Permanent URL: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/m613mx57g
Raymond Blaine Fosdick Papers, 1910-1971: Finding Aid
MC055
Princeton University Shield
65 Olden Street
Princeton, New Jersey 08540 USA
Phone: 609-258-6345
Fax: 609-258-3385
mudd@princeton.edu
http://www.princeton.edu/~mudd
Published in 1997
©2006 Princeton University Library
Summary Information
- Creator:
- Fosdick, Raymond Blaine, 1883-
- Title and dates:
- Raymond Blaine Fosdick Papers, 1910-1971
- Abstract:
- The Papers of Raymond Blaine Fosdick (1883-1972) lawyer and writer, focus on his national and international contribution to public administration. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence relating to the political events occurring during World War I and writings on several humanitarian projects in France (1919-1920), China and Southeast Asia (1949-1950), and the Arctic Circle (1923-1931). The collection consists of copies and originals of newspaper and journal articles, books, correspondence, memorandum, photographs, and reports.
- Size:
- 11.75 linear feet (26 archival boxes, 1 oversize box).
- Call number:
- MC055
- Location:
- Princeton University Library. Department of Rare Books and Special Collections.
Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library.
Public Policy Papers.
Princeton, New Jersey 08540 USA - Language(s) of material:
- English.
- Storage note:
- This collection is stored onsite at the Mudd Manuscript Library.
Biography of Raymond Blaine Fosdick
Raymond Blaine Fosdick was born in Buffalo, New York on June 9, 1883 to the parents of Frank and Amie (Weaver). Fosdick graduated from Princeton University in 1905. He continued his course of study at New York Law School where he obtained his LL.B. in 1908.
Fosdick's professional life was devoted to public service. From 1910 to 1913, Fosdick was appointed Commissioner of Accounts for the city of New York. He investigated city and county government in an effort to rid New York of corrupt politicians and corporations participating in illegal activities.
On January 1, 1913 he was retained by the Bureau of Social Hygiene, funded by John D. Rockefeller, Sr. to make a comprehensive study of all aspects of police administration and work in Europe. He spent 1913 in Europe and later wrote European Police Systems, published in February 1915. From 1915 to 1916, Fosdick was a member of the New York City Board of Education, an organization that concentrated on the development of educational facilities. Concurrently, Fosdick was a member of the General Board of Education and the International Education Board.
Upon the United States″ entry into World War I, Mr. Fosdick was released by the Bureau to take the Chairmanship of the Commission on Training Camp Activities of the Army and Navy Department. The goal of this department was to keep morale high among soldiers stationed at home and abroad. It sponsored activities that promoted health, athletics, and recreation in order to “conserve the vitality of the men”. Various rules and regulations were established by the Department that prohibited prostitution, gambling, and alcohol.
During part of this period he served also as a Special Representative of the War Department in France, and as a Civilian Aide to General Pershing during the Paris Peace Conference. In 1919 and 1920, Fosdick served as Under Secretary General for the League of Nations until it became clear that the United States was not going to ratify the League of Nations covenant. He returned to the Bureau of Social Hygiene and resumed his work on American police systems. In 1933 he served on the Liquor Study Committee and later wrote the book Toward Liquor Control, published in 1933.
From 1920 through 1936, Fosdick was a member of the Curtis, Fosdick, and Belknap law firm. He was elected president of the Rockefeller Foundation and assumed the position on July 1, 1936. Fosdick worked at the Rockefeller Foundation until his retirement in 1948. He died in Newtown, Connecticut on July 19, 1972.
Description
The majority of the collection consists of correspondence relating to the political events occurring during World War I. The collection also contains articles, books, memorandum, reports, and photographs.
Arrangement
Organized into the following series:
- Series 1: Professional Serial Numbered Correspondence, 1919-1951
- Series 2: Non-Serial Numbered Correspondence, 1910-1971
- Series 3: Writings, 1917-1969
- Series 4: Personal Memorabilia, 1917-1951 and undated
Access and Use
Access
Collection is open for research use.
Restrictions on Use and Copyright Information
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Curator of the Public Policy Papers. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.
Acquisition and Appraisal
Provenance and Acquisition
Raymond Fosdick donated his papers to Princeton University in 1966. Prior to the donation of his papers, Fosdick transferred some correspondence to their respective owners. Files relating to the Commissioner of Accounts are in the New York City Municipal Archives, files in reference to the Commission on Training Camp Activities for the War and Navy Department are in the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and correspondence pertaining to the Rockefeller Foundation are at the Rockefeller Archive in North Tarrytown, New York.
Processing and Other Information
Works Cited
Fosdick, Raymond B., Chronicle of a Generation: An Autobiography (New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1958)
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Lawcedrea Walker in September 1992 to March 1993. Finding aid written by Lawcedrea Walker in September 1992 to March 1993.
