Title: George A. Garrett Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1947-1960

Creator:

• Garrett, George A., 1888-1971

Call Number: U.S. Mss Z

Quantity: 1.2 c.f. (1 archives box and 2 flat boxes)

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Correspondence and memorabilia kept by Garrett during his service as minister and ambassador to Ireland, 1947-1951, and as a civic leader in Washington, D.C., 1954-1960. The collection consists of correspondence, addresses, newspaper clippings of highlights from Garrett's diplomatic career, and scrapbooks containing clippings and correspondence relating to Garrett's work as president of the Federal City Council for Washington, D.C., and his leadership in urban redevelopment for the District of Columbia.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-us00000z

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George A. Garrett was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, August 5, 1888. He attended grade and high school in Lake Forest, Illinois. From there, he went to Cornell University, 1906-1907, and on to the University of Chicago for the following three years. For the first two years that he was out of college Mr. Garrett worked with a Chicago bank. In 1912, he became vice president of the Dupont National Bank of Washington, D.C., a post he held for the next five years. During the First World War he was a lieutenant with the United States Army Air Force. After the war he entered the brokerage business.

When President Truman appointed Garrett as Minister to Ireland, April 6, 1947, Mr. Garrett was associated with one of the oldest brokerage and investment firms in the United States. His biggest success while Minister was the signing of the bilateral pact of June 28, 1948, between the United States and Ireland allowing Ireland to take part in the European Recovery Program. On February 25, 1950, Mr. Garrett's rank was raised to that of Ambassador. On his return to the United States, circa 1951, Mr. Garrett again became associated with the investment firm of Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner, and Beane and resumed his interest in the civic affairs of Washington, D.C. In 1954 President Eisenhower appointed him President of the Federal City Council, a group responsible for planning redevelopment projects in Washington.

Box 1 of the Garrett papers consists almost entirely of materials collected by Mr. Garrett between April 6, 1947, when he was appointed Minister to Ireland, and May 28, 1951, when he left Ireland after resigning his post as Ambassador. Included are correspondence, addresses, ceremonial directions, a menu autographed by officials of the Irish Government, and newspaper clippings of highlights from Mr. Garrett's diplomatic career.

The correspondence includes these letters of special note:

Letters signed by Harry Truman	1947, April 15
	1947, April 24
	1948, Aug. 4
	1948, Nov. 5
	1948, Dec. 1 (This has a short handwritten comment.)
	1951, Jan. 10
Letters signed by Dean Acheson	1947, April 10
	1950, Mar. 21
	1951, May 21
Letter handwritten by Conor Maguire, Irish Chief Justice	1947, July 19
Letter signed by Colonel Robert McCormick	1948, July 30
Letter signed by Mrs. Robert McCormick	1959, June 19

Boxes 2 and 3 contain scrapbooks, 1954-1960, containing clippings and correspondence relating to Garrett's work as President of the Federal City Council for Washington, D.C. These concern his leadership in urban redevelopment for the District of Columbia, especially community improvement in the southwest area.

Acquisition Information

Presented by George A. Garrett, Washington, D.C., September 9, 1961.

Box   1 Folder   1	Correspondence, 1947, April 10 - 1959, June 19 Scope and Content Note: The correspondence is entirely concerned with Mr. Garrett's appointment as Envoy to Ireland and his diplomatic work. There is only one letter after 1951, May 21.
Box   1 Folder   1	Addresses, 1947, July 28 - 1951, August Scope and Content Note: The addresses concern presentation of Garrett's credentials as Minister; signing of the European Recovery Program agreement between the United States and Eire; and presentation of Mr. Garrett's credentials as Ambassador.
Box   1 Folder   1	Ceremonial directions, 1947, July 28 - 1950, July Scope and Content Note: The directions are for the ceremonies of: presentation of Mr. Garrett's credentials as Minister; visit of the United States ships to Dublin; presentation of Mr. Garrett's credentials as Ambassador; and award of LL.D. degree to Mr. Garrett from Trinity College, Dublin.
Box   1 Folder   1	Menu, 1948, June 28 Scope and Content Note: This is autographed by Irish governmental officials at a luncheon on the occasion of the signing of the European Recovery Program agreement.
Box   1 Folder   2	Newspaper clippings, 1947, March 10 - 1951, May 28 Scope and Content Note: The clippings concern Mr. Garrett's appointment and activities as Minister and Ambassador to Ireland.
	Clippings and letters relating to the Federal City Council
Box   2 Volume   1	1954-1956
Box   3 Volume   2	1957-1960