PUBLIC SERVICE, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND ROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY

The Papers of Raymond Blaine Fosdick (1883-1972) from the Seeley G Mudd Manuscript Library, Princeton University

"The Papers of Raymond B Fosdick (1883-1972) are an invaluable resource for students of American political, social, and diplomatic history and also for those interested in the history of philanthropy. Fosdick was a gentlemanly social reformer who became a lifelong disciple of Woodrow Wilson. His papers cover his entire career from the First World War until his death in 1972. They contain in particular a treasure trove of material on the interwar American movement to enter or at least cooperate with the League of Nations, containing extensive correspondence with all the important figures involved in that enterprise. His papers provide unique insight into American internationalism between the wars and also its relationship to the interlocked worlds of big business and philanthropy. Throughout his life, Fosdick was also a dedicated social reformer, and his papers contain much material on this aspect of his career, especially on movements and organizations based in New York City and State. The Fosdick Papers shed interesting light upon the sometimes complicated links between American reformers and interwar internationalism.

Throughout his lengthy career, Fosdick moved in elite circles, whether at home or abroad. His papers include correspondence with such leading American and European figures as Dean Acheson, Hamilton Fish Armstrong, Newton D Baker, Winston Churchill, John W Davis, Felix Frankfurter, President Herbert Hoover, Colonel Edward M House, Thomas W Lamont, Walter Lippmann, British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, assorted Rockefellers, President Franklin D Roosevelt, Secretary of State Elihu Root, President William Howard Taft, President Woodrow Wilson, and numerous officials of the League of Nations. "
Dr Priscilla Roberts
Department of History and Director of the Centre of American Studies, University of Hong Kong

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 the Inter War period. The correspondence in Series 1 (the first 19 boxes of material) is arranged in chronological and numerical order. There is an extensive amount of information on Fosdicks involvement as Commissioner on Training Camp Activities and his participation in the League of Nations. Fosdick became more and more anxious as his hopes for full American participation in the League of Nations appeared to founder. His cypher telegram to Drummond dated 20 February 1920 sums up the situation:

"Matters are going from bad to worse and it begins to look now as if the ratification of the Treaty by the Senate would be indefinitely postponed. The resignation of Lansing has greatly embarrassed the situation, and the attempted settlement of the Fiume incident on the basis of the Pact of London has added to the complication. Public interest in the problem is distinctly growing weaker. The decision yesterday in the Senate to substitute the Railroad Bill for the Peace Treaty as the order of the day, has produced hardly a ripple of protest from the newspapers. The belief seems to be gaining ground that the European situation is perhaps so chaotic that America better steer clear. On the other hand, this has not become as yet a clearly defined attitude, although it is being given much impetus by Keynes book and the attacks of the Liberals. "

There is much on business, economic and international issues during the 1920s and 1930s. The largest set of correspondence is between Newton Baker, a lifelong friend and Secretary of War in 1916, Ralph Hayes, Newton Bakers secretary, and John D Rockefeller, Jr, close friend and colleague.

The subject correspondence in Series 2 (Boxes 20-23) is arranged in alphabetical order by subject, person or organisation. It includes personal correspondence with John D Rockefeller, Jr. A sequence of letters and documents focuses on the disagreement between Raymond Fosdick and William Anderson, head of the
Anti-Saloon League, an organisation which supported the eighteenth amendment prohibiting the sale of alcohol. There are also particular folders of personal correspondence with Eleanor Wilson McAdoo, Franklin D Roosevelt, Newton Baker, Woodrow Wilson and Admiral Richard Byrd. The latter was a veteran of the Navy department and correspondence between Byrd and Fosdick documents several polar expeditions in the Antarctic funded in part by Fosdick. The folders on the Institute of International Research (1925-1930) detail Fosdicks involvement with this organisation. It aimed to promote 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.

There is also material and writings on several humanitarian projects in France (1919-1920), China and Southeast Asia (1949-1950), and the Arctic Circle (1923-1931).

The collection also features family correspondence and personal memorabilia, copies and originals of newspaper and journal articles, speeches, book reviews, reports and other writings. These are covered in Series 3 and 4 (Boxes 24-26). Many of the articles were written during World War I or shortly thereafter. The usual theme of the writings is world order and the prospects for peace in the future. In some cases the rough drafts with corrections are included with the final published version. Newspaper clippings of reviews on the Rockefeller Foundation and some personal responses from colleagues are also included. The photographs (Box 27) have been omitted from this microfilm edition.

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 organisation 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, 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.

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.