1980s
- December 29, 1981
- Peace Corps becomes an independent federal agency and is no longer a part of ACTION.
- January 1983
- The longest–serving Peace Corps Director, Loret Miller Ruppe, and USAID Director M. Peter McPherson sign a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Small Project Assistance (SPA) program. Since then, the SPA program has supported small, community–initiated grants and has facilitated technical assistance and training activities. Today, SPA funds activities in over 40 Peace Corps posts.
- September 1985
- Months before the agency's 25th anniversary, there are more women entering service than men, a first in the agency's history.
- 1988
- Barbara Jo White, a Volunteer in the Dominican Republic (1987–1989), creates the first World Map Project at a local school. Volunteers today continue to use the project as an educational tool worldwide.
Last updated Jul 16 2012
Fast Facts on Paper
Download a Peace Corps Fact Sheet for easy printing.
English (PDF)
Spanish (PDF)
These files are in PDF format and require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Historical Photos
View historical Peace Corps photos on flickr.
Historical Country Photos
Presidential Visits
Rose Garden Ceremony
- August 28, 1961
Sargent Shriver
Peace Corps
Digital Library
Check out our searchable collection of select electronic Peace Corps historical materials from the Peace Corps archives and contributions from current and returned Peace Corps Volunteers and Staff.
Visit the Digital Library
