Saskia Jogler conducted research for this project, investigating documents, oral interviews and photographs and composed the timeline stories. ;xNLx;Silvia M. Koch produced the implementation and graphical visualization of the timeline (www.linkedin.com/in/silviamkoch).
Werner Warmbrunn was always concerned and interested in students coming to the United States from abroad. During his tenure as Foreign Student Advisor at Stanford, he brought together local citizens with international students.
One of the first actions of CCIS was to create an Emergency Loan Fund for international students.
Virginia Page initiated discussions with the Stanford Foreign Student Advisor, Werner Warmbrunn, and discovered her common interests in international students with Joan Lane -- to initiate an organization for international students at Stanford.
In 1953, Lorraine Barry was asked by her church to learn more about a new organization being formed by the Stanford Mothers’ Club, AAUW, and others who were offering temporary housing and acclimation to incoming international students.
Sheila Spaeth became a founding member of CCIS. She convinced people in the community to house students, organized fundraising events.
When CCIS began, there were pressing problems to solve. Just before the organization began, Stanford enrolled 166 foreign students who needed overnight "homes" before the opening of the fall University term.
The early evolution of the Community Committee for International Students at Stanford University (CCIS) epitomizes a turning point in the importance of international communication and exchange in the United States.
Joan Lane knew the local community residents very well. Thus, in the early period of CCIS, Werner Warmbrunn asked Joan to help make connections between community members and international students at Stanford.
Henrietta Collbran Kershaw, a close friend of Virginia Page, joined CCIS in the organization´s first days.
CCIS arranged a variety of activities for the international spouses of Stanford student. Many of these spouses felt isolated while their husbands were studying.
The long-time support for CCIS provided by Virginia (Ginny) Spears is perhaps best told by her son, Bob Spears, who is a second-generation CCIS board member and chairman of the Loan Closet.
Hospitality was a part of CCIS from its very beginning. However, in the early years Hospitality mainly meant that volunteers hosted international students for Christmas or Thanksgiving dinners. Over time, the program added other activities that continue through the academic year -- like nature outings or welcome lunches.
One of the highlights of fall orientation week was the Academic Luncheon.
A Night in India was one of the first CCIS events dedicated to a foreign country, and the first CCIS fundraising event.
The first International Arts Tea, held at the Bowman Alumni House, presented Spanish Flamenco dance, a Nigerian drum demonstration, an Indian guitar performance and a Japanese tea ceremony.
One year after its inception, CCIS as a formal organization became a reality.
Gertrude Williams was CCIS Secretary, wrote several years for the Communiqué, and was involved in outreach and publicity for local newspapers. In addition, she was a founding member of the CCIS Associates in honor of past Board service.
A way to get together and learn about American traditions in a social setting - - is a barbeque!
For Christian Americans, Christmas is an especially important time to be with friends and family. Religious and cultural customs and traditions make holiday celebrations unique in each country. Thus, American Christmas celebrations are an opportunity to get to know a part of American culture.
Patricia Chadwick was very sympathetic to dealing with international students in Stanford. She took on the third presidency of CCIS from 1956 to 1958.
In 1954, the new CCIS Transportation Committee coordinated volunteer drivers who provided new arriving internationals with transportation to and from the airport and sight seeing excursions.
International speakers can play an important role for American adults and schoolchildren to learn about the way of life in other countries.
Soon after the inception of CCIS, it became evident a place for the newly established international activities was needed.
Carolyn Baer matched internationals and people of the community as part of the Homestay program and tried to mediate permanent housing.
Henrietta Kershaw edited the first Communiqué newsletter, sent to all members at 4¢ each, the 1959 first class US postage rate. The early Communiqué was often a single-page black and white photocopy and was later available as an online version in 2003.
Only very few internationals have visited the Bay Area before their stay at Stanford and they are eager to get to know all about their new surroundings. From the early beginnings, CCIS took care of showing newcomers around.
In 1961, CCIS started a new program “Foreign Customs and Cookery.” Foreign spouses cooked a "typical meal" of their country and talked about everyday life in their homeland. Cooking classes remain very popular and are managed by Bechtel with international spouses and CCIS volunteers as instructors.
