Inventory of the William John Tonesk papers
Finding aid prepared by Hoover Institution Library and Archives Staff
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2015
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu
Title: William John Tonesk papers
Date (inclusive): 1923-1992
Collection Number: 2015C36
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: In English and Polish
Physical Description:
18 manuscript boxes, 4 oversize boxes, 1 oversize folder
(13.3 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Writings, correspondence, memoranda, reports, notes, personnel records, printed matter, photographs, and memorabilia relating
to the post-World War II transition to a communist regime in Poland, relations between the United States and Poland, and other
aspects of American foreign policy.
Creator:
United States. Department of State
Creator:
Tonesk, William John, 1906-1992
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
Boxes 20-22 may not be used without permission of the Archivist. The remainder of the collection is open for research; materials
must be requested at least two business days in advance of intended use.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Materials were acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 2015.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], William John Tonesk papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Biographical Note
The American naval, intelligence, and foreign service officer William John Tonesk was born in 1906 as Władysław Jan Toniecki
to a Polish immigrant family in Schenectady, New York. During the years 1925 to 1929, Tonesk studied English and economics,
receiving his bachelor's degree from Union College in Schenectady. He then worked for two years as a supervisor for International
Telephone and Telegraph in New York City. In 1931, he began graduate studies at Columbia University, receiving a master's
degree in English and East European studies the following year.
Tonesk spent the next several years traveling and studying in Eastern Europe. While working on his dissertation on the Polish
writer and philosopher Stanislaw Przybyszewski, Tonesk took a job with a travel agency, Raymond Whitcomb, Inc., as chief lecturer
for global travel. He moved on to Pan American Airways in 1940; by 1943, Tonesk had moved to the Office of Naval Intelligence
with the rank of lieutenant.
Tonesk's first station was Cairo, Egypt, where he established contact with the military intelligence of the Polish army of
General Władysław Anders, an army made up of former Polish Gulag prisoners evacuated from the Soviet Union into the British-controlled
Middle East. His next post was Moscow, where he worked as an interpreter for U.S. ambassador Averell Harriman. In the second
half of 1945, Tonesk moved to Warsaw as aide to U.S. ambassador Arthur Bliss Lane. Soon after, he began working for the Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA).
While in Warsaw, Lieutenant Tonesk organized the visits of General Dwight Eisenhower, in September 1945, and Herbert Hoover,
in March 1946; most importantly, however, he studied the political situation in the country and reported to Washington. Tonesk
grew increasingly disillusioned with U.S. intelligence authorities, so when Ambassador Lane quit in protest of the U.S. failure
to confront Soviet aggression in Poland, Tonesk followed.
After leaving the CIA in 1952, Tonesk served as a consultant to the Republican National Committee and directed public relations
for the United States Travel Agency in Washington, D.C. The election of Dwight Eisenhower encouraged him to return to government
service via the United States Department of the State, first as a political officer and analyst in Washington and then, from
1956 to 1961, as consul and chief of a special intelligence research unit in Frankfurt, Germany. From 1961 until 1964, Tonesk
served as deputy chief of protocol of the United States.
During the Vietnam War era, Tonesk was first a liaison officer with the Economic Commission to Asia and the Far East and later
the first secretary of the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. In retirement, Tonesk consulted for multiple organizations and
corporations regarding business ventures in Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Far East. He also collaborated with his longtime
friend and Polish émigré activist, Stefan Korboński, on multiple articles, letters, and editorials concerning the situation
in Poland and the Solidarity movement. Tonesk passed away in March 1992 in Tucson, Arizona.