Descriptive Rules Used
Finding aid content adheres to that prescribed by Describing Archives: A Content Standard.
Encoding
Machine-readable finding aid encoded in EAD 2002 by Techbooks and Cristela García-Spitz on October 13, 2006.
Finding aid written in English.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Raymond Blaine Fosdick Papers, Box and Folder Number; Public Policy Papers, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
Subject Headings
These materials have been indexed in the Princeton University Library online catalog using the following terms. Those seeking related materials should search under these terms.
- Fosdike family.
- Anti-saloon League of America.
- Institute of International Research.
- League of Nations.
- New York (N.Y.). Commissioner of Accounts.
- Rockefeller Foundation.
- United States. War Dept. Commission on Training Camp Activities.
- International relations -- 20th century.
- Military training camps -- Canada -- 20th century.
- Military training camps -- United States -- 20th century.
- Public administration -- 20th century.
- World War, 1914-1918 -- Peace.
- World War, 1914-1918 -- War work -- Europe.
- Antarctica -- Discovery and exploration -- 20th century.
- New York (N.Y.) -- Politics and government -- 1898-1951.
- Articles.
- Correspondence.
- Speeches.
- Baker, Newton D. (Newton Diehl), 1871-1937.
- Byrd, Richard Evelyn, 1888-1957.
- Rockefeller, John D. (John Davison), 1874-1960.
Browse other finding aids related to the following terms:
- American history/20th century
- American politics and government
- European history
- International organizations
- World War I
Contents List
Series 1: Professional Serial Numbered Correspondence, 1912-1951
Series Description
The correspondence is arranged in chronological and numerical order. The correspondence is organized by a serial number placed at the upper right hand corner of each document. The serial number corresponds with an index of note cards which can also access the documents alphabetically by the personal name, organizational name, or subject. The index is located in the reference room. This series documents Fosdick's personal and professional life and various areas of interest to Fosdick. While the collection does not contain much material from the early years of Fosdick's position as the Commissioner of Accounts in New York, there is an extensive amount of information on his chairmanship position as the Commissioner on Training Camp Activities and his participation in the League of Nations. The largest set of correspondence is between Newton Baker, a lifelong friend and Secretary of War in 1916, Ralph Hayes, Newton Baker's secretary, and John D. Rockefeller, Jr., close friend and colleague. While the professional serial numbered correspondence covers the years that span his career at the Rockefeller Foundation, the correspondence with John D. Rockefeller, Jr. are of a personal nature.
Arrangement
(arranged chronologically)
(1-50), 1919
Box 1 (50-100), 1919
Box 1 (101-150), 1919
Box 1 (151-200), 1919
Box 1 (201-250), 1919
Box 1 (251-300), 1919
Box 1 (301-350), 1919
Box 1 (351-400), 1919-1920
Box 1 (401-500), 1920
Box 1 (501-600), 1920
Box 2 (601-800), 1920
Box 2 (801-1000), 1919-1920
Box 2 (1001-1050), 1920
Box 2 (1051-1450), 1920
Box 2 (1451-1800), 1920
Box 2 (1801-2150), 1920
Box 2 (2151-2300), 1919-1920
Box 2 (2301-2800), 1920-1921
Box 3 (2801-3100), 1921
Box 3 (3101-3500), 1921
Box 3 (3501-5100), 1921
Box 3 (5101-5500), 1921
Box 3 (5501-6800), 1921
Box 3 (6801-7000), 1921
Box 3 (7001-7200), 1921
Box 4 (7201-7700), 1921-1922
Box 4 (7701-8000), 1922
Box 4 (8001-8500), 1922
Box 4 (8501-8800), 1922
Box 4 (8801-8950), 1922
Box 4 (8951-9000), 1922
Box 4 (9001-9100), 1922
Box 5 (9101-9500), 1922
Box 5 (9501-9800), 1922
Box 5 (9801-9900), 1922-1923
Box 5 (9901-10000), 1923
Box 5 (10001-10200), 1923
Box 5 (10201-10600), 1923
Box 5 (10601-11100), 1923
Box 5 (11101-11300), 1923
Box 6 (11301-11500), 1923
Box 6 (11501-11700), 1923
Box 6 (11701-11900), 1923-1924
Box 6 (11901-12100), 1923-1924
Box 6 (12101-12300), 1924
Box 6 (12301-12400), 1924
Box 6 (12401-12500), 1924
Box 6 (12501-12600), 1924
Box 6 (12601-12700), 1924
Box 7 (12701-12800), 1923-1924
Box 7 (12801-12900), 1924
Box 7 (12901-13000), 1924
Box 7 (13001-13100), 1924
Box 7 (13101-13300), 1924
Box 7 (13301-13400), 1924
Box 7 (13401-13500), 1924
