George I. Duca papers, 1819-1985

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Summary

Creators:
Duca, George I., 1905-
Abstract:
Diaries, correspondence, speeches and writings, reports, and photographs, relating to Romanian foreign policy and politics in the twentieth century, and to the Romanian royal family. Also available on microfilm (89 reels).
Extent:
86 microfilm reels, 107 manuscript boxes, 3 oversize boxes, 1 envelope, 4 phonotape reels (46.2 Linear Feet)
Language:
Romanian, French and English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], George I. Duca papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

After 30 years of self-imposed exile, George Duca, a former Romanian diplomat, said: "My Romania has disappeared and never will be alive again" (San Francisco Examiner, May 2, 1978, "The Monarchist Who Lost All: At 72, He's a Winner" by Peter King). Trying to recreate "his" Romania, he built a small island in the Hoover Archives: an invaluable research collection on Romanian modern history. Between 1975 and 1985, he donated to the archives the private papers of his father (former Prime Minister of Romania) and of almost fifty of his friends and collaborators, former politicians, diplomats and writers.

George Duca's papers consist mainly of 120 notebooks of his diary (of significant importance are those from 1914-1949); his correspondence with various royal figures (including Queen Marie, Princess Ileana, and Queen Helen of Romania,), his family (including his father, Ion Duca), and Romanian émigré leaders; his memoirs, Cronica unui Român in veacul XX, including an English translation, and his reports from Japan (where he worked for the Free Europe Committee, under the cover of the International PEN Club) to the Free Europe Committee and the Assembly of Captive European Nations (see Career file, box 98).

George Duca's collection also contains a large number of remarkable prints. Among them, hundreds depicting members of the Romanian royal family, which constitute one of the most impressive photographic collections regarding the Romanian royal family abroad. These are to be found not only in the PHOTOGRAPHS series, but also in the DIARIES series.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1905
Born
1928-1947
Romanian diplomat; held various diplomatic posts, including in Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, and Washington, D.C.
1939-1942
Recalled to Bucharest, he was appointed Assistant Chief of the Political Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1942 November
While chargé d'affaires in Finland, Duca met informally with some close American friends who worked at the U.S. embassy in Stockholm. During their discussions, Duca informed them of Romania's willingness to break its alliance with the Nazis. He then reported these discussions to King Michael and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1943 August - 1947
While assigned to the Romanian legation in Sweden, he was asked by the leaders of the democratic opposition parties and King Michael to secretly contact the U.S. embassy and let it know of their plans to overthrow Romania's fascist government, led by Ion Antonescu
1944
Duca carried out negotiations with both the American and Soviet embassies until the coup on August 23, when King Michael proclaimed that Romania was joining the allied forces
1947
Got involved in the relief movement for new Romanian refugees
Moved to the United States
1954
Active with relief work as Secretary of the Romanian Welfare in New York
Became an American citizen
1958-1967
Lecturer as a member of the International PEN Club, whose cover he used for his work for the Free Europe Committee and for the Assembly of Captive European Nations (which he represented in Japan)
1961-1975
Executive Director of Alliances Françaises, United States
1975-1985
Helped build the Romanian collections of the Hoover Institution Archives on the Stanford campus
Part-time lecturer and student advisor at Stanford University
1982-1985
Contributor, Radio Free Europe
1985 November 17
Died
Acquisition information:
Materials were acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1975.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Microfilm use only except for Boxes 104-109 and Envelope mA. 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], George I. Duca papers, [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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