Scope and Content of Collection
The papers of the American naval, intelligence, and foreign service officer William John Tonesk include writings, correspondence,
memoranda, reports, notes, personnel records, printed matter, photographs, and memorabilia relating to the post-World War
II transition to a communist regime in Poland, relations between the United States and Poland, and other aspects of American
foreign policy.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
United States -- Foreign relations -- Poland
Poland -- Foreign relations -- United States
United States -- Foreign relations
Poland -- History -- 1945-1980
box 1
I Saw Poland Betrayed, by Arthur Bliss Lane
1948
Scope and Contents
1st Edition with inscription for William J. Tonesk
box 1
Selected pages from I Saw Poland Betrayed, by Arthur Bliss Lane, manuscript
undated
box 1
Letter from William J. Tonesk to C.I.A. (resignation)
1952 June 27
box 1
William J. Tonesk photography and crest drawing
undated
box 1
Hotel bill, Hotel "Polonia", Warsaw
1946
box 1
"Dissidents and the Struggle for Human Rights," by Stefan Korbonski, manuscript
undated
box 1
Marriage license
undated
Scope and Contents
Polish original documents with translation
box 1
"Poland after the Popieluszko Murder," article
Scope and Contents
Possibly by Stefan Korbonski.
box 1
Collection of letters between Department of the Navy and William J. Tonesk
1943-1951
box 1
"Using Helsinki as an Instrument of Western Policy," by Stefan Korbonski, article
1976 April 10
box 1
"The Struggle for Poland"
undated
Scope and Contents
Possibly by Stefan Korbonski.
box 1
Letters from John Lowell Armstrong
1990 March 3
box 2
"The American Embassy and Ambassador Arthur Bliss Lane in Polish Politics," by John Lowell Armstrong
1945 July-1947 February
box 2
The Advantages of Polish Membership of the I.M.F. [International Monetary Fund], Central School of Planning and Statistics
undated
box 2
Rehabilitation of Polish Economy. War Losses and Post-war Changes, The Three Year Plan of Reconstruction, Industry by Industry
Survey
box 2
Orzel Bialy, Polish periodical
1977 September–1978 March
box 2
Correspondence, Congress of the United States and Republican National Committee
1952
box 2
"The Problem of Compensation for Victims of National Persecution by M.H. Chmielewski, London"
1958 February
box 2
"International Betrayal – by the Democrats. A Detailed Analysis of the Material Presented in the 'Betrayal,'" pamphlet
box 2
Polish poster, "Government of the Polish People's Republic"
box 2
"No Return for U-2. Truth About the Provocative Penetration of Soviet Air Space by an American Plane," Moscow
1960
box 2
"The Moscow Trial of the 16 Polish Leaders," private copy
box 2
"Poland and the Four Freedoms"
1946
box 2
"The Camp of Death," London
Scope and Contents
This is a verbatim translation of a pamphlet published in Poland's Underground by the Movement of the Working Masses of Poland
(W.R.N.)
box 3
Eisenhower, Hoover, Poland
box 3
Important materials in Polish and German
1944
box 3
Correspondence with friends
Scope and Contents
Mostly in Polish
box 3
Correspondence on behalf of Stefan Korbonski
box 3
Letter from Hoover
Scope and Contents
Relates to Hoover's visit to Poland.
box 3
Newspaper articles (Poland)
box 4
Personnel actions, salary, beneficiaries
box 4
Foreign Claims Commission
box 4
Applications for employment, applications for fellowship, evaluations
box 5
Business ventures
1960s-1980s
box 5
English letters
1948-1960
box 5
Food storage, John E. Means
box 5
Correspondence
1970s-1980s
box 6
Employment: Foreign Service and CIA
box 6
Military and war correspondence
box 6
W. Tonesk and H. Hoover in Warsaw
box 6
Agenda for FDR memorial funeral service
box 6
Miscellaneous State Department and CIA information
box 7
Pictures at Worochta, Poland
1935
box 7
S. Przybyszewski, "The Avenger: A Drama in Three Acts," translated by Tonesk
box 7
Richard Henry Horne "Life and Works" by Tonesk
box 7
The Story of the German Mark, by W.J. Toniski (Tonesk)
box 7
"Grey Clouds," lyrics by Tonesk
box 7
Two manuscripts
Scope and Contents
Rough drafts.
