Julie Geisler papers

The papers document Julie Geisler’s work as a leader for Operation Crossroads Africa (OCA). Operations Crossroads Africa (OCA) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization working to build links between North America and Africa. It was founded in 1958 by Presbyterian clergyman James Herman Robinson. OCA annually sends groups of young volunteers from North America to work on projects in Africa. At its peak in the 1960s OCA sent about 350 people per year.

Geisler lead groups of high school students to the Caribbean, specifically Saba in 1986 and Grenada in 1987. The papers consist of a few pieces of correspondence introducing Geisler to her student groups, their projects, and travel plans. Additionally, there are two group diaries, one original hand script in a spiral notebook (Saba 1986) and one photocopied (Grenada 1987). Lastly, there are two typescript reports for the Saba trip in 1986 available within the collection.