Overview
| Repository: |
Manuscripts and Archives
Sterling Memorial Library 128 Wall Street P.O. Box 208240 New Haven, CT 06520 Web: http://www.library.yale.edu/mssa/ Email: mssa.assist@yale.edu Phone: (203) 432-1735 Fax: (203) 432-7441 |
| Call Number: | MS 466 |
| Creator: | House, Edward Mandell, 1858-1938. |
| Title: | Edward Mandell House papers |
| Dates: | 1885-2007 |
| Bulk Dates: | 1885-1938 |
| Physical Description: | 205.5 linear feet |
| Language(s): | The materials are in English, German, and French. |
| Summary: | The papers consist of correspondence, diaries, memoirs, writings, photographs, memorabilia, and other papers documenting Edward M. House's personal life and political career. The diary details his childhood experiences and also notes political observations (1912-1924). Materials relating to the Paris Peace Conference include minutes of meetings of the Supreme Council and memoranda from various countries presenting claims. Writings include essays, reviews, novels, and other works. Correspondence includes letters to and from Woodrow Wilson, Charles Seymour, American and foreign politicians, and newspaper and political journalists. Also includes DVDs of Godfrey Hodgson's lectures and an interveiw regarding his biography of House. |
| View/Search: | To view and/or search the entire finding aid, see the Printable PDF. |
| Finding Aid Link: | To cite or bookmark this finding aid, use the following address: http://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/mssa.ms.0466 |
| Catalog Record: | A record for this collection, including location information, may be available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog. |
Administrative Information
Provenance
Gift of Edward M. House beginning in 1923. Gift of Edward H. Auchincloss, 1991, 2007. Gift of Maryland Historical Trust, 2003.
Information about Access
The records are open for research.
Diary, Reminiscences, and Memories (original transcriptions) of Colonel Edward M. House are digitized and also available on microfilm from Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library. Four logbooks kept during the Paris Peace Conference are also available on microfilm. Patrons must use the digital copies, the microfilm, or use copies instead of the originals.
Original audiovisual materials, as well as preservation and duplicating masters, may not be played. Researchers must consult use copies, or if none exist must pay for a use copy, which is retained by the repository. Researchers wishing to obtain an additional copy for their personal use should consult Copying Services information on the Manuscripts and Archives web site.
Ownership & Copyright
Unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection are in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Copies of commercially produced audiovisual materials contained in this collection cannot be made for researcher use outside of the repository.
Cite As
Edward Mandell House Papers (MS 466). Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library.
Alternative Formats
Diary, Reminiscences, and Memories of Colonel Edward M. Houseare digitized (see links in Collection Contents) and microfilmed. The microfilm (4 reels, 35mm.) is available from Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library, at cost. Order no. HM236.
Four logbooks kept during the Paris Peace Conference are available on microfilm (1 reel, 35mm.) from Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library, at cost. Order no. HM68.
Biographical/Historical note
Edward Mandell House was born July 26, 1858 in Houston, Texas. He became active in Texas politics and served as an advisor to President Woodrow Wilson, particularly in the area of foreign affairs. One of America's greatest diplomats, he served as Wilson's chief negotiator in Europe (1917-1919) and as chief deputy for Wilson at the Paris Peace Conference. His major achievements were participating in the drafting of Wilson's Fourteen Points and the Covenant of the League of Nations; and securing an armistice based on American ideals. He died on March 28, 1938 in New York City.
Scope and Contents note
The materials in these papers, comprising roughly 300 boxes of manuscript and printed sources, relate to a period extending from 1885 to 1938 and reflect Colonel House's three major (and lifelong) professional interests: developments in Texas, Democratic Party politics, and foreign affairs. The papers are especially useful to students of the period 1912 to 1919, when Colonel House served as President Wilson's principal political adviser. Probably the richest part of the entire collection deals with Colonel House's experiences at the Paris Peace Conference of 1918-1919.
Series I, Correspondence, the most extensive part of The Papers of Colonel E. M. House covers the years 1894 to 1938. The series include the originals or copies of all personal as well as most official (or semi-official) communications preserved by Colonel House. The correspondence files include letters to House from more than 6,000 individuals as well as copies of his replies to them. Of particular interest are the letter to and from Woodrow Wilson, Charles Seymour, foreign statesmen, and American ambassadors.
Series II, Diaries, contains typewritten transcripts of three separate documents prepared over a number of years under Colonel House's personal supervision. The diary provides a daily record of Colonel House's activities from 1912 to 1919, and less elaborate entries from 1920 to 1926. It was dictated almost daily to Frances Denton, House's private secretary, who accompanied him on all his trips abroad. The work is remarkable for its revelation of House’s frank and personal assessments of the personalities and projects of the era. The "Memories" and "Reminiscences" provide autoboagraphical account of House's life, supplementing the diary. Also included in the series are logbooks kept from October 31, 1918 to June 29, 1919, which provide evidence of the number of individuals who visited House private office.
Series III, Political Papers, is divided into three principal sections: Domestic and International Questions, 1911-1918; The Paris Peace Conference, 1918-1919; Domestic and International Questions, 1920-38. Of these, Section The Paris Peace Conference, 1918-1919, is by far the most extensive and second only to the Diary and certain segments of General Correspondence in overall interest and historical value.
Series V, Personal and Memorabilia, contains copies of over 75 magazine and newspaper articles, as well as an immense collection of newspaper clippings (especially rich for the years 1912-1922 and 1926-1928), personal scrapbooks and a small collection of photographs , and a miscellanea of additional items.
Also included are Godfrey Hodgson's lectures and an interview regarding his biography of House.
Arrangement note
Arranged in five series and four additions: I. Correspondence, 1894-1938. II. Diaries, 1858-1926. III. Political Papers, 1911-1938. IV. Writings, 1912-1938. V. Personal and Memorabilia, 1892-1938.