Register of the J. Burke Knapp papers
Finding aid prepared by Beth Goder
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
2018
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu
Title: J. Burke Knapp papers
Date (inclusive): 1888-1997
Collection Number: 92039
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
9 manuscript boxes, 1 oversize box, 1 envelope
(3.9 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Writings, correspondence, memoranda, reports, transcripts of interviews, and memorabilia, relating to activities of the World
Bank in funding development programs in Latin American and other developing countries, and to miscellaneous aspects of foreign
economic policy of the United States government.
Creator:
Knapp, J. Burke (Joseph Burke), 1913-2009
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
Box 9 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.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1992.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], J. Burke Knapp papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Biographical Note
| 1913 |
Born in Portland, Oregon |
| 1933 |
AB in Economics, Stanford University |
| 1935 |
BA, Politics, Philosophy and Economics, Oxford University |
| 1939 |
MA, Oxford University |
| 1936-1940 |
Assistant to Managing Director, Brown Harriman & Co., Ltd. |
| 1940-1944 |
Assistant Chief, International Section, Federal Reserve Board |
| 1944-1945 |
Adviser on German Economic Affairs, U.S. Department of State and U.S. Military Government in Germany |
| 1945-1948 |
Special Assistant to the Chairman, Federal Reserve Board |
| 1948-1949 |
Director, Office of Financial and Development Policy, U.S. Department of State |
| 1949 |
Assistant Director, Economic Department, World Bank |
| 1950 |
Economic Advisor, U.S. Delegation to NATO Treaty Council, London, England |
| 1951-1952 |
U.S. Co-Chairman, Joint Brazilian-United States Economic Development Commission |
| 1952-1955 |
Director, Department of Operations for the Western Hemisphere, World Bank |
| 1956-1972 |
Vice President, Operations (Chairman of the Loan Committee), World Bank |
| 1972-1978 |
Senior Vice President, Operations (Chairman of the Loan Committee), World Bank |
| 1978-1981 |
Consultant to World Bank on policy matters |
| 1982-1991 |
Senior International Advisor, Morgan Grenfell & Co. |
| 2009 |
Death |
Scope and Content of Collection
The J. Burke Knapp papers include writings, correspondence, memoranda, reports, transcripts of interviews, and memorabilia
related to activities of the World Bank in funding development programs in Latin American and other developing countries,
and to miscellaneous aspects of foreign economic policy of the United States government.
Knapp was an economist who was employed by the Federal Reserve, United States Department of State, and the World Bank. The
Biographical File includes a memoir Knapp wrote in 1997 which contains a summary of his career, childhood, and family life. The memoir details
his experiences as an economic advisor to Ambassador Robert Murphy in Germany at the end of World War II, as an unofficial
attendee of the Bretton Woods conference in 1944 and attendee of the organizing conference of the World Bank and IMF in 1946,
and as an employee of the World Bank. Many of these subjects are also discussed in the
Interviews.
The
World Bank File, which comprises the bulk of the collection, includes correspondence and memoranda documenting Knapp's work as vice president
of the Department of Operations (a role also referred to as chairman of the Loan Committee) of the World Bank.
The collection includes
Photographs of Knapp meeting world leaders Chiang Kai-shek, Kwame Nkrumah, and Jawaharlal Nehru, as well as attached letters from both
Kai-shek and Nehru.
Many folders contain explanatory notes, labeled commentary, which Knapp wrote in the early 1990s to describe the contents
of files and their relation to the historical period, or to provide an explanation of his work.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Economic assistance, American
Economic assistance
Economic development
Developing countries
Banks and banking, International
Economic assistance -- Latin America
World Bank
Biographical File
1997, undated
Scope and Contents
Contains a resume; a list of countries where Knapp traveled, organized by year; and a memoir detailing Knapp's family life
and career. Arranged alphabetically by format.
box 1, folder 1
Memoir, "An Anecdotal Chronicle"
1997
Interviews
1969-1995
Scope and Contents
Contains transcripts of inteviews of Knapp by various institutions, including the World Bank. Arranged chronologically.
