Peace Corps Act

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Description

Passed in 1961, this Act formalized President John F. Kennedy’s vision of a volunteer organization to provide education and skilled manpower to developing nations. First proposed to students at the University of Michigan during Kennedy’s presidential campaign, the Peace Corps has supplied more than 187,000 volunteers to over 135 different countries.

Citation

This primary source comes from the General Records of the United States Government.

National Archives Identifier: 299874

Full Citation: Act of September 22, 1961 (Peace Corps Act), Public Law 87-293, 75 STAT 612, which established a Peace Corps to help the people of interested countries and areas in meeting their needs for skilled man; 9/21/1961; Enrolled Acts and Resolutions of Congress, 1789 – 2013; General Records of the United States Government, Record Group 11; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/document/peace-corps-act/, January 15, 2026]

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