“Peace Through Understanding” (1964 New York World’s Fair)
The theme of the 1964-64 New York World’s Fair was “Peace Through Understanding.” The fair attempted to display the culture of each nation.
The term “peace through understanding” has been cited in print since at least 1907. The 1964 World’s Fair theme had been chosen by 1959.
Wikipedia: 1964 New York World’s Fair
The 1964/1965 New York World’s Fair was the third major world’s fair to be held in New York City. Hailing itself as a “universal and international” exposition, the fair’s theme was “Peace Through Understanding”, dedicated to “Man’s Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe”; American companies dominated the exposition as exhibitors. The theme was symbolized by a 12-story high, stainless-steel model of the earth called the Unisphere. The fair ran for two six-month seasons, April 22 – October 18, 1964 and April 21 – October 17, 1965. Admission price for adults (13 and older) was $2 in 1964 (about $15 in 2013 dollars) but $2.50 in 1965, and $1 for children (2–12) both years (about $7 in 2013 dollars).
The fair is best remembered as a showcase of mid-20th-century American culture and technology. The nascent Space Age, with its vista of promise, was well represented.
27 April 1907, Duluth (MN) News-Tribune, pg. 8, col. 2:
PEACE THROUGH UNDERSTANDING.
THERE is much sense in Baron de Constant’s plea that a general knowledge of foreign languages by a people is promotive of peace. The baron is a representative of France now in this country, having come to attend the opening of the Carnegie institute at Pittsburg, and he made this plea in an address to the school children of New York.
11 July 1916, Charlotte (NC) Observer, pg. 1, col. 3:
PRESIDENT FOR
PEACE THROUGH
UNDERSTANDING
Wilson Tells Michigan Audiences He Is Not Champion of Force, if Satisfactory Ends May Otherwise Be Obtained. Defends Democracy.
10 August 1959, Cleveland (OH) Plain Dealer, “World’s Fair Slated in ‘64 by New York,” pg. 33, col. 5:
The theme of the fair will be “peace through understanding,” Deegan said.
(Thomas J. Deegan Jr., a public relations man.—ed.)
27 October 1960, Morning Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA), “World’s Fair Theme Will Be ‘Culture’” (AP), pg. 14-A, cols. 3-4:
“The main purpose is peace through understanding. The immediate objectives are: exhibitions of the best work and products of all nations; a performing arts program; celebration of the 300th anniversary of NewYork; entertainment.”
(Said by Robert Moses.—ed.)
OCLC WorldCat record
News of the day. [Vol. 35, no. 273], Peace through understanding; Global theme dominates opening of great World’s Fair.
Author: Peter Roberts; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Publisher: United States : A Metro-Goldwyn Mayer release, [1964-04-24]
Edition/Format: Film : Film Visual material : English
Database: WorldCat
Summary:
“Opening day at the New York World’s Fair is full of excitement and color that grey skies and constantly pouring rain cannot dampen. The first of the millions of visitors who will cross the broad ramp from the subway to Gotham Plaza find the fountains playing, the bright pennants flying and the exotic pavilions gleaming through the rain. The opening parade brings cowboys and stagecoaches from Montana down the
OCLC WorldCat record
The New York World’s Fair—peace through understanding.
Author: Hearst Metrotone News, Inc.
Publisher: Hearst Metrotone News, 1965.
Series: Screen news digest, v. 7, no. 10.
Edition/Format: Film : Film Visual material : English
OCLC WorldCat record
“The world of tomorrow” or “peace through understanding”?: a comparison of the impact of the 1939-1940 and 1964 New York World’s Fairs on New York City.
Author: Martin B Vinokur
Publisher: 1966.
Edition/Format: Book : Manuscript Archival Material : English
OCLC WorldCat record
The end of the innocence : the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair
Author: Lawrence R Samuel
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : Syracuse University Press, 2007.
Edition/Format: Book : English : 1st ed
Contents: Peace through understanding—