Eugene Meyer Papers [Finding Aid]. Library of Congress
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Eugene Meyer Papers A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress Manuscript Division, Library of Congress Washington, D.C. 2014 Revised 2015 November Contact information: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/mss.contact Additional search options available at: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.ms013146 LC Online Catalog record: http://lccn.loc.gov/mm82052019 Prepared by C. L. Craig, Paul Ledvina, and David Mathisen with the assistance of Leonard Hawley and Susie Moody Collection Summary Title: Eugene Meyer Papers Span Dates: 1864-1970 Bulk Dates: (bulk 1890-1959) ID No.: MSS52019 Creator: Meyer, Eugene, 1875-1959 Extent: 78,500 items ; 267 containers plus 2 oversize ; 107.6 linear feet ; 1 microfilm reel Language: Collection material in English Location: Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Summary: Investment banker, financier, public official, and newspaperman. Correspondence, memoranda, minutes, diaries, oral history interviews, speeches, writings, congressional testimony, press statements, financial papers, family papers, biographical material, printed material, scrapbooks, photographs, and other papers relating to Meyer's life and career. Selected Search Terms The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein. People Baruch, Bernard M. (Bernard Mannes), 1870-1965--Correspondence. Bixby, Fred H.--Correspondence. Blythe, Samuel G. (Samuel George), 1868-1947--Correspondence. Friendly, Alfred--Correspondence. Friendly, Alfred. Graham, Philip L., 1915-1963. Hyman, Sidney. Kahn family. Meyer family. Meyer, Eugene, 1875-1959. Weill family. Wiggins, James Russell, 1903-2000--Correspondence. Wiggins, James Russell, 1903-2000. Zadoc family. Organizations Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Company. Allied Chemical & Dye Corporation. American Institute of Public Opinion. American Radiator and Standard Sanitary Corporation. Anaconda Copper Co. Boston Consolidated Mining Company. Clover Croft School. Gallup Organization. Granby Consolidated Mining, Smelting and Power Company, Ltd. Maxwell Motors. United States. Federal Farm Loan Board. United States. Federal Reserve Board. War Finance Corporation (U.S.) Washington Criminal Justice Association. Washington Post Company. Subjects Advertising. Eugene Meyer Papers 2 Agriculture--United States. Aircraft industry. American newspapers--Washington (D.C.) Arts. Automobile industry and trade. Business. Charities. Commerce. Commercial policy. Corporations--Finance. Economic history. Economic policy. Economics. Finance. International economic relations. International economic relations. International finance. International trade. Journalism. Mental health. Metal trade. Mineral industries. Monetary policy. Newspaper publishing. Psychiatry. Psychology. Public opinion polls. Public relations. Ranching. Real estate business. Refugees. Social change. War reparations. World War, 1939-1945--Civilian relief. World War, 1939-1945. Places Europe--Description and travel. United States--Commercial policy. United States--Politics and government. Titles Washington post. Occupations Bankers. Financiers. Newspapermen. Public officials. Eugene Meyer Papers 3 Administrative Information Provenance The papers of Eugene Isaac Meyer, investment banker, financier, public official, and newspaperman, were deposited in the Library of Congress by his family in 1974 and converted to a gift in 1976. Additional material was given by the family between 1976 and 1982. Processing History The papers of Eugene Meyer were processed between 1974 and 1994. The finding aid was revised in 2013 and again in 2014 Transfers Items have been transferred from the Manuscript Division to other custodial divisions of the Library. Audio and video recordings have been transferred to the Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division. Some photographs and negatives have been transferred to the Prints and Photographs Division. All transfers are identified in these divisions as part of the Eugene Meyer Papers. Related Material .A related collection in the Manuscript Division includes the papers of Meyer's wife, Agnes Elizabeth Ernst Meyer. Copyright Status Copyright in the unpublished writings of Eugene Meyer in these papers and in other collections in the custody of the Library of Congress is reserved. Consult a reference librarian in the Manuscript Division for further information. Access and Restrictions The papers of Eugene Meyer are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use. Microfilm Microfilm on one reel was received as part of the papers of Eugene Meyer and is listed and described in this finding aid. This microfilm is not available for interlibrary loan. Online Content A digital version of part of the papers of Eugene Meyer is available on FRASER, the digital library of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, at https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/archival/?id=4951. Preferred Citation Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Container or reel number, Eugene Meyers Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Biographical Note Date Event 1875, Oct. 31 Born, Los Angeles, Calif. 