Bolen (David Benjamin) papers, 1944-2001

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Summary

Title:
David Benjamin Bolen papers
Dates:
1944-2001
Creators:
Bolen, David Benjamin, 1923-
Abstract:
Speeches and writings, correspondence, dispatches, memoranda, reports, clippings, and photographs, relating to American relations with South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and East Germany.
Extent:
32 microfilm reels (41 manuscript boxes, 1 oversize box) (18.0 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], David Benjamin Bolen papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

Acquired in 2003, the David B. Bolen collection in the Hoover Institution Library & Archives documents the long and distinguished career of an American diplomat whose service included ambassadorships in southern Africa and East Germany. The collection consists primarily of official correspondence and reports relating to these and other postings in Bolen's diplomatic career; it also includes materials pertaining to his subsequent work for the E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co.

The collection has significant materials relating to bilateral diplomacy between the United States and the German Democratic Republic, and to East-West relations in general during the Carter administration, including tensions arising from the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. There are reports and official correspondence concerning Bolen's conduct of negotiations leading to a consular agreement between the U.S. and GDR, and numerous documents regarding disputes and incidents stemming from the divided status of Berlin during the latter part of the Cold War. The collection also has extensive materials pertaining to internal developments within the GDR, including the East German government's treatment of dissident artists and writers.

Expanding American exports to East Germany was a high priority of Bolen's ambassadorship, and economic issues figure prominently in the collection as a whole. In particular, there are accounts of American participation in trade fairs in Leipzig. There are also photographs and other materials relating to Bolen's meetings with East German leaders on such occasions, including the head of state, Erich Honecker.

The Bolen collection is equally rich in documentation on political and economic affairs in southern Africa during the 1970s and 1980s. The collection includes correspondence and reports from Bolen's tenure as United States Ambassador to Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland, and extensive materials relating to South Africa from Bolen's career with E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. The collection has extensive correspondence and reports on the implementation of the Sullivan principles by foreign companies doing business in South Africa, and on opposition inside that country, and internationally, to the apartheid system.

The collection also contains a selection of speeches and remarks made by Ambassador Bolen over the course of his diplomatic and business careers, most of which deal with African and East German issues. There are also biographical materials, including accounts of Bolen's early prominence as an Olympic athlete. Throughout the collection are interspersed documents that record Bolen's own thoughts on American foreign policy, as well as his views on civil rights and his experiences as a prominent African-American official in the diplomatic service of the United States.

As far as possible, the original arrangement of the collection, as established by Ambassador Bolen, has been preserved.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1923
Born, Heflin, Louisiana
1948
Member of United States Olympic Team, participates in London games
1950
M.S., University of Colorado
1950-1952
Vice Consul, U.S. Embassy, Monrovia, Liberia
1952-1954
Economic Assistant, U.S. Embassy, Karachi, Pakistan
1955-1958
International Economist, U.S. State Department, Washington, D.C.
1958-1959
Afghanistan Desk Officer, U.S. State Department, Washington, D.C.
1960
M.P.A., Harvard University
1960-1962
Chief of Economic Section, U.S. Embassy, Accra, Ghana
1962-1964
Staff Assistant, Secretary of State for African Affairs, Washington, D.C.
1965-1966
Officer-in-Charge, Nigerian Affairs, U.S. State Department, Washington, D.C.
1967-1972
Economic Counselor, U.S. Embassy, Bonn, West Germany
1972-1974
Economic/Commercial Counselor, U.S. Embassy, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
1974-1976
U.S. Ambassador to Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland
1976-1977
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Washington, D.C.
1977-1980
U.S. Ambassador to the German Democratic Republic, East Berlin
1981-1989
Associate Director, International Affairs, E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co.
1989-1994
International business consultant
1997
Distinguished Business Service Award, University of Colorado, Boulder
Acquisition information:
Acquired.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Hoover Institution Library and Archives Staff
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-02-23 09:58:11.320747

Access and use

Restrictions:

Microfilm use only. 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], David Benjamin Bolen 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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