Sierra Interfaith Action For Peace

Sierra Interfaith Action for Peace (SIAP) is a non-profit, public benefit corporation of Washoe County, Nevada. It was organized largely through the efforts of William and Ann Scott in 1986 and incorporated in 1987. Its general purpose is to work together for peace and justice at home and throughout the world. Specific goals are:

• To present to the public, speakers, workshops and educational forums concerning peace.
• To renew, strengthen, and inspire peacemaking efforts through interfaith worship services.
• To coordinate and participate with other groups in offering opportunities to witness peace.
• To encourage development of educational resources and training in non-violent conflict resolution.
• To provide assistance to religious groups seeking to explore the relation between peacemaking and their own faith by providing resource persons and or educational materials.

SIAP works together with the Reno-Sparks Metro Ministry, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, individual church leaders, and other northern and southern Nevada organizations toward their peace and justice goals. Specific issues around which SIAP has focused have included the Nevada nuclear test site, the Gulf War (1990), and conflicts in Central America. Vigils, protest marches, picnics, pot lucks, tree plantings, lectures, pre-Lenten interfaith worship services, retreats, and workshops are examples of their activities. SIAP publishes a monthly newsletter called Peace Calendar; the first issue was dated May 31, 1987.

SIAP is not a membership organization but over one hundred individuals take part in their activities. Financial support comes from donations and sales of items at a yearly gift bazaar called “Joyful Alternatives.”

Sierra Interfaith Action for Peace was predated by a small peace organization which centered around a core group of instructors and students at the University of Nevada, Reno, called the Campus Peace Studies Group. This group, which was active in about 1983-1984, sponsored a weekly series of informal lecture-discussion meetings and worked toward establishing an interdisciplinary course-for-­credit in peace studies. William Scott was very active in that organization.

Scope and Content

The records of Sierra Interfaith Action for Peace were largely created and gathered by William and Ann Scott who were among the co-founders of SIAP. The collection was donated to the Special Collections Department in 1995 by Barbara Scott. This collection consists of five cubic feet of records dating from 1956-1994; bulk dates are 1987-1992. There are no restrictions on access or use of these materials.

The original arrangement of the collection was alphabetical by subject/folder label. After the collection was re-foldered in acid-free folders discreet rearrangement was carried out to make certain materials more accessible. The administrative records of SIAP were gathered together and became Series I. All other subject files became Series II. Titles of some folders were changed slightly to bring together all material on a specific subject, such as Middle East and Gulf War. Articles or lectures are listed by the last name of the author, rather than by title.

This collection is a rich source of information about the peace and justice movement in Nevada. In addition to chronicling activities of the Sierra Interfaith Action for Peace it documents the peace work of the American Friends Service Committee, Campus Peace Studies Group, Reno/Sparks Metro Ministry, Citizen Alert, Nevada Desert Experience, Nevadans Against the War, Pace e Bene, and Nevada Rainbow Coalition. Other western peace organizations include The Pecos Benedictine, Plumas People for Peace, Redding Peace Center, Redlands Peace Group, Resource Center for Nonviolence, and Sacramento Religious Community for Peace. A sampling of national organizations’ newsletters and publications in included.

Subjects well documented by this collection include the American Peace Test, conflicts in Central America, child abuse prevention, Children’s Creative Response to Conflict Conference, the United States’ defense policies, Fridays for Peace, Martin Luther King Day activities, war in the Middle East, Native American homelands, the Nevada peace movement, nuclear testing in Nevada and protests, prison concerns (including the death penalty), vigils for peace, and the Yucca Mountain storage site for nuclear wastes.

William and Ann Scott have donated many of their personal papers and their records of the American Friends Field Service to the Special Collections Department and those materials also document both the Nevada peace movement and the Scott’s involvement. The records of the Reno Friends Meeting (Quakers) in the Special Collections Department also contain similar materials.

The records of Sierra Interfaith Action for Peace have been divided into the following series and subseries:

1. Administration
   • I/1 Bylaws
   • I/2 Minutes
   • I/3 Newsletters
   • I/4 Finances
   • I/5 Correspondence
   • I/6 Mailing Lists
   • I/7 Programs
2. Subject Files

 

Series I. 95/01/I  Administration. 1986-1994. 1 cubic foot.

This series contains records documenting the organization’s administration since its founding in the latter part of 1986. Included are bylaws, a history and statement of purpose which was submitted to the Internal Revenue Services for the purpose of acquiring tax-exempt status, a fairly complete set of minutes of meetings and hand-written notes about meetings, a nearly complete run of the newsletter, Peace Calendar, correspondence, and program ideas and notes. Some of the folders of meeting notes and correspondence are rather loosely arranged because their original contents were left intact (except that official minutes and newsletters were removed and filed in their respective folders). Otherwise, the subseries are arranged chronologically.

