Lisle History
Lisle was established as The Lisle Fellowship, in 1936. The name was taken from the rural upstate New York town of Lisle which hosted the first intercultural education program for American and international students. The founders, Dr. DeWitt and Edna Baldwin, were former Methodist missionaries in Burma who wanted to develop an educational experience - multicultural, interracial and interfaith - to foster increased interaction between U.S. and international students studying on college campuses. This was a radical idea in the 1930's. Lisle's pioneering model of group interaction, community living, reflection and community service for students was unique.
From 1936 until 1952, Lisle sponsored summer programs for students only, and solely within the United States. The first international group was conducted in Denmark in 1952 and since that time, programs have been held in 21 nations. During the 1980's and 1990's Lisle has been offering programs which include inter-generational participants.
Lisle, through the efforts of its founders, was a catalyst for numerous educational organizations and projects including the Scandinavian Seminar (founded by a Lisle alum); the U.S. Institute of Peace; CIEE, The Council for International Educational Exchange; and NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
Though Lisle's purposes have expanded and evolved, today Lisle continues to open minds to other cultures and other individuals, creating the possibility for world peace and understanding. The History of Lisle, a.k.a. the Lisle Fellowship, is contained in the book Tiger By the Tail, by Dr. Dewitt Baldwin, founder. Excerpts are contained in the summer issue of the organization newsletter, Interaction, page 5.
