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Title: Elbridge Durbrow papers
Date (inclusive): 1926-1996
Collection Number: 85026
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
71 manuscript boxes
(28.4 Linear Feet)
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.
Creator:
Durbrow, Elbridge, 1903-1997
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
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.
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1985.
[Identification of item], Elbridge Durbrow papers,1938-1996, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library &
Archives.
| 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 |
Scope and Content of Collection
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.
Elbridge Durbrow Oral History, Columbia Center for Oral History, Columbia University Libraries
Oral History Interviews, Harry S. Truman Library and Museum
Lyndon Baines Johnson Oral History Collection, Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
United States -- Foreign relations -- Soviet Union
Soviet Union -- Foreign relations -- United States
Diplomats -- United States
Soviet Union -- Economic conditions
World politics -- 1945-1989
United States. Department of State
Security and Intelligence Foundation