It all began in 1954 with a small evening event dedicated to India to raise money for emergency loans, small scholarships, trip subsidies and other expenses of CCIS. With passing time, the small Night in India grew and became International Carnival, International Food Fair, Talent Show and finally the International Festival. International students participated. There were performances of dance and music -- and food from different countries. The last International Festival sponsored by CCIS was on May 15, 1964.
Pat Keyes succeeded Ruth Norman as president of CCIS from 1962 to 1963.
Children's Play Groups began as the idea of Karen Sortino and Betty Britton. Small groups of pre-school children provided an opportunity for foreign and local mothers to meet once or several times a week.
When Sunday Night Suppers began in 1962, they were held in private homes and each Board member was asked to sign up for one evening. In 1964, a supper party for the winter quarter new students was on January 17 at Ginny Spear´s home. These events facilitated connections between the local community and internationals.
Guy Post was a Stanford graduate and a pioneer of the first fundraising effort to convert his former Zeta Psi fraternity residence for use as the new International Center.
A nighttime fire in November 1961 destroyed the I-Center building on Lasuen Street. As a result, for the next two years, CCIS had to move its office to the basement of the Stanford Women’s Clubhouse and many international activities and programs were on hold.
Starting in 1963, CCIS helped staff the first floor reception desk of the I-Center so that when you enter the lobby of the I-Center, you would find a welcoming CCIS volunteer receptionist there.
CCIS had many reasons to celebrate in 1963, after one decade of volunteer work at the University.
Kay Millar began monthly Art Exhibits at the I-Center with help of Priscilla Hexter.
When Werner Warmbrunn left Stanford University in 1964 to plan academic programs at Pitzer College at Claremont, Kenneth Cooper became the new Director of the I-Center.
“English-In-Action” is a program of informal conversational talks between foreign students and local volunteers on a person-to-person basis.
CCIS Associates is a group of former (and present) CCIS Board members who have served on the Board for at least three years.
Bernice Silber had a lifelong interest in international relations and social justice. She was also a longtime volunteer for CCIS and maintained warm friendships over the years with visiting scholars and international students.
After rather humble beginnings the 1970s, English Classes grew in popularity. By 1971, there were seven English Classes.
The door to Lee Zeigler´s office was always open during his sixteen years as Director of the Bechtel International Center. His special sensitivity to all cultures, and being able to see other points of view, made him truly predestined for this important leadership role at Stanford.
Over the years, many local artists exhibited their works at the I-Center. This gave I-Center director, Lee Zeigler, the idea of holding an organized Art Auction. Accordingly, artists donated their works to CCIS. Potential bidders viewed the art works for two days before the auction. A champagne party preceded the Art Auction event.
Champagne and dinner awaited CCIS members at the 20th Anniversary Fete at the I-Center.
You can hardly have too many barbeques in a year! The fall arrival of international students includes an Orientation Barbeque, but in 1973, CCIS added an end-of-the-year American Barbeque.
In the 1970s and 1980s, international scholars were welcomed to Stanford with special receptions. The first was on January 20, 1974. The next year, approximately 270 people attended the reception.
Whether the topic was a local bakery specializing in Austrian treats, a free admission day at one of San Francisco’s museums, or current affairs —the topic was discussed at the International Women’s Circle (IWC) gatherings.
In the 1970s, CCIS organized several discussion Forums. The title of the first Forum was There IS a Difference, based upon a book of the same title. CCIS purchased one hundred copies of the book and sold them to Forum participants for $2.50 each.
It was the beginning of a very satisfying career, where Gwyn discovered that students do not need to have someone tell them what to do. Her approach reflects her view of the world and people when she says, “We don’t have to make up ways to entertain them. They are creative, intelligent, and energetic." Gwyn has a special place in her heart for spouses who come to Stanford, and one of her significant contributions was to create the CCIS Spouse Education Fund.
From the time she joined CCIS in 1975, Hope Burke became a guiding light.
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