Box 1

I/1/1	Bylaws, certificate of incorporation, 1987
I/1/2	I. [Statement describing history and activities of Sierra Interfaith], July, 1989. Application for 501(c)(3) status from I.R.S.
I/1/3	Purpose and goals of SIAP (1987)
I/2/1-4	Minutes Dec. 1986-1990 1/2/5-11 Meeting notes 1987-1991; 1993
I/3/1-2	Peace Calendar - Newsletter of SIAP 1987-1994
I/4/1	Organization and fundraising (1987)
I/4/2	Finance 1988-1992
I/4/3	Card file- first contributions
I/5/1-5	Correspondence 1987-91
I/5/6	SIAP letters re. Anthony Montgomery murder 1989
I/5/7	Press releases, correspondence 1989
I/5/8	SIAP misc. correspondence 1990
I/5/9	Congressional correspondence with SIAP 1986; 1990-1991
I/5/10	Correspondence 1990
I/5/11-13	Misc. peace publications and correspondence 1990-1993
I/6/1	SIAP address card file
I/6/2	Mailing/member list 1982.
I/6/3	Telephone network and phonetree 1988
I/7/1	Program ideas
I/7/2	Flyers for peace/action events (in Nevada)
I/7/3	SIAP media/public relations
I/7/4	SIAP handouts, mailings 1989-1990
I/7/5	Songs.
I/7/6	SIAP denominational peace statements
I/7/7	SIAP and other peace groups
I/7/8	SIAP Pyramid Lake Retreat

 

Series II. 95-01/II  Subject Files. 1956-1993. 4 cubic feet.

This series of subject files contains materials about topics of interest and organizations working toward similar goals as SIAP, as well as material related to predecessor groups of SIAP, such as the Campus Peace Studies Group. Arranged alphabetically. The last page contains a listing of titles of video tapes which were transferred to the photographic archives of the Special Collections Department.

Box 2

2/1	Advent
2/2	Affleck, Michael. “History and Strategy of the Campaign to End Nuclear Weapons Testing at the Nevada Test Site,” 1977
2/3	American Friends Service committee
2/4-5	American peace test
2/6	Appeal letter pgs. 1 & 2 1988
2/7	A.R.S.           (Alternative Revenue Service)
2/8	Awad, Mubarak - reception and speech 1990
2/9	Balloon Race potluck 1989
2/10	Beyond War
2/11	Bumper stickers
2/12	Central America - fact sheets
2/13-14	CAAW (Committee to Aid Abused Women) 1987,1988
2/15-16	Campus Peace Studies Group 1983-1984
2/17	Central America Newsline 1990
2/18	Child abuse prevention April 1, 1990
2/19	Children’s Summit
2/20	Children’s Creative Response to Conflict Conference
2/21	CCRC (Children’s Creative Response to Conflict)
2/22	Children’s Conflict Resolution (CCRC)
2/23	Number not assigned.
2/24	Church Women United
2/25	Citizen Alert
2/26	Citizens Concerned About Central America 1989
2/27	CISPES (Committee in Solidarity with The People of El Salvador)
2/28	Common Agenda Coalition
2/29	Community Welfare, Inc.
2/30	Co-Op America 1992
2/31	Crossroads Newsletter of Campus Christian Assoc. 1986
2/32	The Cui-ui (Friends of Pyramid Lake Newsletter) 1990
2/33	Defense information
2/34	Demonstration for Peace 1990
2/35	Dept. of Energy Hearing 6/5/91. Ann Scott’s Notes
2/36	Dietrich, Paul, “Theologians and Environmentalists”
2/37	Environmental Leadership Newsletter 1991
2/38	Ethnic Perspectives - English 750 class
2/39	The EuroPilgim Newsletter 1992
2/40	Federation of American Scientists and Union of Concerned Scientists 1990-91
2/41	Fellowship of Reconciliation 1987-1989
2/42	Fellowship of Reconciliation Middle East
2/43	Flyers
2/44	Friends of Carmel News
2/45	Fridays for Peace 1991

 

Box 3

2/46	Green Peace
2/47	Ground Zero Newsletter 1990-1991
2/48	Hartsong, David - Martin Luther King Jr. Day Workshop 1989
2/49	Havens Weekend 1990 [Pyramid Lake Retreat with Teresina and Joseph Havens]
2/50	Healing Global Wounds Newsletter
2/51	Incorporation - Other Non-profit Organizations
2/52	Interfaith Peace and Social Justice
2/53	Jobs with Peace Newsletter 1989
2/54	Joyful Alternatives [for celebrating Christmas]
2/55	Lent
2/56	Lenten Desert Experience, Las Vegas
2/57	Lists (mailing)
2/58	Martin Luther King Day Activities 1988, 1991
2/59	Media 1990
2/60	Number not assigned
2/61-71	Middle East
2/71b	Military counseling/draft & military information
2/72	Military Families Support Network
2/73	Militarization of Nevada
2/74	Movement for a New Society
2/75	Moyer, William, A Nonviolent Action Manual
2/76	National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
2/77	National Conference of Christians and Jews
2/78	Native American misc.
2/79	Nesmith, David, “Bread into Stones”
2/80	Nevada Caravan to Native American Homelands 1987 (Caravan 1)
2/81	Nevada Caravan 2 1988
2/82	Nevada Conservation Forum 1985-1986
2/83-88a	Nevada Desert Experience 1987-1993
2/88b	Nevada Hispanic Services
2/89	Nevada Peace Movement
2/90	Nevada Test Site
2/91	Nevada Women’s Lobby News
2/92	Nevadans Against the War 1990-1991