box 8
Photographs, Department of State Office of Chief of Protocol
1961-1964
Scope and Contents
163 photographs from 1961-1964 (Kennedy and Johnson administration)
box 9
Photographs of Tonesk and articles
Scope and Contents
Materials relate to Tonesk's time serving as serving as Deputy Chief of Protocol 1961-1965, (Diplomatic Magazine and Palm
Beach Magazine)
box 9
U.S. Travel Agency employment
1954
box 9
Pan Am procedures and job applications
1940-1946
box 9
Military orders and vouchers
1944-1945
box 10
Photograph with Eisenhower, invitation to inauguration, note from Nixon
box 10
Job applications while at Columbia University
1932-1934
box 10
Columbia University years
1930-1934
box 10
Clippings
1960s
Scope and Contents
Contains clippings related to Tonesk and family while Tonesk was Deputy Chief of Protocol Department of State, early 1960.
box 10
Clippings announcing appointment as Deputy Chief of Protocol Department of State
1961
box 10
Personal documents
1946-1953
Scope and Contents
Includes clippings about when Tonesk entered Poland.
box 10
Poland and related activities
box 10
Deputy Chief of Protocol materials from Department of State
1963
Scope and Contents
Includes materials related to visits from foreign dignitaries, 5 events.
box 11
World's first television drama WGY in Schenectady, NY
1929
box 11
"How we staged the world's first television drama," by Tonesk
1931
box 11
Materials while serving as Deputy Chief of Protocol Department of State
1963-1964
box 11
129 newspaper articles mentioning Tonesk while serving as Deputy Chief of Protocol
1961-1964
box 11
Material from Department of State Office of Chief Protocol
1960-1962
Scope and Contents
Includes visits from foreign dignitaries, 15 events, 1960-1962 (JFK administration)
box 12
Material while serving as Deputy Chief of Protocol Department of State, Office of the Chief of Protocol
1963
Scope and Contents
Includes information and agenda on visits from foreign dignitaries, 12 events and visits, 1963 (JFK administration)
box 12
Miscellaneous press releases and memoranda, Department of State, Office of Chief of Protocol
1961-1964
box 13
94 photographs from Department of State, Office of Chief of Protocol
1959-1963
Scope and Contents
Photographs do not include images of Tonesk
box 13
Retirement; living in Washington, D.C.
1974
box 13
Papers while studying in Czechoslovakia and traveling in Eastern Europe
1930s
box 14
Raymond Whitcomb travel agency
1930s
Scope and Contents
Tonesk was employed at this travel agency.
box 15
Raymond Whitcomb travel agency (contd.)
box 15
Notes for JFK funeral, 5 photographs of funeral, 9 related newspapers articles
box 15
Calling and business cards
box 16
Correspondence and articles from Bangkok, Thailand
1964–1974
box 16
Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East, photographs and publications
1964-1974
box 17
Invitations while serving as Deputy Chief of Protocol, Department of State
1961-1965
Scope and Contents
Contains 408 invitations to embassy and other diplomatic receptions; business cards
box 18
35 color slides of Poland after war destruction
1945-1946
box 18
Map of Poland by E. Romer and J. Wasowicz
circa 1939
box 19
Miscellaneous certificates and diplomas while serving as Deputy Chief of Protocol, Department of State.
Scope and Contents
Includes pictures of President Hoover in Poland with Lt. Tonesk.
box 20
Childhood family photograph
Access
Box 20 may not be used without permission of the Archivist
box 21
Photograph of Tonesk's mother
Access
Box 21 may not be used without permission of the Archivist.
box 22
Childhood photograph on horse
Access
Box 22 may not be used without permission of the Archivist.
box OCM1
Material related to JFK (pen)
Scope and Contents
Box OCM1 may not be used without permission of the Archivist.
os_folder 1
German map of Poland (topographic): Plohnen-Ostenburg-Modlin-Warschau
Nord
circa 1939
