Series - Membership files

China - IBRD - Depository  General - 1946 - 1965 Correspondence China - Depository General - 1969 / 1971 Correspondence - Volume 1 China - IBRD - Depository General - 1966 - 1968 Correspondence IDA - Capital - Resources and Replenishment - 1969 / 1971 Correspondence - Volume 1 IDA - Capital - Resources and Replenishment - 1969 / 1971 Correspondence - Volume 2 IDA - Capital - Resources and Replenishment - 1969 / 1971 Correspondence - Volume 3 IDA - Capital - Resources and Replenishment - 1969 / 1971 Correspondence - Volume 4 Ghana - IBRD - Depository General - 1957 - 1965 Correspondence Tunisia - IBRD - Capital - 1958 / 1965 - Correspondence Tunisia - IBRD - Depository General - 1958 / 1965 - Correspondence Japan - Depository General - 1969 / 1971 Correspondence - Volume 1 Tunisia - IBRD - Membership - 1969 / 1971 - Correspondence - Volume 1 Tunisia - Capital - 1969 / 1971 - Correspondence - Volume 1 Tunisia - IDA - Membership - 1969 / 1971 - Correspondence - Volume 1 Tunisia - IBRD Membership - Membership Obligations - Depository General - Correspondence - Volume 1 International Development Association [IDA] - Tunisia - Membership Obligations - 1972 through 197... Tunisia - IBRD - Membership - Correspondence Tunisia - Depository General - 1969 / 1971 - Correspondence - Volume 1 Tunisia - IBRD - Capital Releases - 1958 / 1964 - Correspondence Korea - IBRD - Depository General - 1966 - 1968 Correspondence Tunisia - IBRD - Capital - 1966 / 1968 - Correspondence Korea - Depository General - 1969 / 1971 Correspondence - Volume 1 Argentina - IBRD - Depository General - 1956 - 1965 Correspondence Japan - IBRD - Depository General - 1952 - 1965 Correspondence Poland - IBRD - Depository General - Correspondence International Bank for Reconstruction and Development [IBRD] - Romania - Membership Obligations -... International Bank for Reconstruction and Development [IBRD] - Tunisia - Membership Obligations -... Japan - IBRD - Depository General - 1966 - 1968 Correspondence Tunisia - IBRD - Depository General - 1966 / 1968 - Correspondence Nigeria - IBRD - Membership - Correspondence International Development Association [IDA] - Tunisia - Membership

Identity area

Reference code

WB IBRD/IDA ADMCF-05

Title

Membership files

Date(s)

  • 1946 - 1977 (Creation)

Level of description

Series

Extent and medium

93.87 linear feet of textual records

Context area

Name of creator

Archival history

Records maintained in the World Bank Group's centralized files system were arranged into the Bank-wide classification scheme that grouped together International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and International Development Association (IDA) membership, bonds, and finance records. The custody of membership records is not fully known, based on the clarity of available sources and the overlap of certain records between Central Files and Secretary's Department. However, the custody likely changed in two different periods as described below.

The Secretary's Department coordinates the process of new membership for countries joining the Bank Group, advises on procedures, and prepares the necessary membership documentation. The secretariat was one of four "specialized" departments authorized to keep their own official files apart from the Central Files. According to the 1947 Administrative Manual, the Secretary's Department will maintain records and proceedings of the Board of Governors and Executive Directors and "original, formal documents, such as those relating to membership, instruments of acceptance, and subscription increases". The custody of certain records appears to have changed in the early 1950s. A 1953 Administrative Circular states that except for the Board of Governors, Board of Executive Directors, the Advisory Council and committees of these bodes for which the secretary was responsible, "all other Bank documents previously sent to the Secretary, including loan and guarantee agreements and supplementary papers, should be sent for filing and custody to the General Files, Archives Division." Moreover, the Secretaries' Guide (1963 and 1972 versions) confirms that files concerning IBRD, IDA, and IFC membership were maintained in the renamed Central Files operated by the Records Management Section. By 1976, responsibility for membership records had returned to the Secretary's Department. According to the March 1976 Administrative Manual, the Secretary was responsible for the custody and handling of "current documents associated with membership, voting power, and changes in subscriptions".

Even during the periods when the Secretary's Department was responsible for maintaining membership records, the department's procedure as outlined in the Secretaries' Guide was to distribute yellow copies of outgoing correspondence and the original incoming letters to the Central Files once action was taken.