Box 7 (13501-13800), 1924-1925
Box 7 (13801-13900), 1925
Box 8 (13901-14000), 1924-1925
Box 8 (14001-14100), 1925
Box 8 (14101-14300), 1925
Box 8 (14301-14500), 1925
Box 8 (14501-14600), 1925
Box 8 (14601-14800), 1925
Box 8 (14801-14900), 1925
Box 8 (14901-15000), 1925-1926
Box 8 (15001-15300), 1925-1926
Box 8 (15301-15400), 1926-1927
Box 8 (15401-15450), 1926-1927
Box 8 (15451-15500), 1926-1927
Box 9 (15501-15600), 1925-1926
Box 9 (15601-15700), 1926
Box 9 (15701-15800), 1926
Box 9 (15801-15900), 1926-1927
Box 9 (15901-16000), 1926-1928
Box 9 (16001-16100), 1926-1927
Box 9 (16101-16300), 1926-1927
Box 9 (16301-16500), 1927
Box 9 (16501-16600), 1927
Box 9 (16601-16800), 1927
Box 10 (16801-17000), 1927-1928
Box 10 (17001-17100), 1928
Box 10 (17101-17300), 1927-1928
Box 10 (17301-17400), 1926-1928
Box 10 (17401-17500), 1928
Box 10 (17501-17600), 1928
Box 10 (17601-17900), 1928-1929
Box 10 (17901-18000), 1929
Box 10 (18001-18050), 1928-1929
Box 11 (18050-18100), 1929
Box 11 (18101-18300), 1928-1929
Box 11 (18301-18400), 1929
Box 11 (18401-18500), 1929-1930
Box 11 (18501-18600), 1930
Box 11 (18601-18776), 1929-1930
Box 11 (18777-18780), 1929
Box 11 (18781-18781), 1929
Box 11 (18782-19000), 1930
Box 12 (19001-19100), 1930
Box 12 (19101-19300), 1930-1931
Box 12 (18301-19400), 1931
Box 12 (19401-19402), 1929
Box 12 (19403-19405), 1929-1930
Box 12 (19406-19600), 1929-1931
Box 12 (19601-19750), 1930-1931
Box 12 (19751-19800), 1931
Box 12 (19801-20000), 1939-1931
Box 13 (20001-20200), 1931
Box 13 (20201-20300), 1931-1932
Box 13 (20301-20400), 1931-1932
Box 13 (20401-20472), 1931-1932
Box 13 (20473-20500), 1931
Box 13 (20501-20600), 1932
Box 13 (20601-21000), 1932
Box 13 (21001-21031), 1931
Box 13 (21031), 1931
Box 13 (21031-21100), 1932
Box 14 (21101-21200), 1930-1932
Box 14 (21201-21220), 1930-1932
Box 14 (21221-21222), 1932
Box 14 (21222), 1932
Box 14 (21222-21400), 1933
Box 14 (21401-21800), 1933-1934
Box 21 (21801-21900), 1932-1934
Box 14 (21901-21903), 1931-1934
Box 14 (21903-21906), 1929-1931
Box 14 (21907), 1933
Box 15 (21907), 1933
Box 15 (21907), 1933
Box 15 (21907), 1933
Box 15 (21907), 1933
Box 15 (21907-22100), 1934
Box 15 (22100-22200), 1934-1939
Box 15 (22200-22265), 1934-1936
Box 15 (22236), 1934
Box 15 (22236), 1934
Box 15 (22236), 1934-1935
Box 16 (22237-22267), 1933-1934
Box 16 (22267), 1934
Box 16 (22267-22500), 1934-1935
Box 16 (22501-22579), 1935
Box 16 (22580), 1935-1937
Box 16 (22580-22800), 1935-1936
Box 16 (22801-23000), 1937
Box 16 (23001-23061), 1938
Box 16 (23062-23064), 1938
Box 16 (23065-23100), 1938
Box 17 (23101-23200), 1938-1939
Box 17 (23201-23300), 1939-1941
Box 17 (23301-23326), 1941-1944
Box 17 (23327), 1941
Box 17 (23328-23400), 1941-1943
Box 17 (23417), 1941-1942
Box 17 (23417), 1941
Box 17 (23418), 1941-1942
Box 18 (23418), 1941-1942
Box 18 (23418), 1943
Box 18 (23418), 1943
Box 18 (23418), 1943
Box 18 (23418), 1944-1946
Box 18 (23418), 1944-1946
Box 18 (23419-23500), 1942-1944
Box 19 (23500-23600), 1944
Box 19 (23601-23800), 1945-1946
Box 19 (23801-23900), 1946-1947
Box 19 (23901-24000), 1948
Box 19 (24001-24050), 1948-1949
Box 19 (24051-24100), 1950-1952
Box 19 (24101-24150), 1950
Box 19 (24151-24800), 1948-1951
Box 19 Series 2: Non-Serial Numbered Correspondence, 1910-1971
Series Description
This series is divided in two sub-series, subject and miscellaneous. The subject correspondence is arranged in alphabetical order by the subject, person, or organization. The largest set of subject correspondence includes a series of letters and documents (1922-1923) detailing a disagreement between Raymond Fosdick and William Anderson, head of the Anti-Saloon League, an organization that supported the eighteenth amendment prohibiting the sale of alcohol. The correspondence with Admiral Richard Byrd, veteran of the Navy department, documents the several polar expeditions in the Antarctic funded in part by Raymond Fosdick. The Institute of International Research (1925-1930) correspondence details Fosdick's involvement with an organization which promoted world peace and also established the construction of the Library of the League of Nations at Geneva, an endowment financed by the Rockefeller Foundation, and a program of international research. The miscellaneous correspondence contains letters on various topics pertaining to the years of 1910 through 1971.
