The Diary of Adolf A. Berle, 1937-1971
Adolf A. Berle’s association with Franklin D. Roosevelt began in 1932, when he became a member of the Brain Trust, a group headed by Raymond Moley which advised Roosevelt during his campaign for the presidency. Although Berle declined a formal position in the Roosevelt administration, he continued to assist the president in many ways. The Berle papers are most significant as a primary source in diplomatic history. The evolution in United States foreign affairs may be tracked through his files on the American Commission to Negotiate Peace (1919), the State Department (1938-1944) and President Kennedy’s Latin American Task Force (1960-1961). Fully one-quarter of the entire collection of eight reels is devoted to diplomatic matters betweeen 1938 and 1946-years when Berle was assistant secretary of State and ambassador to Brazil. Of particular concern are those papers relating to the Pan American Conferences, the St. Lawrence Seaway, post-war problems, and the International Civil Aviation Conference.
FINDING AID: The Diary of Adolf A. Berle, 1931-1971
The Papers of James A. Farley
The Papers of James A. Farley (1888-1976), one of the most succesful election managers in American history, include general correspondence, a presidential file, private file, subject files, speeches and writings, and a large series of scrapbooks and other miscellaneous printed matter. The focus is on Farley’s political career and the richest portion of the papers are those segments which reflect his role as Franklin D. Roosevelt’s campaign manager and as a postmater general of the United States. It was Farley who guided Roosevelt to becoming governor of the state New York in 1928 and 1930 and two years later to the White House. Until his death in 1976 Farley remained active in national politics, corresponding with every president and First Lady from Herbert Hoover to Gerald Ford. This collection exists of 54 microfilm roles and the emphasis lies on the period between 1933 to 1945.
FINDING AID: The Papers of James A. Farley
Felix Frankfurter Papers (Correspondence with FDR)
In 1939 Felix Frankfurter was appointed associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States by President Franklin Roosevelt. This collection of three reels contains correspondence (both letters received and carbons of those sent) of Frankfurter to Roosevelt.
FINDING AID: Felix Frankfurter Papers
Personal Letters in the Papers of Harry L. Hopkins, 1930-1946
Harry L. Hopkins (1890-1946) began his career as a supervisor for the Association for Improving Conditions of Poor in New York City. He was affiliated with various health and welfare agencies in New York and New Orleans, the most notable being the New York Tuberculosis and Health Associationwhich he served as a director. Hopkins was appointed federal administrator of Emergency Relief in 1933, and Works in Progress Administrator in 1935. During World War II he served as special assistant to the president. After the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, he left government service to work with the Womens’s Cloak and Suit Indistry in New York. This microfilm collection consists of 22 rolls, divided in nine series: personal and family papers; speeches and writings; trips; personal correspondence; secretary of commerce; political correspondence; general correspondence; special assistant to the president; and personal materials in the Sherwood collection.
FINDING AID: Personal Letters in the Papers of Harry L. Hopkins, 1930-1946
Cordell Hull Papers
In his distinguished career in Congress, Cordell Hull was a member of the powerful House Ways andMeand Committee for eighteen years, the leader of the movement for low tariffs, the author of the first Federal Income Tax Bill (1913), the Revised Act (1916), and the Federal and State Inheritance Tax Law (1916), as well as the drafter of a resolution providing for the convening of a world trade agreement congress at the end of World War I. He became a recognized expert in commercial and fiscal policies. Hull was elected U.S. senator for the 1931-1937 term but resigned upon his appointed as secretary of State by President Franklin Roosevelt on 4 March 1933. In 1944 when he resigned because of illhealth, he had occupied this important post for almost 12 years, the longest tenure in American history. This extensive collection consists of correspondence ecovering the period between 1908 and 1951, counting 118 reels.
FINDING AID: Cordell Hull Papers
Henry Morgenthau Jr. Papers (Press Conferences and Presidential Diaries)
Henry Morgenthau Jr. was appointed by President Franklin Roosevelt as secretary of the treasury. He served from 1 January 1934 to 22 July 1945. Morgenthau is credited with exercising a stabilizing effect on administration monetary policies. He raised $450 billion for government programs and for war purposes through taxation and loans. This war more than all of the previous 51 secretaries together. This collection of 27 microfilm reels contain his press conferences, while two other reels, covering the years 1938 to 1945, include memos concerning lunches (mostly with FDR), cabinet meetings, and telephone conversations.
FINDING AID: The Presidential Diaries of Henry Morgenthau Jr.
FINDING AID: Henry Morgenthau Jr.: Press Conferences
Frances Perkins (Part of Columbia University Oral History Collection)
This collection consists of nine books of interviews with Roosevelt administrator Frances Perkins. The topics of discussion include her social work in Chicago, Philadelphia and New York, her work for the U.S. Department of Labor and the Civil Service Commission. The 61 microfiches cover the years 1882 to 1953.
William Phillips Collection, 1942-1945
William Philips was Franklin D. Roosevelt’s special envoy to India in this period. This reel of microfilm contains his diary.
Henry L. Stimson Papers and Diaries
The Henry L. Stimson Papers and Diaries record an unusually long career of public service. Stimson fulfilled a term as President Hoover’s secretary of State (1929-1933) and as secretary of War under President Taft (1911-1913), President Roosevelt and President Truman (1940-1945) and served the nation in World War II. This microfilm publication consists of 169 reels of film and covers six series : general correspondence; memoranda, minutes of meetings, notes on conversations and interviews, and miscellaneous papers 1929-1933 and 1940-1945; speeches, writings and other public statements; special subjects; family correspondence; selected documents ofthe State Department, 1929-1933. The diaries, spannin the years 1909-1945, begin when Stimson is 42 yearsold and end on his last day in public office. Although the diaries are full of strongly expressed views on people, issues, and events, many statements are veiled or guareded, and relevations of the private man are few and inadvertent. As a political document however, and as a political testament, the diaries stand as a significant personal account of the career of an American statesman of the first rank. The diaries exist of 52 volumes filing nine reels, each reel containing approximately 1,200 frames.
FINDING AID: Diaries of Henry L. Stimson
FINDING AID: Papers of Henry L. Stimson
Henry A. Wallace Papers
The micofilm edition of the Henry A. Wallace Papers contains the correspondence, appointment books, schedules, telephone conversations, and miscellaneous papers in chronological order. The 164 reels in this collection from holdings at the FDR Library, the University of Iowa, and the Library of Congress, cover the years 1888-1965, the greatest part of the correspondence is devoted to the years 1932-1945.
FINDING AID: Henry A. Wallace Papers