Rthe Roosevelt review Cover of The Reporter magazine from February 1, 1962. From an RSC research project on “Magazines and Periodicals as Instruments of Twentieth- Century American Culture.” Fulfilling the RSC Dream “All Roads Lead to Washington”—the banner American History Awards, and in the number on the cover of The Reporter of February of publications by RSC staff members. 1962—may ring even more true today than four decades ago. The Cold War is over and a The backbone of the research center, the new century has begun with a single super- RSC’s holdings of U.S. primary source power. This political reality has perhaps made reference materials, continues to expand and the mission of the Roosevelt Study Center this year four new microform collections, Newsletter of even more compelling. including Papers of the Republican Party from the Roosevelt 1911-1980 and Papers of the Nixon White Study Center Ambitious new agreements of cooperation House, have been acquired. with several universities have been signed or are in the process of being signed. These have The NASA Conference on America’s Utopia 2000 led to exciting new research projects including and Dystopia and the Conference on California the examination of the influence of several have provided fresh new insights into the periodicals—The Reporter, The Paris Review development of the American Dream. And the and Commentary—on American culture. Four Freedoms Awards continue to be a There has been steady growth in the number wonderful celebration of the ideals of Franklin of students and scholars receiving RSC and Eleanor Roosevelt and distinguished a research grants, in the number of qualified citizens of the world today who have made applicants for the Theodore Roosevelt outstanding contributions to humanity. a The activities of the Roosevelt Study Center in the year 2000 have been made possible by financial and in-kind contributions. The RSC gratefully acknowledges the generosity of the following contributors: Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences Province of Zeeland Zeeland Library Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute Theodore Roosevelt Association University of Leiden Catholic University of Nijmegen University of Utrecht The Historical Documentation Center for Dutch Protestantism at the Free University in Amsterdam The Joint Archives of Holland at Hope College in Holland, Michigan United States Embassy, The Hague Dow Benelux N.V. Mr. Curtis Roosevelt The Roosevelt Stichting, a private foundation established to organize and raise funds for the biennial Four Freedoms Awards ceremony in Middelburg, gratefully acknowledges financial support in 2000 from the following contributors: Nationale Postcode Loterij Province of Zeeland City of Middelburg ABN/AMRO Bank N.V. Aegon N.V. Automatic Holland B.V. Citibank/Schroder Salomon Smith Barney Loontjens Automaten B.V. Outokumpu Steel Processing B.V. Transal B.V. Verbrugge Terminals B.V. Zeeland Seaports Mr. and Mrs. Alexander C. Helfrich Mr. Alexander P. van Heeren 2 “History, taught for a directly and immediately useful purpose to pupils and teachers of pupils, is one of the necessary features of a sound education in democratic citizenship.” Theodore Roosevelt, Presidential Address, American Historical Association, Boston, Massachusetts, 1912 The Theodore Roosevelt American History Awards Started in 1987, the annual Theodore Roosevelt American History Awards aim to promote the study of American history in the Netherlands in general and to encourage the use of the RSC’s unique historical collections by Dutch university students in particular. The program is sponsored by the Theodore Roosevelt Association in Oyster Bay, New York, and each year recognizes the three best Masters theses on an American history topic written by Dutch graduate students. Theodore Roosevelt not only served as the twenty-sixth president of the United States. As a prolific writer of history books he was also elected in Standing in front of Theodore Roosevelt’s portrait 1912 to be president of the American in the RSC exhibition hall are the three prize Historical Association. It is fitting that these winners of the TR American History Award 2000 American awards presented by the RSC (left to right): Oscar Zoetman (second prize), should be named in his honor. Marietje Bohmer (first), and Diana Burton-van den Bergh (third). Since the inception of the award, including this year’s entries, a total of 119 M.A. theses Controversy, 1933-1963.” The third prize was have been submitted by Dutch universities. given to Diana G. Burton-van den Bergh This time the American Studies Departments (Leiden) for her thesis “Mercy Otis Warren: of the universities of Leiden, Amsterdam, Liberty’s Champion, Virtue’s Guardian.” Utrecht, Nijmegen, and Groningen each nominated two M.A. theses as being the best All nominees were presented with a diploma of the past academic year. A jury of three and a copy of The Man in the Arena, a historians—Berteke Waaldijk (University of collection of Theodore Roosevelt’s