 

Box 4

2/93	New Call to Peacemaking Conference 1978
2/94	New Yorker articles by Ann Scott (on Middle East Peace, Guatemala)
2/95	Newsclips 1987-1988
2/96	Nicaragua - 2% Solution
2/97	Northern Nevada Black Cultural Awareness Society 1990, 1992
2/98	Northern Nevada Ecumenical Council
2/99	Nuclear/Congress
2/100	Nuclear Testing 1990-1991
2/101	Nuremberg Action 1989-1990
2/102	The Objector Journal of Draft and Military Information
2/103-104	Operation Real Security
2/105	Out Now Newsletter
2/106	Pace e Bene
2/107	Pastors for Peace Caravan 1988
2/108-110	Pax Christi 1987-1991
2/111	Peace/SIAP working notes, memos
2/112	Peace Action Newsletter 1989
2/113	Peace Camp 1991
2/114	Peace concerns, local
2/115	Peace - current key documents 1991
2/116	Peace - demonstration 1990
2/117	Peace Development Fund
2/118-119	Peace groups, misc. 1988-1991
2/120	Peace groups’ misc. publications
2/121	Peace Letter Newsletter (by William T. Scott) 1969
2/122	Peace Links Newsletter of Women Against Nuclear War 1988
2/123	Peace Pilgrim Newsletter 1988
2/124	Misc. peace publications pre-1987
2/125	Peace - related publications (West Coast)
2/126	Peace with Justice Week 1987
2/127	Peace Potluck in the Park 1987
2/128	Number not assigned
2/129	Peace Tree 1988
2/130	Peace Works Newsletter
2/131	The Pecos Benedictine Newsletter 1988, 1990
2/132	The Pilot Newsletter - St. Stephens Episcopal Church, Reno
2/133	Plumas People for Peace
2/134	Possible programs
2/135	Pres. Reagan’s 1988 federal budget (proposed)
2/136	Prison concerns 1989
2/137a	To Proclaim Peace: Religious Communities Speak Out on the Arms Race by John Donaghy
2/137b	Promoting enduring peace
2/138	Public relations
2/139	Publications, misc. 1989

 

Box 5

2/140	Rainbow Coalition [Nevada} 1989
2/141	Redding Peace Center Newsletter, New Morning 1986
2/142	Redlands Peace Group Newsletter, Peace Action 1987­1988
2/143	Religious communities letters
2/144	Religious peace and justice groups in SIAP area
2/145	Resource Center for Nonviolence
2/146	Resources on Nonviolence from Doug Rand - Resource Center For Nonviolence, Santa Cruz, CA
2/147	Richard, Alain. Presentation 1989, 1991
2/148	Russian visitors
2/149	Sacramento Religious Community for Peace
2/150	Sacramento Religious Community for Peace Newsletter Peace Works 1982-1990
2/151	Scott, William T. Peace Concerns, ca 1956 (Smith College Era)
2/152	Scott, William T., Peace Concerns 1980-1984
2/153	Scott, William T., “Right Way to Defend Liberty” Jan. 25, 1982
2/154	Seeds of Peace Newsletter 1991
2/155	Seismology project
2/156	Shoshone
2/157a	Sojourners letter 1987, 1990
2/157b	Test Banner Newsletter Dec. 1987
2/158	Test site trips (nuclear) 1988
2/159	University of Nevada, Reno
2/160	Vigils/planning 1987
2/161	Vigils 1988-1989
2/162	Vigil 1990 (nuclear protest)
2/163	Vigils (anti-nuclear testing, anti-Gulf War) Jan. 14­15, 1991
2/164	“Vigiling in Nevada: Witnessing Against Murder by Decree” by Ann Scott
2/165	Volunteers
2/166	Walk Across America for Mother Earth
2/167	Walton, Richard Guy. Exhibit catalog, “Ground Zero” 1993
2/168	Western solidarity
2/169	Witness for Peace
2/170	Women Strike for Peace Newsletter 1986
2/171	Worship for Peace 1990
2/172	Woods, Nancy - correspondence
2/173	World Federalists
2/174	Yucca Mountain 1990

 

Video tapes transferred to the photographic archives of the Special Collections Department:

1. “Bound by the Wind - We’re all Downwinders.” Produced and directed by David L. Brown.
2. “A Step Away from War with Paul Newman.” Presented by the Center for Defense Information. ca 1986.
3. Mr. Mubarak Awad’s speech at the Reed High School Little Theater. Dec. 13, 1990.
4. No title. Video from the Southern Poverty Law Center, Montgomery, AL.
5. “Operation Desert Calm: March on the White House.” Jan. 27, 1991 by Operation Real Security.
6. “Contra-gate” by the Cristie Institute.

Manuscripts | Special Collections

Please direct questions to Jacquelyn Sundstrand
Updated August 17, 2008