnicity and Neighborhood Revitalization (1)-(2)

Box 11 - Subject File

• Ethnicity and Neighborhood Revitalization (3)
• Ethnicity and Neighborhood Revitalization Meeting, May 5, 1976 (1)-(3)
• Ethnicity, Denomination, and Inequality by Andrew Greeley (1)-(2)
• Ethnics in Baltimore
• Ethnics in Chicago (1)-(4)
• Ethnics in Detroit
• Ethnics in Indiana
• Ethnics in Minnesota

Box 12 - Subject File

• Ethnics in New Jersey
• Ethnics in New York
• Ethnics in Philadelphia
• Ethnics in Pittsburgh (1)-(2)
• Ethnics in Wisconsin
• “Factors Influencing a Child’s Ability to Learn”
• Family and American Pluralism
• Ford Campaign List of Ethnic Leaders
• General Publications
• General Pulaski’s Memorial Day Proclamation, September 8, 1976
• Gift Parcels to Soviet Union
• Guidelines for Proposal Writers (Title III), Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction of Illinois, 1970-71
• H.R. 71 Signing Ceremony and Ethnic Editors Meeting, October 14, 1976
• Helsinki Accords - Monitoring
• Helsinki Statements
• Hispanic American Leaders
• Hungarian Freedom Fighters Meeting, October 21, 1976
• Illinois Ethnic Campaign
• Immigration Museum

Box 13 - Subject File

• Institute on Pluralism and Group Identity (1)-(2)
• Italian Vote
• Italian American Leaders Meeting, August 14, 1976
• Jewish Ethnicity Publications
• Kissinger and Ethnic Americans
• Kobelinski, Mitchell - Swearing-in Ceremony
• Kochman, Thomas - Papers (1)-(2)
• Kuropas Appointment Announcements - Ethnic Newspapers
• Kuropas Memos - Dole Office (1)-(2)
• Kuropas, Myron - Biographical Data
• Kuropas, Myron - Personal
• Latvians for President Ford
• Lerner Publications
• Letter to Editor, July 2, 1976

Box 14 - Subject File

• Letters Received - Dole Office
• Lincoln Day Dinner, 1976
• Medal of Freedom - Arthur Rubinstein
• Minnesota Immigration Archives
• Miscellaneous
• National Advisory Council on Ethnic Heritage Studies, March 16, 1976
• National Association of Arab Americans
• National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs (1)-(2)
• National Confederation of American Ethnic Groups
• National Endowment for the Arts - Guide to Programs
• National Ethnic Studies Assembly
• National Republican Heritage Groups (Nationalities) Council
• National Republican Heritage Groups (Nationalities) Council - Campaign Plan
• National Republican Heritage Groups (Nationalities) Council - Ethnic Lists
• National Republican Heritage Groups (Nationalities) Council Meeting, May 11, 1976

Box 15 - Subject File

• National Republican Heritage Groups (Nationalities) Council Meeting, May 22, 1976
• National Trust for Historic Preservation - Swiss Avenue, Dallas, TX
• Neighborhood Redlining
• Neighborhood Revitalization - Community Development
• “Neighborhood Revitalization and Urban Public Policy” by Richard and Mary Ann Krickus (1)-(2)
• Neighborhood Shock: Case Study of Pittsburgh’s East Street Expressway and Citizen Participation
• Office of the Public Liaison Annual Report
• Photograph of Polish Americans in the Ford Administration
• Photographs
• Polish American Leadership Meeting, September 2, 1976
• Polish Community Center of Buffalo, Inc., August 2, 1976
• Polish – Lithuanian – Estonian – Ukrainian Messages
• Polish Vote
• Political Prisoners (1)

Box 16 - Subject File

• Political Prisoners (2)-(3)
• Political Publications (1)-(4)
• President Ford Committee
• President Ford Committee - Campaign Committee on Ethnic Affairs (1)-(2)
• President Ford Meeting with Eastern European Ethnic Leaders, October 12, 1976 (1)-(2)
• President Ford Press Conference with Ethnic Editors, October 14, 1976

Box 17 - Subject File

• President Ford’s Remarks at Naturalization Ceremony at Monticello, July 5, 1976
• President Ford’s Remarks in Milwaukee, WI, April 2, 1976
• President Ford’s Remarks to Ethnic Leaders, May 5, 1976
• President Ford’s Remarks to Polish American Congress, September 24, 1976
• President’s Committee on Urban Development and Neighborhood Revitalization (1)-(4)
• President’s Committee on Urban Development and Neighborhood Revitalization Interim Report
• President’s Committee on Urban Development and Neighborhood Revitalization - Neighborhood Liaison Committee (1)-(2)
• Presidential Japanese American Proclamation, February 19, 1976
• Presidential Messages - Copies
• Press Releases
• Proposal for a Study of the Relationship Between Family and Achievement by Greeley and McCready
• Questionnaires
• Reagan Speech, July 6, 1976
• Republican Ethnic Youth
• Republican Platform, 1976
• Research Publications and Reports (1)

Box 18 - Subject File

• Research Publications and Reports (2)-(3)
• Response Magazine
• School Desegregation
• Slavic Materials
• Sonnenfeldt Affair (1)-(3)
• Sonnenfeldt Doctrine Letters
• Soviet Dissidents - Human Rights
• Spanish Speaking
• Special Assistant to the President for Ethnic Affairs-Activities Report (1)-(2)

Box 19 - Subject File

• Special Assistant to the President for Ethnic Affairs-Mission Statement
• Speech Material
• Speeches - Kuropas (1)-(3)
• Tesla Memorial [empty]
• “The Teacher” by Peter S. Mousolite
• Tolstoy Foundation
• Travel Vouchers - Outstanding
• Tuesday at the White House - Checklist of Procedures
• U.S. Press on Ethnic Vote
• Ukrainian Reception - Dole Office, May 18, 1977
• Ukrainian Americans for Nixon - Agnew
• Ukrainian Americans White House Meeting, June 24, 1976
• Ukrainian Week
• United States Government Manual, 1975-76

Box 20 - Subject File

• Urban Corps
• Valentyn Moroz Resolution
• Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, April-October 1976 (Incomplete) (1)-(2)
• White House Conference on Historic Preservation, September 28, 1976 (1)-(2)
• White House Memos, January-March 1976
• White House Press Release on Kuropas Appointment
• Who’s Left in the Neighborhood: A Report by the National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs
• Youth Round Table (1)-(2)

Box 21 - Newspaper File

• Ethnic Newspapers

  - Arab

  - Armenian

  - Bulgarian

  - Byelorussian

  - Chinese

  - Croatian

  - Czechoslovakian

  - Estonian

  - Filipino

  - Finnish

  - General (nationality non-specific)

  - German (1)-(2)

  - Greek

  - Hungarian

  - Italian (1)-(2)

  - Japanese

Box 22 - Newspaper File

• Ethnic Newspapers

  - Jewish

  - Latvian (1)-(2)

  - Lithuanian (1)-(2)

  - Polish (1)-(3)

  - Russian

  - Slovak (1)-(2)

Box 23 - Newspaper File

• Ethnic Newspapers

  - Transylvanian

  - Ukrainian (1)-(3)

• Non-ethnic Newspapers (1)-(4)