Skip to main content

Thomas Wells Farnam papers

 Collection
Call Number: MS 659

Scope and Contents

The T. W. Farnam Papers comprise those materials which relate to Farnam's service in Serbia during 1918-1919. They are arranged in five series, as follows:

(I) General Correspondence (1918-1919). (1 box) [arranged alphabetically by correspondent]

(II) Cablegrams. (1 box) Copies of official cables from Washington, Paris, and Rome.

(III) Progress (and other operational) Reports. (1 box) Copies of progress reports from various Yugoslav regions by members of the American Mission, and drafts of the "Final Report" of June 1919.

(IV) Miscellaneous Operational and Administrative Memoranda and Notes. (1 box) [arranged alphabetically by topical subdivisions]

(V) Personal and Memorabilia. (1 box and 1 oversize portfolio) Farnam's "Diary", covering the period January - June 1919; copies of correspondence of Harry W. Frantz and Cornelia Reese concerning Thomas W. Farnam, 1944-1945; miscellaneous photographs taken in Serbia; and citations, warrants and diplomas.

Dates

  • 1918-1919, 1944-1945
  • Majority of material found within 1918 - 1919

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection are in the public domain.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.

Arrangement

Arranged in five series: I. General Correspondence. II. Cables. III. Progress and Other Operational Reports. IV. Miscellaneous Operational and Administrative Memoranda and Notes. V. Personal and Memorabilia.

Extent

4 Linear Feet (5 boxes, 1 folio)

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/mssa.ms.0659

Abstract

Correspondence, cablegrams, reports, notes, and other papers of Thomas W. Farnam, financier and administrator. These papers relate to Farnam's service in Serbia, 1918-1919, as American Red Cross Commissioner in charge of relief and hospitals following World War I.

Biographical / Historical

Thomas Wells Farnam was born in Litchfield, Connecticut. He attended Milton and Hotchkiss and received his B. A. from Yale in 1899. Between 1901 and 1917 he was involved in various banking and investment enterprises in New Haven. Immediately following the American declaration of war against Germany Farnam was appointed Associate Director (he subsequently became Director) of the American Red Cross Supply Service in Washington, D. C. From October 1917 to September 1918 he served as Assistant United States Food Administrator for the state of Connecticut. Farnam was then appointed American Red Cross Commissioner to Serbia in charge of relief and hospitals, carrying the assimilated rank of Lieutenant Colonel: he was posted to Belgrade where he remained through the middle of 1919. After the signing of the treaty of Versailles Farnam returned to New Haven, and he devoted the remaining years of his life to Yale University administrative affairs. He served, in turn, as Alumni Fellow of the Yale Corporation (1919-1922), Acting Secretary of the university (1920-1923), Associate Treasurer, and Comptroller (1921-1943). He died in 1943.

Title
Guide to the Thomas Wells Farnam Papers
Status
Under Revision
Author
compiled by N. X. Rizopoulos with the assistance of Anne Willard
Date
April 1973
Description rules
Finding Aid Created In Accordance With Manuscripts And Archives Processing Manual
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
Yale University Library
P.O. Box 208240
New Haven CT 06520-8240 US
(203) 432-1735
(203) 432-7441 (Fax)

Location

Sterling Memorial Library
Room 147
120 High Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Opening Hours