Scope and Contents
The Edwin Rogers Embree Papers consist of approximately 3,000 items, filed in nine archive boxes. The collection contains personal and professional correspondence (especially with Clarence Day), as well as correspondence concerning several of Embree's books. Also included in the collection are the journals of his trips abroad and articles, book reviews, and speeches on cultural anthropology, education, medicine, nursing, race relations, and religion. These materials have been arranged into the following five series.
SERIES I. CORRESPONDENCE is arranged alphabetically by correspondent or subject and chronologically within the files; a chronological file of general correspondence precedes the alphabetical listing. Of particular note is the rather extensive correspondence with Clarence Day between 1926 and 1936. It should also be noted that correspondence exists within other series in this collection, especially where it concerns articles or books that Mr. Embree wrote.
SERIES II. FAMILY JOURNALS contains the journals that Edwin Embree kept on his travels around the world. The journals (1918-1949) covering travel in all major areas of the world, was usually mimeographed and sent to friends and family. For additional accounts of these trips see the journals of Edwin's son, John Fee Embree. (Historical Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University).
SERIES III. ARTICLES, SPEECHES, AND TALKS is arranged alphabetically by general subject and chronologically within the subject files. Included is some correspondence regarding various speeches and articles by Embree, especially the article "Timid Billions" which appeared in the March, 1949, issue of Harpers and reflected on Embree's many years working with philanthropic foundations.
SERIES IV. BOOKS contains little manuscript material, but includes correspondence, publicity, and reviews of his various books arranged chronologically by title.
SERIES V. MISCELLANEOUS, contains such items as clippings, diplomas, and passports.
The papers are the gift of Mrs. Catherine Embree Harris, 1964, 1967.
Dates
- 1903-1956
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The entire collection is available on microfilm. Patrons must use FILM HM 167 instead of the originals.
Existence and Location of Copies
Entire collection also available on microfilm (7,915 frames on 9 reels, 35mm.) from Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library, at cost. Order no. HM167.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright status for 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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mrs. Catherine Embree Harris, 1964, 1967.
Arrangement
Arranged in five series: I. Correspondence. II. Family Journals. III. Articles, Speeches, and Talks. IV. Books. V. Miscellaneous.
Extent
4.5 Linear Feet (9 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Abstract
The papers consist of personal and professional correspondence; family journals (1918-1949) of trips to Europe, China, Samoa, Java and Central America; and articles, book reviews and speeches on cultural anthropology (particularly on the Pacific), education, medicine, American race relations, and philanthropic institutions. Among Embree's professional papers are also financial statements and other materials relating to the Julius Rosenwald Fund, the Rockefeller Foundation and other philanthropies with which he was associated. Prominent correspondents include James Bryant Conant, Clarence Day, Harold Ickes, Esther Rauschenbush, Walter Reuther, John D. Rockefeller and Harold Taylor.
Biographical / Historical
Between 1917-1927, Edwin Rogers Embree served as secretary, director of the Division of Studies, and vice-president of the Rockefeller Foundation. Between 1928-1948, he was vice-president, director of the Division of Human Biology, and president of the Julius Rosenwald Fund.
CHRONOLOGY OF EDWIN ROGERS EMBREE
- 1883
- Born 31 July at Osceola, Nebraska; youngest of seven children
- 1883
- Father, Norris Jones Embree, Union Pacific Railroad Company, telegrapher
- 1883
- Mother, Laura Ann (Fee) Embree, daughter of Rev. John Gregg Fee, abolitionist preacher and founder of Berea College (in Kentucky). Family later moved to Wyoming and then Kentucky where young Embree came under the influence of his grandfather, Rev. John Fee. Collection contains correspondence with his brother, William Dean Embree, '02, born in 1880 in Humbolt, Kansas.
- 1906
- B.A. from Yale
- 1906-1907
- Reporter, New York Sun
- 1907
- 16 July, Married Kate Scott; Embree had three children: John Fee; Edwina Rogers, Mrs. E. A. Devereux; Catherine Day, Mrs. A. L. Harris.
