Timeline and History of The Carter Center

Founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter,  the Atlanta-based Carter Center has helped to improve the quality of life for people in more than 70 countries. The Center, in partnership with Emory University, is committed to advancing human rights and alleviating unnecessary human suffering.

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1989 | 1988 | 1987 | 1986 | 1985 | 1984 | 1983 | 1982 | 1981

1989

Dec. 13-19: President Carter leads the second observer mission to Nicaragua.

Dec. 9: President Carter and Dominique de Menil present fourth annual Carter-Menil Human Rights Prize to al-Haq and B'Tselem at The Carter Center.

Nov. 20 - Dec. 2: Preliminary peace negotiations between the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean People's Liberation Front reconvene in Nairobi, Kenya.

Nov. 14: The Nicaraguan Elections: A Turning Point? Symposium.

Nov. 2: Horn of Africa Symposium.

Oct. 25-27: The Church's Challenge in Health Conference.

Sept. 16-18: President Carter and members of the Council of Freely Elected Heads of Government delegation travel to Nicaragua to observe the electoral process prior to February 1990 elections.

Sept. 7-19: Preliminary peace negotiations between the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean People's Liberation Front begin at The Carter Center.

July 28: Project Africa is launched in Zimbabwe.

July 25 - Aug. 2: President and Mrs. Carter travel to Africa to meet with heads of state, check on progress of Global 2000 agriculture and health projects, and attend the International Conference on Guinea Worm.

May 20-21: Soviet Culture and Communication Under Gorbachev Conference.

May 9: Morality and Foreign Policy Symposium.

May: Soviet pediatrician Nikolai P. Shabalov joins the Carter Center at Emory University as a visiting fellow.

May 7: President Carter and other members of the Council of Freely Elected Heads of Government observe elections in Panama; President Carter denounces the elections as fraudulent, based on those observations.

March 29-30: The Latin American Hemispheric Agenda Consultation.

March 14-16: The Council of Freely-Elected Heads of Government delegation travels to Panama to observe and evaluate laws and procedures for presidential, legislative, and municipal elections scheduled for May 7.

Feb. 17-18: Governance in Africa inaugural symposium.  

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1988

Dec. 10: The Carter-Menil Human Rights Prize is awarded to the Sisulu family of South Africa.

December: The International Task Force for Disease Eradication is established at The Carter Center of Emory University.

November: Richard Joseph joins the Carter Center at Emory University as fellow for African Studies. 

Oct. 21: Community Colleges Symposium.

Oct. 18-19: The American Convention on Human Rights and the English-speaking Caribbean.

April 25-26: Consultation on Competitiveness.

April 21-23: Theology, Politics, and Peace Conference.

Feb. 10-12: Women and the Constitution: A Bicentennial Perspective. 

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1987

Dec. 10: Carter-Menil Human Rights Prize is awarded to LaVicaria de la Solidaridad of Chile.

Nov. 16-17: A Middle East Consultation: Ten Years After Sadat's Visit to Jerusalem--A Look to the Future.

Nov. 9: The Carter Center Board of Councilors established.

Sept. 23-26: Meeting of the section on military studies of the International Studies Association: Defense Policy in a Changing World: Toward the 1990's.

Sept. 17: Healthier People Conference releases program on health risk appraisal.

May 28-29: Conflict Resolution Program's International Mediation Work Sessions.

Jan. 28: The Jimmy Carter Library opens to researchers. 

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1986

Nov. 16-18: Consultation: Reinforcing Democracy in the Americas.

November: Creation of the Council of Freely Elected Heads of Government.

Oct. 1: Dedication of The Carter Center.

Aug. 1: Founding of Global 2000.

May 15: Dr. William H. Foege appointed executive director of the Carter Center of Emory University. 

April 28-May 1: Risks Old and New: A Global Consultation on Health.

April 7-8: Latin American Program Symposium: The Debt Crisis: Adjusting to the Past or Planning for the Future?

March 19: Creation of the Carter-Menil Human Rights Foundation. 

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1985

Sept. 7-11: Conflict Resolution Seminar on the Future of Tobacco.

July 24: Groundbreaking for Japanese gardens.

April 9-13: International Security and Arms Control Consultation. 

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1984

Nov. 26-28: Closing the Gap Health Policy Consultation.

Nov. 14: Arms Control Sessions at University of Michigan.

Oct. 2: Groundbreaking for The Carter Center.

Sept. 11: Symposium on World Resources and U.S. Interests: Business' Stake in Natural Resources, Environment, and Sustainable Development.

Aug. 27-28: Closing the Gap Health Policy Consultation preliminary sessions.

May 31: Symposium on Arms Control Negotiation. 

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1983

Nov. 6-9: Middle East Consultation: Five Years After Camp David

Sept. 22: Unveiling of architects' model of The Carter Center. Architects: Jova/Daniels/Busby and Lawton, Umemura & Yamamoto. Landscape firm: EDAW. Museum exhibit: Design and Production Inc. General contractor: Beers Inc. Original concept for Carter Presidential Center design: Christopher Hemmeter.

June 15: Appointment of Board of Advisors: 12 members. 

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1982

July 16-18: Sapelo Island planning session for Library and Center. Plans formulated for design and structure of Center.

April 21: Appointment of Jimmy Carter as University Distinguished Professor at Emory University, to begin Sept. 1, and the intention to establish a policy research center with the university.

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1981

Oct. 29: Incorporation of Carter Library Inc.

Feb. 12: Atlanta Area Consortium for the Presidential Library recommends that the Jimmy Carter Library be located in the Great Park of Atlanta.

Jan. 20: Jimmy Carter transition offices established in Richard Russell Building and Jimmy Carter Presidential Papers Project established in the old post office building across the street.

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