William Edwards and Eleanor Bumstead Stevenson Papers

The papers of William Edwards Stevenson (1900-85) and his wife Eleanor Bumstead Stevenson (1902-87) document the joint public service careers of the Stevensons over a period of forty-five years. Correspondence with their families (1917-25) and with each other (1924-25), as well as genealogical records such as diaries, wills, and marriage certificates, bring to light the privileged New England childhoods and family relationships which fostered their social ideals. The arrangement of the Stevensons' papers into two subgroups--the papers of William E. Stevenson and the papers of Eleanor B. Stevenson--does not diminish the collaborative nature of the couple's work. Correspondence addressed to "Bill and Bumpy" (1926-85) has been retained with William Stevenson's papers; records of their travels together have not been disturbed; and the bulk of the photographs, clippings, and printed materials relate to both Stevensons. At the same time, separating Eleanor Stevenson's professional correspondence, honors, and writings from the larger body of her husband's papers allows her achievements to be better assessed.

The Stevenson Papers consist of correspondence, photographs, scrapbooks, writings, tape recordings, oral history transcripts, printed materials, honorary medals, plaques, and gifts collected or created by the Stevensons during their youth (1917-25) and during their service in England, North Africa and Italy with the American Red Cross (1942-45); at Oberlin College, where Stevenson was President (1946-59); in the Philippines, where he served as American Ambassador (1961-64); at the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Study, where he moderated the Executive Seminar and served as President (1967-70); in government service on various committees; and in retirement in Colorado and Florida (1970-87).

The collection has been divided into three subgroups: I. The William Edwards Stevenson Papers, and II. The Eleanor B. Stevenson Papers. Within subgroups, the papers have been divided into series alphabetically arranged. Subgroup I includes the following series: 1. Correspondence; 2. Genealogical Records and Family History; 3. Honors, Awards, and Gifts; 4. Miscellaneous Professional Papers; 5. Oral History Interviews and Tape Recordings; 6. Photographs; 7. Scrapbooks and Guestbooks; 8. Travel Files; 9. Writings of William E. Stevenson; 10. Address Books; 11. Materials Relating to Adlai Stevenson; and 12. Motion Picture Films (Reels, Tapes, and DVDs). Subgroup II includes the following series: 1. Correspondence; 2. Diaries and Early Writings; 3. Genealogical Records of Bumstead/Ulrich families; 4. Honors and Miscellaneous Personal Papers; 5. Writings of Eleanor B. Stevenson, and 6. Photographs. Subgroup III Miscellaneous Stevenson Papers is arranged into six small series: 1. Correspondence; 2. Journals and Writings; 3. Miscellaneous; 4. Newspaper Clippings and Printed Matter; 5. Non-textual Items; and 6. Stevenson Family History. Within each series, materials are typically arranged alphabetically or chronologically.

The phases of William Stevenson's career least well documented by the papers are his legal career in New York (1925-42, 1945-46) and his work as leader of the Executive Seminar at the Aspen Institute (1967-70) and as the institute's President (1969-70). Little documentation exists of Stevenson's work as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (1925-27), his employment with the firm of Davis Polk (1927-31), and his fourteen years with the firm he co-founded, Debevoise Stevenson (1931-42, 1945-46). Papers from this period (1925-42, 1945-46) include Stevenson's 1925 letter of appointment as Assistant U.S. Attorney; his 1927 certificate of admission to practice in the courts of New York as an Attorney and Counselor; a series of briefs (1925, 1928-30, 1941, 1945-46); an unbound scrapbook of clippings (1926-27) relating to the cases Stevenson prosecuted under U.S. Attorney Emory Buckner; and three volumes of hearing transcripts (1946). These records are housed in Series 4, Miscellaneous Professional Papers. Papers relating to Stevenson's work for the Aspen Institute include photographs and thank-you letters from business leaders who attended the Executive Seminar.

