The International Relations Project, with Cyrus P. Barnum as its director, was established at the University in 1931, through a gift of $5,000 from the Rotary Club of Minneapolis. The goal of the project was to "furnish students in general with some understanding of the problems of other countries, and in addition, to furnish the students of foreign countries registered at the University with a better knowledge of American life and conditions." On April 6, 1934, the University of Minnesota was awarded the FIDAC medal by the American Legion in recognition of distinguished work in the furtherance of international relations and the understanding of international problems by the student body. The Fédération Interalliée des Anciens Combattants (FIDAC) was a veterans' organization of ten nations, including the American Legion of the United States. The International Relations Project was instrumental in the University of Minnesota winning the FIDAC award in 1934.
From the guide to the International Relations Project papers, 1931-1935, (University of Minnesota Libraries. University Archives [uarc])