box 1, folder 4
Oral History Research Office, Columbia University
1969
box 1, folder 5-7
Harry S. Truman Library,
1975
box 1, folder 8
World Bank Oral History Program
1981
box 1, folder 9
California Institute of Technology,
1986
box 1, folder 10
World Bank History Project
1991-1995
Speeches and Writings
1932-1992
Scope and Contents
Contains typescripts of economics speeches, Knapp's thesis, and an essay for his Rhodes Scholarship application. For Knapp's
memoir, see the Biographical File. Arranged chrnologically.
box 2, folder 1
Essay for Rhodes Scholarship application
1932, 1992
box 2, folder 2
"The Policy of Switzerland in the Construction of the Collective Peace System," thesis
1936, 1992
box 2, folder 3
"The Balance of Payments Approach in the European Recovery Program,"
1947, 1992
box 2, folder 4
Speech summary, Swedish National Commitee of the International Chamber of Commerce
1978
box 2, folder 5
Speech, Atlantic Institute, Paris meeting
1979
box 2, folder 6
Speech, Development Banks in the 1980's Conference, Zurich
1979
Career File
1945-1992
Scope and Contents
Includes memoranda, reports, and commentary related to Knapp's work at the State Department, his time as chairman for the
Joint Brazilian-United States Economic Development Commission, and his consulting work. Arranged alphabetically by project
or employer.
box 2, folder 7-8
Inter-American Development Bank
1986, 1992
Joint Brazil-United States Economic Development Commission
box 2, folder 9
Commentary on reports
1992
Report, "The Development of Brazil,"
1953
box 2, folder 11
Report, "The Development of Brazil,"
1953
box 3, folder 3-4
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
1981-1983, 1992
box 2, folder 12
Reports of consultants, "Brazilian Technical Studies,"
circa 1954
box 3, folder 1
Technical Committee on Berlin Currency Problems, report and commentary
1949, 1991
box 3, folder 2
U.S. military government in Germany, memoranda and commentary
1945, 1991
World Bank File
1962-1992
Scope and Contents
Contains memoranda, correspondence, reports, clippings, and commentary documenting Knapp's work for the World Bank. Arranged
alphabetically by format.
Chronological file
Scope and Contents
Consists mainly of correspondence and memoranda
box 8, folder 2-3
McNamara, Robert
1972-1976
Printed Matter
1888-1974
Scope and Contents
Includes a pamphlet with information about Stanford University published in 1888, shortly after the university was founded.
Arranged in chronological order.
box 8, folder 7
"Souvenir of the Leland Stanford Jr. University," pamphlet
1888
box 8, folder 8
Liberté I: Négritude et Humanisme, monograph,
1964
Scope and Contents
Inscribed
box 10, folder 1
Pour une economie populaire et révolutionnaire, monograph
1974
Photographs
1949-1963
Scope and Contents
Includes prints of Knapp meeting world leaders, as well as attached letters from Chiang Kai-shek and Jawaharlal Nehru.
box 10, folder 2
Kai-shek, Chiang
1963
Scope and Contents
2 prints depicting Knapp with Chiang Kai-shek, Soong Mei-ling, Gordon Street, C. K. Yen, Michael Lejune, A. C. Chen, and Martin
Wong. Includes letter from Chiang Kai-shek
box 10, folder 3
Nehru, Jawaharlal
1958
Scope and Contents
Includes letter from Nehru
box 10, folder 5
Portraits of Knapp
undated
envelope mA
Four-Power Conference on Germany
1949
Scope and Contents
1 print depicting the members of the U.S. delegation to the Four-Power Conference on Germany in Paris, France
Oversize Materials
undated
Scope and Contents
Contains porcelain freedom bell given to Knapp in 1963 by Willy Brandt, Mayor of Berlin, for service to Berlin during the
Berlin Blockade
box 9
Bell
undated
Access
Box 9 may not be used without permission of the Archivist.