Membership files and the bonds and finance files initially maintained together in the Central Files became divided over time. As Central Files grew increasingly large in volume, the pre-1966 files were sent by the Records Management Section to the Bank's off-site records center in 1969. In the early 1970s when semi-centralized records stations were created, the IFC membership and finance files were relocated to the new IFC central files location in June 1971. In the following year, Regional Records Stations (RRS) were established for each of the various regions and IBRD and IDA individual country membership files were relocated with the regional files to the respective RRS from 1972 to 1974. The IBRD and IDA general membership (non-regional), bonds, and finance files were maintained in the Bank Administration and Policy Records Station (BAP, previously known as Central Files) during this same period. All the files, both from the RRS and the BAP, were relocated and reunited in the Bank Administration and Policy General Records Station (BAPRS) when it was created in 1975. The BAPRS operated until 1977 and the files were then held at the records center until their transfer to the Archives repository established in 1980.

The circumstances described here provide some reasoning for why membership-related records are found in both the Secretary's Department (as the unit primarily responsible for membership functions), and the Central files, which are described in this series.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Series contains records maintained in Central Files and semi-centralized filing stations from 1946 until 1977 that relate to membership of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and International Development Association (IDA). The records originated in the departments and offices whose files were centralized over a period of time including, but are not limited to: Offices of the President and Vice President; Treasurer's Department and its Cashier's Division; Office of the Controller; Legal Department; and others. Records also originated from the Secretary's Department responsible for coordinating the membership process. The department distributed certain correspondence and related documents to the Central Files while likely maintaining its own official files.

Records include internal memoranda, letters, cables, drafts and final Board resolutions, Secretary's memoranda, financial statements, handwritten notes, press releases, press clippings, external reports, national legislation documents, and other records. Informal meeting notes and summaries of discussion during visits to countries are in the form of internal memoranda. There are also summaries of annual meeting discussions between regional staff with delegations prepared as internal memoranda. Letters are primarily between the Bank president, vice president, Secretary's or Treasurer's Departments and government officials such as ministers, central bank authorities, and ambassadors.

Individual country membership files were separately maintained for IBRD, IFC, and IDA. The files document early discussions of membership, changes in membership status, and occasionally refers to the political situation of the country interested in membership.

Within the IBRD membership records (1946 - 1977), country files are subdivided into membership, capital, depository, governors and alternates, and withdrawals of membership for certain countries. Correspondence specifically relates to: notifications of interest or intention for membership; acknowledgement of applications and updates on membership process; opening and closing of accounts; payments of contributions by central banks; revaluations and devaluations of contributions; problems of interest due and unpaid subscriptions; bearing demands; audit and policy questions; monthly statements of transactions; procedures for maintenance of accounts in the name of IBRD; and adjustments of loans.

IFC country membership files (1954 - 1971) contain correspondence regarding background material for Bank/IFC/International Monetary Fund membership, discussions on projects financed by IFC, payments required from each country on its pending capital subscription to IFC, statements showing the balance of accounts, IFC loans, and a file concerning United States budget contribution to IFC. There is a smaller volume of files related to general IFC membership matters, IFC capital, and replenishment resources. General membership correspondence covers issues such as pending increases in member's capital subscriptions, holdings of non-convertible currencies in member countries as of June 1971 and matters relating to China's membership. Other files concern IFC capital stock and capital increase, subscriptions of member countries, replenishment of IFC capital, correspondence from IBRD to IFC concerning the use of Bank funds loaned to IFC, financial statements, schedules of projected subscriptions adjustments of IFC capital subscription. IFC replenishment resourcesfiles include correspondence documenting IFC needs for additional loan, increase of IFC equity resources, or capital stock, and new projection capital invested in equities.

IDA membership correspondence (1960 - 1977) concerns requests for the maintenance of accounts, additional subscriptions under IDA replenishment resources and payment process, requests for opening accounts in IDA books, balance of accounts, and maintenance of value due on initial subscription.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Original order of the records has been maintained. Separate membership files are maintained for each country, for each WBG organization, and are arranged in alphabetical order.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Records are subject to the World Bank Access to Information Policy. Records relating to the International Finance Corporation are subject to the IFC Access to Information Policy.

Conditions governing reproduction

Records are subject to the Copyright Policy of the World Bank Group. Records relating to the International Finance Corporation are subject to the Copyright Policy of IFC.

Language of material

  • English
  • French
  • Spanish
  • German

Script of material

Language and script notes

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

An inventory list is available here.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

  • The Secretary's Department maintains formal membership and capital subscription records. Archival arrangement and description of this fonds has not yet been completed. For information about the contents of the fonds, contact the World Bank Group Archives.

  • See Records of the Office of the President (WB IBRD/IDA EXC) for more records regarding relations with member countries, membership issues, and capital increases.

  • See Records of the Office of External Relations - Photograph library (WB IBRD/IDA EXT-02) for photographs of membership signings.

  • See Personal Papers of Lester Nurick (WB IBRD/IDA NURICK-5864S) for records relating to membership issues.

  • For access to all International Finance Corporation (IFC) records including IFC membership records, visit the IFC's Access to Information site.

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Internal World Bank Group Archives rules

Disclosure status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

11 May 2021

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

Accession area