Most valuable for the study of the history of the American Red Cross or of relief operations in the Second World War is William Stevenson's professional correspondence (1942-45) as Red Cross Delegate to North Africa and Italy. Letters from Stevenson in London, Algiers, Palermo, and Naples to Richard F. Allen, Vice-Chairman of the American Red Cross, describe administrative problems and successes in establishing Red Cross clubmobiles and relief centers along the fighting fronts of the American Fifth Army as it launched and carried out the Invasion of Italy. Letters discuss personnel, staffing needs, morale, supplies requests, and Red Cross regulations. Incoming correspondence from the generals running the war, including Commanding General of the American Fifth Army, Mark Clark, Lieutenant General George S. Patton (1885-1945) (one letter), and other military personnel, discuss the needs of troops, deployment of the Red Cross clubmobiles, and generally commend Stevenson's effective work. The correspondence includes the secret communiques from British officials ordering Stevenson's transfer from London to Algiers in December 1942 and subsequent transfers to Sicily and Naples in 1943.

The professional correspondence of Eleanor Stevenson from the same period (1942-45) supplies details concerning field operations that are missing from Stevenson's mainly administrative correspondence. Letters from American G.I.s to Eleanor Stevenson serving with clubmobile units and hospitals on the Salerno and Anzio beachheads contain offers of friendship, poetry composed between battles, and an occasional letter of complaint over doughnut shortages. Correspondence with editors at the Saturday Evening Post relates to the publication of a series of articles by Eleanor Stevenson, I Knew Your Soldier (1944), which became the basis of the popular book of the same name. Materials relating to the book's publication, including publicity and galley fragments, are housed in Series 5, Writings of Eleanor Bumstead Stevenson. Also filed here are drafts of Eleanor Stevenson's speeches and the scripts for radio broadcasts in which she describes her Red Cross experience. The Stevenson's Red Cross service is further documented by memorabilia, honorary certificates and medals, photographs, and newspaper clippings.

The years of Stevenson's presidency of Oberlin College (1946-59) are best documented by his presidential papers, Record Group 2/8, in the Oberlin College Archives. In the papers here described, which were received after Stevenson's death, files relating to the Stevenson presidency include correspondence with Oberlin trustees Erwin N. Griswold, Brooks Emeny, and Louis Peirce (d. 1972); newspaper clippings; and numerous photographs of gatherings at the Stevenson residence, commencement celebrations, the Mock Convention of 1952, and distinguished visitors to Oberlin such as Gov. Adlai Stevenson (1900-65) in 1952 and General Mark W. Clark in 1947. Also of interest is an album of candid photographs taken at the Board of Trustees farewell dinner in the Stevensons' honor (1960). Stevenson's writings include Oberlin chapel talks, commencement speeches, and several policy statements.

Eleanor Stevenson's papers include two notebooks containing observations on Oberlin titled, "Oberliniana." Her professional correspondence includes letters from friends, such as Justice John Marshall Harlan (1899-1971) and Robert Maynard Hutchins (1899-1977), and from visitors to her home, including actor Edward Everett Horton (1886-1970) in 1953, and letters from individuals or groups to whom she spoke of her Red Cross experiences.

Records documenting Stevenson's tour as American Ambassador to the Philippines (1961-64) include professional correspondence with American and Philippine officials of a diplomatic nature (1961-64). Correspondents include John A. Lacey, Acting Principal Officer, Consulate General of the United States; William P. Bundy, Assistant Secretary of State; and Carlos Pena Romulo, Philippine author and hero of Bataan (1899-1985); memorabilia, including invitations and travel itineraries; a transcript of an oral history interview (1969) conducted with Stevenson for the John F. Kennedy Library regarding his service in Manila; three tape-recordings of addresses presented by Stevenson as Ambassador, including his remarks at the memorial rites for slain President John F. Kennedy (1963); numerous photographs and some slides; printed reports on Philippine culture and economy (1962-67); an unbound scrapbook of newspaper clippings (1961-64); and drafts of speeches (1961-64). Eleanor Bumstead's professional correspondence includes thank-you notes from Philippine and American visitors to Manila, including Virginia Romulo, Marie Harriman, and Maureen Mansfield; her memorabilia files include notes on Philippine language and culture.