1892 Attended University of California, Berkeley, Calif. 1895 Graduated, Yale University, New Haven, Conn. 1896-1900 Traveled in Europe; worked with Lazard Frres Eugene Meyer Papers 4 1901 Purchased seat on New York Stock Exchange 1904-1917 Operated Eugene Meyer, Jr., and Co. (investment firm) 1910 Married Agnes Elizabeth Ernst 1917 Non-ferrous metals adviser, War Industries Board, Council of National Defense 1918-1919 Director, managing director, War Finance Corp. 1921-1927 Director, managing director, War Finance Corp. 1927-1929 Farm loan commissioner, Federal Farm Loan Board 1930-1933 Member and governor, Federal Reserve Board 1932 Chairman, Reconstruction Finance Corp. 1933-1946 Publisher, Washington Post 1941 Member, National Defense Mediation Board 1944 Established Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation 1946 President, International Bank for Reconstruction 1947-1959 Chairman of the board, Washington Post 1954 Purchased Washington Times-Herald 1959, July 17 Died, Washington, D.C. Scope and Content Note The papers of Eugene Meyer (1875-1959) span the period 1864-1970, with the bulk of the material concentrated in the years 1890-1959. The collection consists of correspondence, memoranda, minutes of meetings, diaries, oral history interviews, speeches, writings, congressional testimony, press statements, financial papers, family papers, biographical material, printed material, scrapbooks, photographs, and miscellaneous items. The papers are organized in three installments of sixteen overlapping series: Part I: Memoirs and Diaries, Part I: Family Papers, Part I: General Correspondence, Part I: Speeches and Writings, Part I: Subject File, Part I: Miscellany, Part II: Family and General Correspondence, Part II: Speeches and Writings, Part II: Subject File, Part III: Diaries, Part III: Family and Personal Correspondence, Part III: General Correspondence, Part III: Subject File, Part III: Miscellany, Part III: Scrapbooks, and Part III: Additions. The collection documents Meyer's career as a financier, public servant, and newspaper publisher. From about 1900 to 1917, he was a broker and businessman; from 1918 to 1933 and briefly during World War II and in 1946, he was in government service; and from 1933 until 1959, the owner and publisher of the Washington Post. Included is biographical and background material on Meyer, his family, and business associates nationally and internationally. A major focus is on American economic and financial history, including agricultural and political economy, corporate finance, international monetary affairs, regulation of currencies, foreign trade, and war reparations. The collection treats business and financial interests extending from the automobile, airplane, and metals industries to mining, ranching, and real estate. Also featured Eugene Meyer Papers 5 are his connections to the artistic community and a lifelong interest in psychology, psychiatry, and mental health. Material on the Washington Post, although extensive, relates less to editorial policies and practices than on the business aspects of advertising, public relations, syndication, and circulation. Subject File series in the three parts emphasize organizational rather than individual activity. Documented in addition to the Washington Post are Meyer's association with the War Finance Corporation, the Federal Farm Loan Board, and the Federal Reserve Board. Other subjects of importance pertain to Washington, D.C., to organizations such as the Washington Criminal Justice Association, and to Meyer's philanthropies during World War II. Examples of the latter include Clover Croft School files relating to refugee children and material concerning German Jewish refugees and the Zadoc-Kahn and Weill families. Also treated are postwar efforts by Meyer to supply food to Europe, privately and publicly. Speeches and Writings files chiefly concern Meyer's functions in government service, but also touch on Washington Post events and issues, the state of journalism, travels in Europe, and economic conditions. Included are texts of appearances before congressional