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Title: John A. Davenport papers,
Date (inclusive): 1919-1987
Collection number: 99018
Creator:
Davenport, John, 1904-1987
Extent:
60 manuscript boxes
(25.2 linear feet)
Repository:
Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace
Stanford, California 94305-6010
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.
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Archives
Language:
English.
Collection is open for research.
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Archives.
[Identification of item], John A. Davenport Papers, [Box no.], Hoover Institution Archives.
Acquired.
Increments may have been received since this finding aid was prepared. Please check Stanford University's online catalog Socrates
at
http://library.stanford.edu/webcat to find the full extent of the collection.
| 1904, September 11 | Born, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 1926 | Graduated from Yale University |
| 1927-1930 | Reporter, New York World |
| 1937-1949 | Member of staff, Fortune magazine |
| 1941-1949 | Member, Board of Editors, Fortune magazine |
| 1945 | Author, The Lives of Winston Churchill |
| 1949-1954 | Managing editor, Barron's weekly |
| 1954-1969 | Assistant managing editor, Fortune magazine |
| 1964 | Author, The U.S. Economy |
| 1987 June | Died, Red Bank, New Jersey |
The papers of John Davenport were acquired by the Hoover Institution from his widow, Marie Davenport, in 1999. They relate
mainly to his 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.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the repository's online public access catalog.
Laissez-faire.
Open and closed shop--United States.
Conservatism.
Africa, Southern.
Zimbabwe--History--1965-1980.
South Africa--History--1961-
United States--Politics and government.
Zimbabwe.
South Africa.
Africa.
United States--Economic conditions--1945-
Journalists.