Register of the Lester Ziffren papers
Finding aid prepared by David Jacobs
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2012
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu
Title: Lester Ziffren papers
Date (inclusive): 1933-1989
Collection Number: 90009
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
8 manuscript boxes
(3.3 Linear Feet)
Abstract: The Lester Ziffren papers contain materials relating to the Spanish Civil War. As Madrid bureau chief for United Press, Ziffren
filed dispatches and made nightly radio broadcasts in which he described political, economic, and social conditions in Spain
in the period prior to the outbreak of the Civil War and during the first six months of the conflict itself. The
Speeches and Writings series of the papers contains compilations of Ziffren's articles and dispatches, as well as transcripts of his radio broadcasts.
There are also two sets of diary entries in the series, including his diary from the opening months of the Civil War, and
several later articles in which Ziffren recounts his experiences as a war correspondent.
Creator:
Ziffren, Lester
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
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 1990.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Lester Ziffren Papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Biographical Note
| 1906 |
Born, Rock Island, Illinois |
| 1927 |
Graduated from the University of Missouri's journalism school |
| 1933-1936 |
Bureau chief for United Press in Madrid, Spain |
| 1937-1940 |
Worked as a screenwriter in Hollywood |
| 1941-1945 |
Public relations officer, U.S. Embassy in Santiago, Chile |
| 1961-1971 |
Public relations director, Kennecott Copper Corporation |
| 2007 |
Died |
Scope and Content of Collection
The Lester Ziffren papers contain significant materials relating to the Spanish Civil War. As Madrid bureau chief for United
Press, Ziffren filed dispatches and made nightly radio broadcasts in which he described political, economic, and social conditions
in Spain in the period prior to the outbreak of the Civil War and during the first six months of the conflict itself. The
Speeches and writings contains compilations of Ziffren's articles and dispatches, as well as transcripts of his radio broadcasts. There are also
two sets of diary entries in the series, including his diary from the opening months of the Civil War, and several later articles
in which Ziffren recounts his experiences as a war correspondent.
The
Biographical file series contains clippings and an interview with Ziffren about his time in Spain. The
Writings by others contains articles on the Spanish Civil War written by other correspondents and a diary kept by Tomás Caro, a volunteer in
the Republican army. The
Printed matter series of the papers is comprised of materials largely relating to the Civil War. It includes numerous clippings from Spanish,
English and American newspapers, as well as bulletins and serial issues pertaining to the conflict. Additionally, there are
some monographs and other printed matter relating to Spain in the Franco era. The
Photographs contains prints depicting scenes of the Civil War, as well as prints that depict cities, towns, and rural life in Spain.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into 6 series: Biographical file; Cables sent to United Press; Speeches and writings; Writings
by others on the Spanish Civil War; Printed matter relating to Spain and the Spanish Civil War; Photographs
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Journalists
Spain -- History -- Civil War, 1936-1939
Spain -- Politics and government -- 1931-1939
Spain -- Social conditions -- 1886-1939
Biographical file
1935-1982
Scope and Contents note
Contains clippings and a transcript of a radio interview, arranged by physical form
box 1, folder 4
Transcript of radio interview conducted by Lowell Thomas
1937
box 1, folder 5
Cables sent to United Press
1936
Scope and Contents note
Consists of one folder of cablegrams
Speeches and writings
1933-1937
Scope and Contents note
Contains articles; compilations of articles, dispatches, and transcribed radio broadcasts; and diaries, arranged by title
or form
"Spain Day by Day," a compilation of transcribed United Press radio broadcasts and dispatches
1933-1936
box 5, folder 1
"Spanish Letters," a compilation of United Press articles and dispatches
1933-1936
box 5, folder 2
Articles written for United Press
1936-1937
box 5, folder 3
"Diary of a Civil War Correspondent,"
1936-1937
box 5, folder 4
"Spain in Upheaval,"
Current History
1936 May
box 5, folder 5
"I Lived in Madrid,"
Current History
1937 April
box 5, folder 6
"The Correspondent in Spain,"
The Public Opinion Quarterly
1937 July
Writings by others on the Spanish Civil War
1936-1940
Scope and Contents note
Contains articles and a diary, arranged alphabetically by author
box 5, folder 8
Carro, Tomás
1940
Scope and Contents note
Includes correspondence
box 5, folder 9
Fernsworth, Lawrence A.
1936
Printed matter relating to Spain and the Spanish Civil War
1934-1989
Scope and Contents note
Contains bulletins, clippings, map, monographs, pamphlets, postcards, and serial issues, arranged by physical form
Photographs
1936
Scope and Contents note
Consists of prints depicting scenes of the Spanish Civil War and of Spain, arranged by subject
box 8, folder 15
Thirty-one prints depicting scenes of the Spanish Civil War
1936
box 8, folder 15
Twenty-one prints depicting various cities, towns, and rural life in Spain
1936