Arrangement
(arranged chronologically)
Anti-Saloon League
1923
Box 20 1923
Box 20 1923
Box 20 1923
Box 20 Baker, Newton
1917-1932
Box 20 Breasted, James Dr.
1925-1928
Box 20 Byrd, Richard Admiral
1927-1930
Box 20 1931-1934
Box 21 1940-1956
Box 21 Character Committee of the Bar
1945-1950
Box 21 China and South East Asia
1949
Box 21 1949-1950
Box 21 Commission on Training Camps
1917-1918
Box 21 Institute of International Research
1924-1929
Box 21 1925-1927
Box 22 1925-1930
Box 22 McAdoo, Eleanor Wilson
1955-1963
Box 22 Rockefeller, John D. Jr.
1919-1937
Box 22 1937-1944
Box 22 1944-1960
Box 22 Roosevelt, Franklin
1926-1944
Box 22 Wilson, Woodrow
1912-1927
Box 22 Miscellaneous
1910-1918
Box 23 1919
Box 23 1919
Box 23 1920
Box 23 1921-1965
Box 23 1966-1971
Box 23 Series 3: Writings, 1917-1969
Series Description
This series is arranged in chronological order. This series includes published articles, book reviews/reports, and speeches. Folder one of “Articles” contains an index that lists the title and date of most of the articles, speeches, and reprints. Predominantly written during World War I, the usual theme of the writings is world order and the outlook for peace in the future. In some cases, the rough draft with corrections are included with the final published version. Writings also contain newspaper clippings of reviews on the Rockefeller Foundation and in addition to personal responses written by some of his colleagues.
Book Reviews
Within Our Power, 1952
Box 24 Book Reviews/Reports
The Rockefeller Foundation, 1952
Box 24 Book Reviews
miscellaneous, 1958
Box 24 Chronicle of a Generation, 1952-1960
Box 24 John D. Rockefeller, Jr., 1956
Box 24 Reports
Commission on Training Camp Activities
1918-1919
Box 24 1917-1919
Box 24 1941-1946
Box 24 Index of Articles, Speeches, Reprints
1919-1965
Box 25 Articles
1919-1920
Box 25 1920
Box 25 1921
Box 25 1922
Box 25 1923
Box 25 1924
Box 25 1925
Box 25 1926-1930
Box 25 1931
Box 25 1932-1934
Box 25 1935-1945
Box 25 1946-1947
Box 25 1948-1950
Box 25 1951-1960
Box 25 1961-1971
Box 25 Speeches
1920-1923
Box 26 1924-1925
Box 26 1926-1930
Box 26 1931-1935
Box 26 1936-1940
Box 26 1941-1945
Box 26 1946
Box 26 1947-1955
Box 26 1956-1960
Box 26 Series 4: Personal Memorabilia, 1917-1951, and undated
Series Description
This series is arranged in alphabetical order. The personal memorabilia consists of letters from his family, letters from famous people, a diary, and photographs. The correspondence written by Fosdick in this series discusses a variety of topics and events while traveling during the years of 1919 to 1948. The photographs are of Fosdick and his colleagues in addition to pictures taken at Columbia University and Mexico.
Correspondence
Family, 1933-1935
Box 25 Famous People, 1915-1948
Box 25 Fosdick, Harry E., 1917-1951
Box 25 Mrs. Rockefeller, 1919
Box 25 Upon Wife's Death, 1932
Box 25 World War I, 1918-1919
Box 25 Diary-SS George Washington, 1918
Box 26 Photographs
Box 27 Baker, Newton
Box 27 Daniels, Josepheus
Box 27 Drummond, Eric
Box 27 House, Edward
Box 27 Pershing, John
Box 27 Fosdick
Mexico
Box 27 Columbia University
Box 27
Permanent URL: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/m613mx57g