Guide to the Richard M. Hughes Papers Relating to the Vietnam War, 1972-1977 AIS.1982.22
- Repository
- ULS Archives & Special Collections
- Title
- Richard M. Hughes Papers Relating to the Vietnam War
- Creator
- Hughes, Richard M. (Richard Michael)
- Collection Number
- AIS.1982.22
- Extent
- 1.25 Linear Feet (1 box)
- Date
- 1972-1977
- Abstract
- This collection contains the records of Richard M. Hughes, regarding the Shoeshine Boys Foundation, for the years 1972-1977. Hughes, a journalist during the Vietnam War, established a hostel for homeless Vietnamese boys, which became the Shoeshine Boys Foundation. The collection consists of correspondence, reports, newsletters, articles, and pamphlets.
- Language
- English .
- Publisher
- ULS Archives & Special Collections
- Address
- University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Biography
Richard Michael Hughes was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., on February 24, 1943. He attended Duquesne University for a year before transferring to Carnegie Mellon University where he earned a BFA. He then obtained his MFA from Boston University. Hughes worked as a professional actor with the Theater Company of Boston and taught acting at Boston University's School of Fine and Applied Arts.
In April of 1968, Hughes traveled to Vietnam on a journalist's visa. He arrived in Saigon, South Vietnam, in order "to find some way, any way, to help relieve the suffering of the Vietnamese civilian population."
Shortly after his arrival, Hughes opened one small hostel for eleven homeless Vietnamese boys, who made their living shining shoes for American GIs. His program grew, under the guidance of Vietnamese students and community members, quickly expanding to eight homes, which housed three hundred boys. The project became known as the Shoeshine Boys Project. The organization continued to grow and extended relief to homeless girls as well. The organization changed its name to the Program For Assistance To Homeless Children.
In August 1970, the New York Times ran an article about Richard Hughes' work in Vietnam, which sparked interest abroad and resulted in the formation of the Shoeshine Boys Foundation. The Foundation was located in a small donated office in New York City. Between 1968 and 1975, about 1,500 to 2,000 children passed through the project's homes. Richard Hughes departed Vietnam August 7, 1976, fifteen months after the war ended.
Scope and Content Notes
The collection contains biographical information about Richard Hughes along with correspondence, information on other groups, and transcripts from television, press releases, reports from the United Nations and other organizations and newsletters.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
Acquisition Information
This collection was a gift of Richard's brother, Joseph Hughes, September 22, 1982.
Previous Citation
Richard M. Hughes Papers Relating to the Vietnam War, 1972-1977, AIS.1982.22, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh.
Preferred Citation
Richard M. Hughes Papers Relating to the Vietnam War, 1972-1977, AIS.1982.22, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Jaime Hamel on October 11, 2004.
Revision for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Andy Newman in November 2004. Information about the collection title and the controlled access terms was extracted from the MARC record in the University of Pittsburgh catalog Voyager ID number: 4424080
Copyright
Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Subjects
- Program For Assistance To Homeless Children
- Shoeshine Boys Foundation
- Hughes, Richard M. (Richard Michael)
- Charitable uses, trusts, and foundations -- Vietnam
- Associations
- Social action
- Personal papers
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975