Today's post was written by David Langbart, archivist in Textual Reference at the National Archives at College Park, MD. In August 1921, the Department of State sent a circular to all American diplomatic posts asking for answers to a multi-page questionnaire soliciting information to clarify “the needs of the Government in the matter of appropriations … Continue reading A Founder of the United States Foreign Service Writes: Joseph Grew on the Importance of Diplomatic Service, 1921
Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. In 1957, the U.S. Foreign Service had relatively few women members and up to that date only seven women had ever held the position of Minister or Ambassador (head of a diplomatic post). The … Continue reading Recognizing Women in Foreign Affairs, 1957
Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. American diplomats overseas have many functions. Perhaps the most important is to serve as eyes and ears of the United States and reporting what they learn and what they think it means. At various … Continue reading Diplomatic Reporting
Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. Soviet leader Joseph Stalin died on March 5, 1953, at 9:50PM Moscow time. First word of his final illness was announced by Soviet authorities a day earlier. The Soviet bulletin announced that Stalin had … Continue reading Cold War Humor, 1953
Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. February 14 marks the thirty-ninth anniversary of the murder of U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Adolph "Spike" Dubs in Kabul, Afghanistan. On February 14, 1979, Ambassador Dubs was kidnapped while being driven through the streets … Continue reading Tribute to a Fallen Diplomat
Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. John Foster Dulles became Secretary of State on January 21, 1953. By the time he attained that position, Dulles had amassed considerable foreign policy experience both in and out of government. The grandson of … Continue reading John Foster Dulles Enters Duty as Secretary of State
Today’s post was written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. In an unusual move, given that the incumbent President remained in office, after winning the election of 1940, Franklin D. Roosevelt requested the formal resignation of all chiefs of U.S. diplomatic missions overseas (ambassadors … Continue reading “In the Interest of the Efficiency of the Foreign Service”: Changes in US Diplomatic Representation Abroad after the Election of 1940
By David Langbart The Great Depression had a serious negative impact on the situation of American diplomatic and consular officials overseas. As the end of the first year of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency drew near, the President sent the following note to Secretary of State Cordell Hull: MEMORANDUM FROM … Continue reading Presidential greetings, c. 1933
Today's post is written by David Langbart, a senior processing archivist in College Park. Sometimes records long thought to be lost find their way home. One such occurrence took place recently. The U.S. embassy in Germany received from the German government some files from the U.S. consulate in Dresden. The records had been found among … Continue reading Records Lost and Found, or, Dresden on the Eve of Destruction
