Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility records, 1966-2011
Summary Information
Abstract
At a Glance
- Call No.:
- HR#0009
- Bib ID:
- 8429461 View CLIO record
- Creator(s):
- Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility
- Repository:
- Rare Book and Manuscript Library
- Physical Description:
- 139 linear feet (111 records boxes)
- Language(s):
- English .
- Access:
- You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
-
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
Description
Summary
The records of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) primarily document the work of the center's staff, although the collection also includes records relating to the activities of its governing board and individual member organizations. The strength of the collection lies in its documentation of ICCR's programs, its work on issues, and its work with individual corporations and the SEC.
The collection includes many records related to programs and issues coordinated through the ICCR, which originate from both Program Directors and Executive Directors. There is extensive documentation of the ICCR's work on issues related to apartheid South Africa and the responsible distribution of infant formula. In addition, there are records documenting work on issues related to the environment, corporate governance, discrimination and equality, health, labor, militarism, and violence. These records include action and campaign materials, correspondence, minutes, meeting files, reports, and working group materials, as well as research materials and general subject files.
ICCR's work with individual companies is also well-documented in the records. The company files include materials on companies, their business practices, and proxy resolutions filed by ICCR members. Some files also include information requests, clippings, and communications with other entities such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The collection also documents ICCR's work with the SEC. These records include documentation of ICCR's advocacy work on SEC policies and rule change proposals that relate to its work, such those related to as corporate disclosure, proxy rules, and shareholder rights and resolutions. The ICCR also works with the SEC on issues related to its shareholder resolutions, and this work is documented through correspondence, information on the resolutions, and responses to corporate challenges.
There is some information on members and subscribers in the collection. Much of the communication with members, particularly on issues and resolutions, is with those files. In addition, the ICCR's staff was often copied on members' direct communication with companies and other entities. There are some membership files, which include information on the member organizations, pledges, mailings, and subscriptions, but only for 1995-2002.
Coverage is less comprehensive for high-level administrative records of the ICCR. The collection does not include any large sets of executive records, per se, rather, the executive records in the collection primarily relate to work with specific issues and companies. In addition, there is limited coverage of the activities of ICCR's governing board. The collection includes board mailings (1993-2000), and while these include some memos and minutes, there are no other records related to the board's regular activities in the collection. However, there is coverage of annual planning meetings (1975-1995). Initially, ICCR held annual long range planning meetings or retreats. By the early 1980s, these meetings became Annual General Meetings. These records include minutes, questionnaires, evaluations, reports, and development papers.
Coverage of publicity materials is also limited within the collection. There are files of clippings and press releases from the 1970s, but they are not well-organized. In addition, some material exists that relates to the 15th, 20th, and 40th anniversaries. Otherwise, there is no comprehensive coverage of publicity or promotional materials. There is good, but not comprehensive, coverage of major publications, such as the Corporate Examiner and the Proxy Resolutions Book.
There is also very little audiovisual material in the records; there are a few audio and video recordings, and no photograph files.
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Series I: Early History, 1971-1982
This series contains files relating to the early history of the Interfaith Committee on Social Responsibility in Investments (ICSRI), the Corporate Information Center (CIC), and their merger to form the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR). The series also contains material related to early work on issues such as mining, eco-justice, and South Africa. The records include clippings, correspondence, minutes, proposals, and reports.
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Series II: ICCR Governing Board, 1993-2000
This series consists of board mailings. The set is incomplete for both 1996 and 2000. The mailings include memos, minutes, and informational materials that were mailed to the board.
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Series III: Annual General Meetings, 1975-1995, 2008
ICCR's Annual General Meetings grew out of Long Range Planning Meetings and Retreats that began in the 1970s. The records include evaluations, minutes, questionnaires, reports, and development papers (often gathered into "resource books") on various issues which include rationales for the program, objectives, and action plans.
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Series IV: Issues and Programs, 1966-2010
This series consists of files related to programs and issues coordinated through the ICCR. Most of these records originate from the program directors that were responsible for their management, however, some related records were also kept by Executive Directors. These records include action and campaign materials, correspondence, minutes, meeting files, reports, and working group materials, as well as research materials such as clippings, company information, images, and reports.
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Series V: Company Files, 1966-2009
The ICCR kept general files on many corporations. The files include company materials and records documenting to ICCR's activities that are related to specific companies.
The company materials include shareholder information such as annual reports, information on annual shareholder meetings, brochures, and company materials on issues of interest to the ICCR.
These files also include resolutions (with cover letters) submitted to the company by ICCR member organizations. Larger files may also include communication with the company on requests for information, clippings, and communications with entities such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Additional records related to specific companies may also be found in the records related to Issues and Programs (Series IV) and in the SEC Files (Series VI).
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Series VI. U.S. Security and Exchanges Commission (SEC) Files, 1972-2007, bulk 1990-2004
The SEC Files contain records related to ICCR's interaction with the SEC on both SEC policy issues and ICCR's own proxy resolutions.
The files include records related to ICCR's advocacy on SEC policies such as corporate disclosure, proxy rules, shareholder rights and resolutions, and vacancies on the SEC. These records include campaign materials, clippings, correspondence, legal materials, memos, questionnaires, and reports.
The ICCR also worked with the SEC on issues related to proxy resolutions filed by ICCR's member organizations. These files include records on proxy resolutions, including chronological files with lists and copies of resolutions, as well as responses and information on legal cases.
Copies of the texts of shareholder resolutions filed each year by ICCR's faith-based investors are also published in the Proxy Resolutions Book, which can be found in Publications (Series VII).
