Arthur J. Collingsworth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur J. Collingsworth
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| Born | February 28, 1944 Jackson, Michigan, United States
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| Died | July 23, 2013 (aged 69) |
| Resting place | San Diego, California, United States |
| Awards | Order of the White Rose from the Government of Finland, Order of the Lion from the Government of Finland |
Arthur J. Collingsworth (born February 28, 1944 – died July 23, 2013) was an American who worked for the United Nations. He was also a leader in student exchange programs. He helped raise money for international projects and invested in real estate. Arthur lived in many countries, including the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, and Germany.
Arthur's Early Life and Education
Growing Up in Michigan
Arthur Collingsworth was born on February 28, 1944, in Jackson, Michigan. He grew up in Tecumseh, Michigan. He went to public schools there and was a student leader.
A Young Diplomat
When he was just fourteen, Arthur wrote a letter to the President of Brazil. This led to him becoming a representative for Brazil in Michigan and Ohio. News outlets called him the "world's youngest diplomat." The United States Information Agency even made a film about him. It was called A Midwestern Boy Writes to the President of Brazil. In 1960, the Brazilian President invited Arthur to visit Brazil for a month.
College Years and Research
In 1962, Arthur started at the University of Michigan. He received a scholarship and earned a degree in Political Science in 1967. He was involved in many groups. He also worked for his local congressman for a year. He spent a summer doing research in Washington, D.C. for the House Republican Conference. He also wrote a newspaper column called "Our Man in Washington."
International Experiences
In 1965, Arthur spent several months in South Vietnam. He went as a student leader observer. In 1966, he traveled around the world again. He led a group of college Republican leaders. They met with important political figures. When they returned, they wrote a report for members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. In 1967, Arthur started the Niels Hansen Memorial Foundation. He served as its Chairman for many years.
Graduate School and White House Work
In 1967, Arthur went to Georgetown University Graduate School. He received a special fellowship. He also worked at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). In 1971, he earned his master's degree in international relations. While at CSIS, he helped write a book. It was about trading with communist countries. He also worked on Richard Nixon's presidential campaign. After that, he joined the White House Transition staff.
Career Highlights
Leading Student Exchange Programs
In 1969, Arthur became a director at the YFU Teenage Student Exchange Program. YFU was one of the biggest student exchange groups in the world. In 1975, he became Vice President. He stayed in this role until 1982. During his time, he raised over $20 million for YFU. He was especially good at raising money in Japan. He got over $10 million from government and private sources there.
Creating Exchange Programs
Arthur came up with the idea for the Japan–U.S. Senate Student Exchange Program. This program allowed students from Japan and the U.S. to study in each other's countries. After its success, similar programs started. These included the Bundestag–Congress Student Exchange Program with Germany. There was also the Finland–U.S. Senate Student Exchange Program. After leaving his Vice President role, Arthur continued to help YFU as a consultant for twelve more years.
Working with the United Nations
In 1982, Arthur joined the United Nations University (UNU) in Tokyo. He was a Senior Resource Development Officer. The UNU is a UN agency that focuses on research and training. Arthur helped raise $30 million from the Government of Finland. This money helped create the UNU's first research center. It was called the World Institute for Development Economics Research (WIDER) in Helsinki, Finland. In 1985, he became the Director of the United Nations University Office in Europe. He held this position in London until 1988.
Awards and Recognition
In 1984, the President of Finland gave Arthur a special award. It was the Order of the White Rose, Knight 1st Class. He was the youngest non-Finn to receive this honor. He also received the Order of the Lion, Commander class, in 2004. This made him one of the few foreigners to get Finland's two highest awards.
Consulting and Board Roles
In 1989, Arthur started his own business. He specialized in raising money for international projects. He worked with many important organizations. These included The Royal Institute of International Affairs in London and Oxford University. He also helped the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. He assisted them in starting a $65 million grant. This grant created the International Youth Foundation.
Living and Traveling
During the 1990s, Arthur and his close friend and companion, Brian R. Simmons, lived in San Francisco and Scotland. They bought and managed apartment buildings in San Francisco. Arthur also served on several boards. He was on the World Affairs Council of Northern California for 10 years. He also served on the San Francisco Committee on Foreign Relations. He was also the national treasurer for Log Cabin Republicans for three years.
Millennium Technology Prize
In 1999, Arthur came up with the idea for the Millennium Technology Prize. This prize is Finland's special gift to the world. It is given every two years. The prize is worth 800,000 to one million Euros. It goes to someone who has made a great contribution to technology. This technology must improve quality of life and help with sustainable development. It is the largest award in the field of technology. The President of Finland presents the award.
Later Years and Interests
In 2002, the U.S. President appointed Arthur to a board. It was the National Security Education Board. Between 1997 and 2009, Arthur gave lectures on European history. He did this on over 25 cruises. These cruises were for groups like the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. During this time, he lived in San Francisco, Prague, San Diego, and Berlin.
Interest in Imperial Russia
Arthur had a lifelong interest in Imperial Russia. His Godfather was Tihon Kulikovsky. Tihon was the eldest son of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna. Olga was the niece of Czar Nicholas II. Arthur visited Olga many times when she lived in Canada in the 1950s. Olga was a talented painter. Arthur collected many of her artworks. His collection has been shown in several exhibitions. One special exhibition was at the Russian Ambassador's residence in Washington, D.C. In 2006, Arthur went with members of the Romanov family to Russia. They attended the reburial of Olga's mother, Empress Maria Feodorovna. Arthur also gave many lectures about the Romanov Family and Imperial Russia.
Encouraging Young People
Arthur had a strong interest in helping young people study abroad. Over the years, Arthur and Brian Simmons gave scholarships to students worldwide. They kept in touch with many of these students. They watched them start impressive careers in their home countries.
Arthur and Brian traveled a lot together. They lived in many places in the U.S. and abroad. These included Tokyo, London, Scotland, Prague, and Berlin.
Arthur J. Collingsworth passed away in Berlin, Germany, on July 23, 2013. He died from complications of bone marrow cancer.
