Consumer Reports. International Organization of Consumers' Unions records, 1950-2015, bulk 1960-1997

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Collection is restricted. Access note. Collection contains fragile audiovisual formats that may need to be reformatted before use. Contact Research Services for access.
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Summary

Creator:
Consumer Reports (Firm)
Abstract:
Consumer Reports is a product testing and consumer advocacy nonprofit organization based in Yonkers, N.Y., founded in 1936 as Consumers Union. The International Organization of Consumers' Unions (IOCU) is a consumer protection and rights advocacy organization founded in the Hague in 1960; it renamed as Consumers International in 1995. Collection includes audiovisual materials; clippings; correspondence; financial reports; meeting minutes; membership applications; policy statements; press releases; proceedings and planning documents for conferences, seminars, and workshops; texts of speeches and articles; and other printed materials that document Consumers Union's membership and participation in the organization. Organizations and individuals represented in the collection include: Anwar Fazal; Charles Medawar; Florence Mason; Foo Gaik Sim; Health Action International; International Air Transport Association; International Baby Food Action Network; Lars Broch; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; Pesticide Action Network; United Nations. Topics addressed in the collection include: Bhopal disaster; consumer product testing and safety; environmental justice; food safety, security and nutrition; founding of the organization; international businesses; medical care and pharmaceutical policies; pesticide use, environmental and health concerns; sustainable agriculture; and women's health. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Extent:
21.0 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English, Dutch, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish.
Collection ID:
RL.11987

Background

Scope and content:

Collection includes audiovisual materials; clippings; correspondence; financial reports; meeting minutes; membership applications; policy statements; press releases; proceedings and planning documents for conferences, seminars, and workshops; texts of speeches and articles; and other printed materials that document Consumers Union's membership and participation in the organization. Organizations and individuals represented in the collection include: Anwar Fazal; Charles Medawar; Florence Mason; Foo Gaik Sim; Health Action International; International Air Transport Association; International Baby Food Action Network; Lars Broch; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; Pesticide Action Network; United Nations. Topics addressed in the collection include: Bhopal disaster; consumer product testing and safety; environmental justice; food safety, security and nutrition; founding of the organization; international businesses; medical care and pharmaceutical policies; pesticide use, environmental and health concerns; sustainable agriculture; and women's health.

Biographical / historical:

Consumer Reports is a product testing and consumer advocacy nonprofit organization based in Yonkers, N.Y., founded in 1936 as Consumers Union.

The International Organization of Consumers' Unions (IOCU) is a consumer protection and rights advocacy organization founded in the Hague in 1960; it renamed as Consumers International in 1995. Economic recovery after World War II led to the growth of independent consumer advocacy groups (product testing organizations; standards associations; trade unions; cooperatives; government-initiated programs; complaint bureaus) around the world. Increasing awareness of the overlap of activities, the need to share information, and the growth of multinational corporations fueled an interest in creating a clearing house for organizing and sharing test methods, programs and ideas. IOCU formed through the initiatives of Consumers Union (United States), Nederlandse Consumenten Bond (Netherlands), Consumers' Association (Great Britain), Union Belge des Consummateurs (Belgium), and the Australasian Consumers' Association. The initial meeting in April, 1960, gathered 16 member organizations representing 14 countries. Colston E. Warne, President of Consumers Union, was named the first IOCU President. A Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific was established in 1974; for Latin America and the Caribbean in 1986; and for Africa in 1994. IOCU changed its name to Consumers International (CI) in 1995. CI currently has over 225 members. In 1963 the IOCU obtained observer status with the United Nations, and achieved General Consultative status in 1977. The United Nations issued its Guidelines for Consumer Protection in 1985, following more than a decade of advocacy by IOCU. In 2009, CI was named NGO partner to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development. IOCU was also instrumental in the creation of several issue-based advocacy organizations: International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN, 1979); Pesticide Action Network (PAN, 1981); Health Action International (HAI, 1983); Consumer Interpol (1983); Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD, 1998).

Source: https://www.consumersinternational.org/media/2066/ci_at_50_eng.pdf

Acquisition information:
The Consumer Reports. International Organization of Consumers' Unions records were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2019.
Processing information:

Processed by Richard Collier; Mar. 2022 Accessions described in this collection guide: 2019-0130.

Arrangement:

Organized into the following series: Administrative and General Files; Meetings and Events; Organizations; Printed Materials and Publications; Gifts Presented to Rhoda Karpatkin.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is restricted. Access note. Collection contains fragile audiovisual formats that may need to be reformatted before use. Contact Research Services for access.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the Rubenstein Library's Citations, Permissions, and Copyright guide.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Consumer Reports. International Organization of Consumers' Unions records, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

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