This collection is comprised of two main series. The first relates to the business of Tyler Sister Cities Corporation (TSC) of Tyler, Texas from 1983 to 1992. The bulk of these documents date between 1984 and 1989. The second series relates to the work of Dr. George F. Hamm, President of the University of Texas at Tyler from 1981 to 1998, during his appointment to the International Executive Committee of Sister Cities International (SCI). Materials in this series date from 1985-1988 with the bulk dated between 1987 and 1988.     Materials represented in this collection include meeting minutes, financial reports, correspondence, brochures, travel itineraries, budget proposals, membership applications, travel study applications, fundraising forms, newspaper clippings, inventories of supplies, by-laws, posters, bookmarks, bumper stickers, newsletters, and mailing lists. Primary topics of interest include the Sister Cities partnership between Tyler, Texas and Metz, France; the establishment of the Eisenhower International Golf Classic in Tyler, Texas; the Sister Cities Young Artist Competition inaugurated by the Tyler Sister Cities branch at the University of Texas at Tyler; the formation and early organization of Tyler Sister Cities; selection criteria for Sister Cities International; prospective candidates for US Sister Cities partnerships abroad; and Youth Exchange programs.     The process leading to the creation of these records is unclear. With respect to the dates represented, the consistency of organization, and annotations present throughout the collection, it seems most likely that the records were compiled by Margaret Loftis during her term as President of Tyler Sister Cities (TSC). Mrs. Loftis served as President from September 1, 1987 through June 1989. Mrs. Loftis may have incorporated select legacy documents  from prior administrations into her organizational system in order to facilitate her executive duties. Consequently, these records may not be a complete representation of the work of Tyler Sister Cities from 1983-1992. It is unclear who contributed new materials to the collection after the election of the fifth board of directors. Materials dated beyond summer 1989 represent a minute portion of the collection.     Records in series two appear to have been compiled during Dr. Hamm's tenure as TSC liaison to the SCI International Executive Committee. These records reflect the same organizational structure imposed by Mrs. Loftis on the general TSC holdings. Dr. Hamm served on the International Executive Committee and SCI board beyond 1987-1988, so the materials collected in these records comprise only a small portion of his work with Sister Cities International. From September 1987 through June 1989, Dr. Hamm serve on the Tyler Sister Cities Board of Directors as Chairman of the International Executive Board. Accordingly, these materials may represent contributions from Dr. Hamm to the Tyler Sister Cities records compiled by Mrs. Loftis.