Elbridge Durbrow papers, 1926-1996

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Summary

Creators:
Durbrow, Elbridge, 1903-1997
Abstract:
The collection documents the U.S. Foreign Service career and post-retirement of Elbridge Durbrow relating to the spread of communism, U.S. foreign policy and world politics following World War II, represented in the form of correspondence, clippings, interview transcripts, speeches and writings, press summaries, other printed material, and memorabilia. Consisting largely of Durbrow's writings, research materials, and correspondence, the collection reflects Durbrow's vast subject knowledge and expertise in foreign affairs.
Extent:
71 manuscript boxes (28.4 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Elbridge Durbrow papers,1938-1996, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

The majority of the collection focuses on the materials used by Durbrow in the research for his writings, speeches, and lectures on foreign affairs before and after retirement. The main themes in his work relate to the spread of and adherence to communism throughout the world after World War II, and the United States' policies and relations with the Soviet Union. Excerpts from various books, articles and essays on the subjects of communism, the Soviet Union and the Cold War used by Durbrow in his research can also be found throughout the collection.

The papers include notes, outlines, drafts, and final versions of Durbrow's writings, speeches, and lectures. The bulk of the material dates from after Durbrow's retirement from the U.S. Foreign Service, when he became involved in foreign policy and national security think tanks, continuously researching, writing, and lecturing on foreign affairs.

Throughout the collection there are notes related to research topics, lectures, speeches, and writings, along with annotations on most clippings. In addition there are transcripts of radio and television interviews given by Durbrow; along with interviews for oral history projects at Columbia University, Lyndon Baines Johnson Oral History Collection and the Harry S. Truman Library.

Accompanying these materials is correspondence pertaining to Durbrow's writings, research, and personal matters. In particular, there is correspondence with prominent figures of the time: George Kennan, Clare Booth Luce, Walter Cronkite, William F. Buckley Jr., Ronald Reagan, and Spiro Agnew.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
September 21, 1903
Born, San Francisco, California
1926
Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy, Yale University
1927-1929
Graduate studies at Stanford University and L'Académie de Droit International de la Haye; diploma in Sciences Politiques, École Libre des Sciences and Politiques
1930-1934
U.S. Vice-Consul, Warsaw, Poland and Bucharest, Romania
1934-1937
U.S. Vice-Consul, Moscow, U.S.S.R., The United States' first mission to the U.S.S.R.
1937-1939
U.S. Consul in Naples, Italy
1939-1940
Postgraduate work, University of Chicago
1940-1944
U.S. Consul, Rome, Italy, and Lisbon, Portugal
1944
Member of the U.S. delegation at the Bretton Wood Conference
1944-1946
Chief of the Eastern European Division, State Department
1946-1948
U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission, Moscow, U.S.S.R.
1948-1950
U.S. Deputy for Foreign Affairs and instructor, National War College
1950-1952
Division of Foreign Service Personnel, U.S. State Department
1952-1954
U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission, Rome, Italy
1955-1957
U.S. Minister and Consul General, Singapore
1957-1961
U.S. Minister and Consul General, Singapore
1961-1965
Alternate permanent representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Council in Paris, France
1965-1968
Advisor to the commander of the Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
1968
Retired from the State Department
1971
Director, Center for International Strategic Studies and the Freedom Studies
1976
Chairman, American Foreign Policy Institute
1977
President, Security and Intelligence Fund
May 16, 1997
Died, Walnut Creek, California
Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1985.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

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], Elbridge Durbrow papers,1938-1996, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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