Series Part IX, III: Diaries and Oral Histories, 1941-1975

Series

Call Number: MS 628, Series Part IX, III

Scope and Contents

Bowles' recollections and reminiscences both in the form of diary entries and oral histories and oral history interviews with Bowles' associates are arranged in the following subseries:

1) Diaries

2) Oral History Interviews with Bowles

3) Oral History Interviews with Bowles' Associates

1) Diaries: the diaries are arranged in chronological order and are for the most part retrospective rather than daily accounts. Though the diaries span Bowles' entire public career they are quite fragmentary. Only the volumes of the diary written during the second ambassadorship, the New Delhi diaries (beginning in 1963), approach completeness.

note TO "NEW DELHI DIARIES": A typewritten rough "transcript" accompanies each of the "New Delhi Diaries." The transcriptions were made by close associates of Bowles, long familiar with his difficult handwriting. Although the transcripts have been roughly reviewed against the originals, many words and phrases, especially where Indian names are given have not been satisfactorily deciphered. Here and there a whole sentence, even a paragraph, may have been omitted in the transcriptions.

Researchers will wish to check closely with the handwritten originals, Quotation from the Diaries can be made only with specific permission of Manuscripts and Archives.

2) Oral History Interviews with Bowles: transcripts of oral history interviews with Bowles done for the Columbia Oral History Project, the John F. Kennedy Library, and the Lyndon B. Johnson Library.

3) Oral History Interviews with Bowles' Associates: most of the interviews were recorded between 1973 and 1975 by Jean Joyce at the request of Bowles, though he did not review them. The oral histories are an illuminating supplement to the written record and cover Bowles' career from the 1930's through his many periods of public service.

Manuscripts and Archives holds the audio tapes and transcripts of the interviews under terms stipulated in an instrument of gift. Most transcripts are made available for research in accordance with the regulations and policies of the Yale University Library governing the use of manuscripts. In cases where this is not true, i.e., where the interviewee requires, his written authorization before a transcript may be used, a note is made to this effect on the list of interviews that follows. Interviewees must be consulted regarding the publication of their interviews or of extensive excerpts from them. After the death of the interviewee, authorization for publication must be secured from the Yale University Library. Audio tapes of the interviews will be made available to researchers only with the written authorization of the interviewee.

Dates

1941-1975

Physical Description

(8 boxes)

Conditions Governing Access

From the Collection: Boxes 220-223, which contain constituent correspondence, are restricted until 2035 Jan 1.

The transcript of the oral history interview with Douglas Bennet, Jr. in Box 399b is closed until the deed of gift is secured from Bennet.

Box 408, which contains restricted personal and financial papers is closed until 2025 Jan 1.

Box 409, which contains audio tapes of oral history interviews with Bowles's associates, is not open to researchers.

Original audiotapes, videotapes, and motion picture films, as well as preservation and duplicating masters, may not be played. Researchers must consult use copies, or pay for the creation of a use copy, retained by the repository, if none exist.