speeches. Utrecht), Tity de Vries (University of In addition, the three prize winners received Groningen), and Eduard van de Bilt a Theodore Roosevelt inauguration medal, (universities of Leiden and Amsterdam)— and the winners of the second and third prizes evaluated these ten submissions. received cash prizes of NLG 500 and 250, respectively. First prize winner Marietje On March 24, 2000 the awards ceremony at Bohmer won a trip to New York where in May the RSC began with oral presentations by the she visited several “Roosevelt sites”: Theodore ten graduates about their theses and their most Roosevelt’s birthplace and the American The TR Inauguration important conclusions. This was followed by Museum of Natural History in New York Medal was minted on the jury report presented by its chair, Berteke City, TR’s house “Sagamore Hill” and other the occasion of his Waaldijk, in which all ten theses were TR sites in the Oyster Bay, Long Island area, second term as reviewed. The jury was pleased with the as well as the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library President which diversity in topics, covering both more and Museum and Eleanor Roosevelt’s house started on March 4, traditional political themes as well as gender “Val-Kill” in Hyde Park, New York. a 1905. Obverse: and race issues. There were also theses about portrait of TR. radio, television, music, magazines, and Reverse: Columbia, intellectual debates. In short, a broad her right hand resting spectrum of American history and culture. upon a column bearing a cinerary urn and First prize was won by Marietje Bohmer devices symbolizing (Leiden) for her thesis “Music, Jokes, and the authority of the Melodrama: Radio Programs and the United States. Definition of American Culture, 1920-1939.” The U.S. Capitol in Oscar Zoetman (Groningen) received the second the background. prize for his thesis “Hannah Arendt’s Ideas about Jewish Identity in the Eichmann 3 A Word About the Roosevelt Study Center RSC Board of The Roosevelt Study Center is a research historical documents and books on U.S. Trustees institute and conference center on twentieth- modern history not available anywhere else Nel J. Ginjaar-Maas century American history and European- in Europe; President American relations. It is named after three - a grants-in-aid program for European Huibert P. van Heel famous Americans: President Theodore researchers; Secretary Roosevelt (1858-1919), President Franklin - an annual prize for the best Dutch M.A. Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945), and Eleanor theses on American history topics; Otto von der Gablentz Roosevelt (1884-1962), who trace their roots - a program of exhibitions, international Rein Jan Hoekstra to the Dutch Province of Zeeland from conferences and seminars on American G. Willemien van where their common ancestor left for the history, U.S.-European relations, and the Montfrans-Hartman New World in the mid-seventeenth century. contemporary meaning of FDR’s Four Jacobus N.M. Freedoms; Richelle The Roosevelt Study Center is affiliated with - conference rooms with audio-visual Arno A. Vermeulen the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and facilities; Sciences and is a founding member of the - a publication series; and Lawrence H. Budner American Studies Network, a cooperation of - an annual newsletter. Anna Eleanor the twenty foremost American Studies Roosevelt Centers in Europe. From 2000 through 2002, The RSC library may be used year round for Ex Officio Members the RSC Director is serving as president of research, but by appointment only. Please this pan-European organization. contact the secretariat in advance of your visit. RSC Executive Office and library hours: 9.00 to 12.30 and Committee Gert L.C.M. de Kok In developing its activities and building its 13.30 to 17.00. The RSC exhibition hall is President collections, the RSC is supported by the open April through October, Monday through Lucky Nederhoed- Provincial Government of Zeeland, the Franklin Friday, from 11.00 to 12.30 and 13.30 to 16.30. Zijlstra and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute at Hyde Park, Secretary New York, the Theodore Roosevelt Association For information on the RSC holdings and its Cathrien Koster in Oyster Bay, New York, and an Advisory activities, please visit our homepage on the Treasurer Board of prominent scholars. Internet: www.roosevelt.nl or contact the Roosevelt Study Center, Abdij 9, P.O. Box Thijs Haks The RSC offers European students and 6001, 4330 LA Middelburg, the Netherlands, Truus Huisman advanced scholars of American history: tel. (31) (0)118-631590, fax (31) (0)118-631593, Lein N. Labruyère - a research library with collections of e-mail: [email protected]. a Cornelis A. van Minnen Immediately following the presentation of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Awards on May 27, Executive Director the first meeting of the newly established RSC Advisory Board was held. Current and future developments were discussed by (from left to right) Professor Anthony J.