An exhibition presented by Museum of the Peace Corps Experience and American University Museum, Washington, DC
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, who identify as a member of a non-majority group in the USA, talk about their unique Peace Corps experiences.
July - August 2021
Despite a pandemic that refuses to end and a protracted war in Afghanistan, the Museum carries on – highlighting Peace Corps values with objects and stories of volunteer and host community experiences.
This newsletter celebrates the life of our Museum co-founder Martin Kaplan. Martin served among the first volunteers to Republic of Somalia 1962-1964 and, during his ‘retirement’ years in Portland, Oregon, introduced the idea of a Peace Corps museum in 1999. Martin leaves behind an enduring legacy of the Museum of the Peace Corps Experience as well as a beloved son and family. We extend our condolences to the Kaplan family.
Peace Corps Volunteers served with host counterparts in Afghanistan from 1962 -1979. Consequently an estimate 1,700 Americans carry an indelible connection to people in a country that has seen the United States’ longest war. In the midst of the evacuation of Afghans and withdrawal of American combat troops, Friends of Afghanistan provide context for understanding Afghan culture and report their efforts to support Afghan refugees who may become our neighbors.
This newsletter highlights the story of the Chapan Coat by Randall Trudelle (Afghanistan 1968-1969).
Future
The Museum will install its first exhibits in Washington, DC, at Peace Corps Place, the new home of the National Peace Corps Association. A state-of-the-art museum will eventually find a permanent home in the Peace Corps Community Center. An online museum is a major goal of this multiphase project. Virtual exhibit space will enable global access to its collections.
