Scholarship America had its genesis in a local school board election. In 1957, Dr. Irving A. Fradkin, an optometrist, ran for a seat on the Fall River, Massachusetts, School Board. During the campaign, he called for each citizen of Fall River to contribute one dollar to create a scholarship fund to send needy students to college. Although defeated, Dr. Fradkin pushed ahead with his idea and in 1958 started Dollars for Scholars in Fall River.
By 1961, Dollars for Scholars chapters had been created in eleven states. In May 1961, Dollars for Scholars was incorporated as the Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America (CSFA). In 1976, the CSFA established Scholarship Management Services (SMS) to manage corporate scholarships. On January 1, 2003, the CSFA officially changed its name to Scholarship America. Now based in St. Peter, Minnesota, Scholarship America helps students attend college through its two programs: Dollars for Scholars and Scholarship Management Services.
This collection consists of the records of Scholarship America (formerly known as the Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America) from 1960 and ongoing. Including correspondence, minutes and meeting materials, newspaper clippings, newsletters, publicity and promotional material, financial records, and videocassettes, these records document the efforts and activities of Scholarship America in helping students attend college. Also contains materials relating to the numerous foundations and trusts with which Scholarship America has partnered through Scholarship Management Services.
Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from the Brown University Library. Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Scholarship America records, Ms. 2008.027, Brown University Library.
The original order of this collection has been maintained. This collection is arranged as the materials arrived at the Brown University Library.
There are no restrictions on access for non-digital materials, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested. Advance notice is required to view born-digital records. Born-digital materials in this collection have not been reformatted yet. Researchers may request access to copies by contacting the John Hay Library with the collection name, collection number, and a description of the item(s) requested. Access to original physical digital media is restricted.
This collection was donated by Scholarship America in 2006, September 2011, September 2016.
Additional materials are anticipated for this collection.
Brown University catalog record for this collection:
RESOURCES AT BROWN: