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Title: Vlastimil Kybal papers
Date (inclusive): 1913-1968
Collection Number: 82004
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: In Czech, English and Spanish
Physical Description:
29 manuscript boxes
(12.0 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Memoirs, other writings, lectures, notes, correspondence, and printed matter, relating to the history of Czechoslovakia; political,
social, and economic conditions in Czechoslovakia, especially during World War II; and political, social, and economic conditions
in Latin America.
Creator:
Kybal, Vlastimil, 1880-1958
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.
[Identification of item], Vlastimil Kybal Papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Also available on microfilm (30 reels).
| 1880 May 30 | Born, Cernochov u Loun, Czechoslovakia |
| 1899 | After graduation from the Gymnasium at Slany, studied history and philosophy at Charles University under the direction of J. Goll, J. Pekar, T. G. Masaryk |
| 1904 | Earned a Ph.D. degree in history and philosophy from the Charles University in Prague |
| 1906 | Studied in France at the Sorbonne, College de France, Ecole des Hautes Etudes, Ecole de Sciences Politiques, and at the university in Bonn, Germany |
| 1920-1925 | Czechoslovak ambassador to Italy |
| 1925-1927 | Czechoslovak ambassador to Brazil and Argentina |
| 1927-1933 | Czechoslovak ambassador to Spain and Portugal |
| 1935-1939 | Czechoslovak ambassador to Mexico and the Central American states |
| 1939-1942 | Lectured on Czechoslovakia at the University of California, Berkeley, the Pacific College, Stockton, and at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles |
| Associate at round-table sessions of the Institute of World Affairs, Riverside, California | |
| 1944-1948 | Contributed significantly to the creation of the Czechoslovak collection of books, serials, and writings at the Library of Congress |
| Lectured at American universities, in particular Columbia University in New York | |
| Research Fellow in History at Yale University | |
| 1948 | Remained in exile in the United States after the February Coup d'etat |
| 1948 October 29 | Appointed Consultant on Czechoslovakian Publications for the Yale University Library |
| 1958 January 2 | Died, Washington, D.C. |
The Vlastimil Kybal papers were donated to the Hoover Institution Library & Archives by his son, Dalimil Kybal, in 1982, and
consist mostly of his speeches and writings.
As a historian, Kybal devoted great attention to Czech history, namely to the analyses of the ideological roots of the Hussite
movement, and, in particular, to the personality of Jan Hus himself. In Kybal's writings (see "John Hus," "Husitske dedictvi:
Jan Hus a jeho vyznam pro dnesni zapas"), Hus and his conviction that "Truth conquers all!" served as an inspiration and a
symbol of courage in the fight of the Czech and Slovak nation against Nazism. Of great importance are, also Kybal's writings
on a Moravian educational reformer, Jan Amos Komensky (see "Komensky a nas zapas," "Komensky jako politik"), and his monograph,
Karel Havlicek a nase svoboda.
Also of special note in the speeches and writings file is Kybal's monograph,
Saint Francis of Assisi, whose spiritual and social message still attracts devotion of many Christians. The book was awarded the Prize of the City
of Prague. The English edition was prepared on the basis of a literal translation from the Czech original, and was published
in 1954.
As a diplomat, Kybal contributed a great deal, through his numerous speeches and lectures, to the strengthening of cultural
and political relations and deeper mutual understanding between Czechoslovakia and Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico,
and other Latin American countries (see, in the speeches and writings file, "Cultural Relations between Czechoslovakia and
the Spanish and Portuguese Speaking Countries,"
Jizni Amerika: Prehled hospodarsky, obchodni a politicky, "The Changing Social Structure of the Latin-American Countries," "South America's Place in World Economy," "La aportacion
cultural y cientifico de los paises checoslovacos a la civilizacion de America," "Checoslovaquia y Mexico"). There are, however,
no documents related to Kybal's various ambassadorships.
Also of great importance are Kybal's memoirs (see "Diplomaticke pameti Vlastimila Kybala," and his writings about political,
social and economic conditions in Czechoslovakia, before and during World War II (see, in the speeches and writings file,
La republica checoslovaca y su formacion como estado democratico,
La republica checoslovaca, su formacion politica y administrativa, su potencia economica, "Checoslovaquia: Su opresion y su resurreccion," "K otazce uznani Ceskoslovenska").
In 1939, shortly before the German occupation of Czechoslovakia, Kybal was retired by Hacha's government from the diplomatic
service in Mexico, and he moved to Pasadena, California. He took an active part in the liberation movement of his country,
delivering a number of lectures and addresses at many California universities, drawing attention of the American public to
the grave situation of the German-occupied Czechoslovak nation (see, in the speeches and writings file, "The Moral Forces
of the Czech People: A Tentative Survey of Czech History," "The Collapse of the Czechoslovak Republic through the Foreign
Intervention," "The Munich Agreement and Its Diplomatic Background," "The Czechoslovak Republic and Its Formation as a Democracy,"
"El desmembramiento de Checoslovaquia," "The Central European Problem," "The New Economic Order in Central Europe," "Checoslovaquia:
Su opresion y su resurreccion").
Along with his son, Milic, he participated in the activities of various organizations designed to promote better knowledge
of Slavic countries and their cooperation with the United States during the war, particularly through the Slavic Radio Program,
put on by the Slavic Cultural Association, for which he was a regular speaker.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War, 1939-1945 -- Czechoslovakia
Latin America
Diplomats -- Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia -- Foreign relations -- Mexico
Mexico -- Foreign relations -- Czechoslovakia