Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Davenport, John, 1904-1987
- Abstract:
- Writings, correspondence, notes, memoranda, and printed matter relating to economic conditions in the United States, laissez-faire and conservative political thought, right-to-work issues, and political conditions in southern Africa, especially Zimbabwe and South Africa.
- Extent:
- 60 manuscript boxes (25.2 Linear Feet)
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], John A. Davenport papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The John A. Davenport papers relate mainly to Davenport's career as economist, author, and journalist from 1927 until his death in 1987. His position as editor at Barron's weekly and Fortune provided a fruitful venue for his widely read writings.
The bulk of the collection consists of holographs, typescripts, and printed copies of these writings. They relate mainly to American and international economic policy, economic planning, the gold standard, labor unions, labor law, Rhodesia, South Africa, and welfare economics. Included are many speeches on the same topics.
Of significant importance is Davenport's correspondence with prominent economists and politicians, such as Milton Friedman, Friedrich von Hayek, Jesse Helms, Henry Kissinger, and Karl von Wiegand, which reflects his life-long interest in the economy and political life of the United States.
The Mont Pèlerin Society, the National Right to Work Committee, and the National Right to Work Legal Defense Committee files are smaller but equally important parts of the collection. The Mont Pèlerin Society file consists of materials on meetings, newsletters, and Davenport's speeches and writings as a member of the Society. The National Right to Work Committee and the National Right to Work Legal Defense Committee files consist of materials relating to the labor question in the United States and reflect Davenport's contribution to both organizations.
Of special note in the Subject File is material relating to Rhodesia and South Africa. The Rhodesian materials reflect the economic and political conditions before the advent of Zimbabwe. The South African materials provide an especially interesting source for the study of economic policy and apartheid.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Date Event 1904, September 11 Born, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania1926 Graduated from Yale University1927-1930 Reporter, New York World1937-1949 Member of staff, Fortune magazine1941-1949 Member, Board of Editors, Fortune magazine1945 Author, The Lives of Winston Churchill1949-1954 Managing editor, Barron's weekly1954-1969 Assistant managing editor, Fortune magazine1964 Author, The U.S. Economy1987 June Died, Red Bank, New Jersey - Acquisition information:
- Materials were acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives from John A. Davenport's widow, Marie Davenport, in 1999.
- Physical location:
- Hoover Institution Library & Archives
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Box FH12 may not be used without permission of the Archivist. The remainder of the collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
- Terms of access:
-
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], John A. Davenport papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
- Location of this collection:
-
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford UniversityStanford, CA 94305-6003, US
- Contact:
- (650) 723-3563