Ülemaailmne Eesti Ühing (World Association of Estonians) records

The World Association of Estonians was founded in 1940 in New York. It was established as an organization for those Estonians who honored their country of birth, their Estonian ancestry and national characteristics, and who recognized the independent existence of their country of origin as the highest national idea, regardless of political convictions or religious differences. The aims of the Association were: preservation and development of Estonian national spirit, furtherance of Estonian intellectual life, improvement of the economic conditions of Estonians, and organizations of mutual assistance. The Association's most important duty was to establish contact with persons of Estonian origin and their organizations around the world; to congregate them around the Association as well as put them in direct contact with each other; to establish and maintain an information service about Estonians abroad, and to give advice to immigrants; to inform the government of the United States, politicians and the public about the situation of Estonia.