- 1907-1917
- Member of administration at Yale:
- 1907-1909
- Associate Editor, Yale Alumni Weekly; Met Clarence S. Day, Jr., '96.
- 1909-1911
- Alumni Editor, Yale Alumni Weekly
- 1910
- Organizer with Clarence S. Day, Jr., of Class Secretaries Bureau
- 1910-1917
- Director of Class Secretaries Bureau
- 1911-1917
- Alumni Registrar and Executive Assistant to Secretary, Yale University
- 1914-1917
- Secretary, Bureau of Appointments
- 1914
- M. A. in Philosophy from Yale
- 1917-1927
- Association with Rockefeller Foundations:
- 1917-1923
- Secretary, Rockefeller Foundations
- 1918
- Trip to France as member of Rockefeller Tuberculosis Commission. Met Julius Rosenwald.
- 1924-1927
- Director, Division of Studies, Rockefeller Foundation
- 1927
- Vice-President, Rockefeller Foundation
- 1920
- Trip to Europe
- 1921
- Trip to China
- 1922
- Trip to China
- 1923
- Trip to Puerto Rico and Europe
- 1925-1926
- Trip to Pacific
- 1927
- Trip to Central America
- 1928-1948
- Association with Julius Rosenwald Fund:
- 1928-1930
- Vice-President and Director, Division Human Biology, Julius Rosenwald Fund
- 1930-1948
- President, Julius Rosenwald Fund
- 1931
- Publication - Brown America
- 1932
- Death of Julius Rosenwald
- 1932
- Trip to Samoa
- 1932
- Publication - Prospecting for Heaven A New School for American Samoa
- 1933
- Trip to Java
- 1934
- Publication - Island India Goes To School Trip to Russia
- 1939
- Publication - Indians of the Americas
- 1942
- Publication - American Negroes
- 1943
- Publication - Brown Americans
- 1944
- Publication - Thirteen Against the Odds
- 1948-1949
- Publication - Peoples of the Earth
- 1948-1949
- President, Liberia Foundation. Associated with Edward R. Stettinius, Jr. Took trip to Liberia.
- 1949
- Publication - "Timid Billions;" Investment in People; Death of Edward Stettinius
- 1949-1950
- Consultant John Hay Whitney and Greenwood Foundations
- 1950
- Death of Embree on February 21; death of his son, John F. Embree, and John's daughter, Clare, on December 22.
- Africa
- African Americans
- Anthropology
- Asia
- Charities
- Charity organization
- Chase, Harry Woodburn, 1883-1955
- Conant, James Bryant, 1893-1978
- Conklin, Edwin Grant, 1863-1952
- Day, Clarence, 1874-1935
- Education -- Aims and objectives
- Embree, Edwin R. (Edwin Rogers), 1883-1950
- Endowment of research
- Endowments
- Europe
- Europe -- Description and travel
- Humanitarianism
- Ickes, Harold L. (Harold LeClair), 1874-1952
- Johnson, Charles Spurgeon, 1893-1956
- Jordan, W. K. (Wilbur Kitchener), 1902-1980
- Julius Rosenwald Fund
- Kilpatrick, William Heard, 1871-1965
- Latin America
- Liberian Foundation, Inc
- Lohman, Joseph D. (Joseph Dean), 1910-1968
- Raushenbush, Esther, 1898-1980
- Reuther, Walter, 1907-1970
- Rockefeller Foundation
- Rockefeller, John D., Jr. (John Davison), 1874-1960
- Social service
- Soviet Union
- Sparling, Edward James, 1896-
- Taylor, Harold, 1914-1993
- United States -- Race relations
- Yale College (1887- ). Class of 1906
- Title
- Guide to the Edwin Rogers Embree Papers
- Status
- Under Revision
- Author
- compiled by Staff of Manuscripts and Archives
- Date
- August 1971
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository
Yale University Library
P.O. Box 208240
New Haven CT 06520-8240 US
(203) 432-1735
(203) 432-7441 (Fax)
beinecke.library@yale.edu
Location
Sterling Memorial Library
Room 147
120 High Street
New Haven, CT 06511