The Institute was based at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA. A statement of purpose (MS. Eng. c. 5677/11) described it as, 'a center for multidisciplinary research and teaching on the critically important questions of peace, justice and violence in contemporary society'. Much of the material relates to the search for a Peace Fellow from the United Kingdom to join an international group on an M.A. course in Peace Studies.

Hodgkin became a member of the International Advisory Board for the Institute in 1986, visiting Notre Dame in October of that year to attend the inaugural meeting of the Advisory Board.