The files are arranged in two ways. The first set of files conists of general files that are filed chronologically. The second set of files were originally filed together in groups that are roughly chronological, and the current arrangement follows that filing method.
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Series VII: Publications, 1974-2011
This series is primarily comprised of two publications, The Corporate Examiner newsletter, and the Proxy Resolutions Book. Both publications are incomplete, but the archive includes significant runs of both publications.
The Corporate Examiner was started by the Corporate Information Center (CIC), and serves as the primary membership newsletter for the ICCR. However, annual reports and other special publications have also been published as issues of the Corporate Examiner. The Proxy Resolutions Book presents the texts of socially responsible shareholder resolutions filed each year by ICCR's faith-based investors.
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Series VIII. Member & Subscriber Services, 1995-2003
This series includes information on associates, members, subscribers, and on mailings made to these groups.
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Series IX. Communications and Publicity, 1971-1999 , bulk 1971-1979, 1996
This series includes general communications files, as well as brochures, clippings, press releases, and promotional materials.
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Series X. Audiovisual Materials, 2000-2002, undated
This series consists of a few audiovisual materials related to ICCR, including audio and video recordings of talks and seminars.
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Series XI. General Organizational Records, 1986-2011
This series contains a small amount of executive director records and organizational files related to financial matters, strategic planning, and general files on socially responsible investing.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in eleven series and several subseries.
- Series I: Early History, 1971-1982
- Series II: ICCR Governing Board, 1993-2000
- Series III: Annual General Meetings, 1975-1995, 2008
- Series IV: Issues and Programs, 1966-2010
- Subseries IV.1. Corporate Governance, Equality, and Indigenous Issues, 1971-2009
- Subseries IV.2. Environment and Energy, 1979-1980, 1999-2010
- Subseries IV.3. Human Rights/Labor Rights/Global Accountability Programs, 1996-2011
- Subseries IV.4: Infant Formula, 1972-1993
- Subseries IV.5. Militarism and Violence, 1990-2007
- Subseries IV.6: South Africa, 1966-1996
- Subseries IV.7. Tobacco, 1985-1999
- Series V: Company Files, 1966-2009
- Series VI. U.S. Security and Exchanges Commission (SEC) Files, 1972-2007, bulk 1990-2004
- Series VII: Publications, 1974-2011
- Series VIII. Member & Subscriber Services, 1995-2003
- Subseries VIII.1 Associate and Subscriber Files, 1995-2003
- Subseries VIII.2 Membership Files, 1995-2002
- Series IX. Communications and Publicity, 1971-1999 , bulk 1971-1979, 1996
- Series X. Audiovisual Materials, 2000-2002, undated
- Series XI. General Organizational Records, 1986-2011
Using the Collection
Restrictions on Access
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility Records; Box and Folder; Center for Human Rights Documentation and Research, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Accrual
Additions are expected
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
2010-2011-M064: Source of acquisition--Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--2011 March 3.
About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Processing Information
Records processed by Catherine C. Ricciardi and Laura Thomas (School of the Arts, 2013), 2011-2012.
Finding aid written by Catherine C. Ricciardi, November 2012.
Revision Description
2012-11-27 File created.
2012-11-27 XML document instance created by Catherine C. Ricciardi
2015-09-03 XML document instance updated by Catherine C. Ricciardi - container list for Subseries IV.4 added.
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
Historical Note
The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) grew out of an interest in socially responsible investing that arose from concerns of clergy that churches might be profiting from the Vietnam War through their investments. In 1971, the Episcopal Church and six other protestant denominations formed the Interfaith Committee on Social Responsibility in Investments (ICSRI), which would allow for the group to share information and coordinate efforts to press for corporate change through their collective investments. During that same year, the Episcopal Church filed the first religious-sponsored shareholder resolution with General Motors requesting that the company withdraw its operations from apartheid South Africa. The committee soon filed additional resolutions on other social issues using similar strategies.
The organization expanded during the 1970s. The ICSRI's membership grew quickly, and within a few years was joined by Jewish investors and the National Catholic Coalition for Responsible Investment. In 1973, the ICSRI merged with the Corporate Information Center (CIC) to form the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR). The CIC had been founded in 1971 as a research project within the National Council of Churches (NCC), and produced the Corporate Examiner newsletter and other research reports on corporate responsibility. The two organizations had worked closely together, and the merger allowed for the ICSRI, which focused on coordination and strategy, to form one organization with the CIC, which focused on research, education, and producing information.
The ICCR has expanded and diversified both its membership and its strategies since its founding. Although the ICCR began as an alliance of faith-based organizations, it expanded its membership to include non-faith based organizations interested in social justice. In 1982, Calvert Group joined the ICCR as its first non-faith based member, and unions, pension funds, and other groups joined the ICCR throughout the 1980s. The ICCR also expanded its original approach of filing resolutions and attending shareholder meetings to engaging in direct dialog with corporations, as well as employing letter writing campaigns, and other strategies.
The ICCR's work has expanded and changed to engage new issues over time. During the 1970s and 1980s, its work focused on several issues including apartheid, nutrition and the irresponsible distribution of infant formula, equal opportunity employment, diversity, equal access to capital, military profiteering, negative portrayals of women and minorities in advertising, political contributions, and the environmental impact of strip mining. During the 1990s and 2000s, the ICCR also worked on issues related to the corporate governance and policy, the environment and energy, militarism and violence, sweat shop labor, tobacco, and other human rights issues.
Today, the ICCR is comprised of nearly 300 organizations with collective investments of over $100 billion, which continues to influence corporate policy on environmental, social, and economic issues.
Subject Headings
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
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