Oral history interview with Alan J. Pifer 1997-1998
Abstract
Alan Jay Parrish Pifer, b. 1921. Childhood in Massachusetts; education : Groton School, Harvard University, 1940-1941, 1945-1947, B.A., Emmanuel College, Cambridge University 1947-1948; executive secretary, Fulbright Commission, London, England, 1948-1953; Carnegie Corporation: management of African program, 1953-1963, vice president, 1963-1965, acting president, 1965-1967,president 1967-1984; pres idential initiatives: inclusion of women and minorities in the foundation, educational television, creation of Second Carnegie Inquiry on Poverty in Southern Africa, civil rights interests, Consortium for the Advancement of Private Higher Education; reflections on foundation work: scope of grant-making, program budgeting and funding, hiring and appointments, relationship with staff, trustees and other foundations, accountability and evaluation, risk-taking, responsibility to public, influence of Carnegie family; public profile; personal commitment to political transformation in Southern Africa; post-Carnegie career: evolving view of foundations, advisory role, work on social issues of elderly and minorities; reminiscences of colleagues.
Endowments; Fulbright scholarships; Philanthropists; Executives; South Africa Politics and government 20th century; Africa, Sub-Saharan Politics and government 20th century; United States Politics and government 20th century; Pifer, Alan J; Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919; Carnegie Corporation of New York; Carnegie Corporation of New York Finance; Consortium for the Advancement of Private Higher Education
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Origin Information
1997
Physical Description
355 pages
Note (Biographical)
Philanthropist.
Note (Funding)
Digital reproduction funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Carnegie Corporation of New York
Note
Digitized by Safe Sound Archive, Philadelphia, 2010.
Interviewed by: Brenda Hearing on Jan.15, Jan. 29, Feb. 13, March 19, Sept. 16, Oct.7, 1997 and July 14, 1998 in Green Farms, Connecticut and New York, New York.
Sound quality is poor at times.
Service copy (44 kHz, 16 bit) and rendered version (96 kHz, 24 bit) of sound file derived from a digital preservation master digitized at 96 kHz, 24 bit.
Digital audio recordings available for sessions 4-6; videorecording available for session 7.
Note (Provenance)
Gift of: Alan J. Pifer
Note (Copyright)
Copyright for sessions 1-6 held by The Carnegie Corporation of New York. Copyright for session 7 held by The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York.
Language
English
Library Location
Oral History Archives at Columbia, Columbia University