Title: Joseph C. Harsch Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1928-1988

Creator:

• Harsch, Joseph Close, 1905-1998

Call Number: U.S. Mss 2AF; M89-099

Quantity: 21.0 c.f. (5 record center cartons, 38 archives boxes, and 5 volumes) and 5 photographs (1 folder); plus additions of 2.0 c.f.

Repository:

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

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

See the catalog entry for information of possible additional materials and shelf locations.

Abstract:

Papers of Joseph Close Harsch, a journalist and news broadcaster associated with CBS, BBC, NBC, and the Christian Science Monitor. Harsch's work is revealed through manuscripts of books, Pattern of Conquest (1941) and The Curtain Isn't Iron (1950); Monitor columns, and magazine articles; and scripts. The latter pertain to radio and television programs on NBC, CBS, and BBC, such as Background (NBC), Meaning of the News (CBS), and Report from Washington (CBS). In content, the scripts and articles reflect Harsch's varying assignments from coverage of the Harlan trial in Kentucky, the London Naval Conference, Germany and the Pacific theater during World War II, and post-war foreign affairs responsibilities in London and Washington, D.C. Photographs include portraits of Harsch, circa 1942-1950.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-us0002af

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Joseph C. Harsch was born in Toledo, Ohio, on May 25, 1905. He graduated in 1927 from Williams College in Williamstown, Masschusetts, and went on to earn another baccalaureate at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, England, in 1929.

After his return from Britain in 1929, Harsch was offered, and accepted, a position with the Christian Science Monitor. The years 1929-1939 are notable for two significant events in Harsch's career. In 1935 and 1936, he was sent to report the London Naval Conference. His second major assignment came in 1936 when he covered the Harlan Trial in Kentucky. These two assignments did much to establish Harsch in the world of journalism and paved the way for more important responsibilities.

From 1939 to 1941, Harsch enjoyed the tremendous advantage of being “on the spot” when the big news stories of World War II began to break. He covered Berlin, London, Rome, and Paris; he traveled with the Nazis as they rolled around the end of the Maginot Line into France; and he made a wager with Laval in Vichy France that the Hitler regime would be destroyed. Harsch's impressions of early wartime Germany are summed up in his book, Pattern of Conquest.

December 7, 1941, found the globe-trotting Harsch vacationing in Hawaii. The only war correspondent in the area stood helplessly by, however, while an amateur reporter monopolized the only remaining communication to the United States. By the time Harsch was able to file his first report (December 12), the islands were swarming with top-notch newsmen.

Harsch moved next to the Dutch East Indies, but was forced to evacuate shortly after the Japanese invaded Java. His next reports came in from Australia and record the waves of enthusiasm that swept through that country as General MacArthur arrived from Bataan.

Although Harsch had been heard now and then over radio “pinch hitting” for William L. Shirer from Berlin and William J. Dunn in Australia, he did not broadcast regularly until he returned to the Washington desk of the Christian Science Monitor. Here he began his long period of news analysis in 1943 with the radio series, Meaning of the News. This was presented over the Columbia Broadcasting System from March, 1943, to March, 1951, and over the Liberty Broadcasting System from April, 1951, to July, 1952. This series, along with his other series, Report from Washington, of January 2 - March 13, 1943, and the National Broadcasting Company newscasts of 1953 through 1955, afford an excellent analysis and review of the second world war, the politics-both national and international-of the post World War II period, the Korean War, and the post Korean war picture.

Harsch's popularity and reputation grew during the war years. This is reflected by increasing demands on him to lecture and publish. Trips to Europe in 1947, 1949, 1951, 1952, and 1953 gave him new material and kept the old up to date. Observations made on his journeys in Eastern Europe resulted in a second book in 1950, The Curtain Isn't Iron.

A great deal has been written about Harsch. Many personal comments on his works can be found in the correspondence. Examples are letters from General Douglas A. MacArthur (March 15, 1945), James A. Farley (November 23, 1954), Chester Bowles (August 28, 1950), General Omar Bradley (July 18, 1950), and Edward R. Murrow (August 31, 1954). No appraisal, however, does him as much justice as does this statement by the press department of NBC: “Harsch was chosen for the post of analyst for the Background series not only for his wide experience and reportorial background, but more important, for his voice and quiet wisdom which for years have combated fear, hysteria, and distortion.”

Joseph Close Harsch died on June 3, 1998.

This collection was received in multiple parts from the donor(s) and is organized into 4 major parts. These materials have not been physically interfiled and researchers might need to consult more than one part to locate similar materials.

• Part 1 (U.S. Mss 2AF): Original Collection, 1928-1979
• Part 2 (U.S. Mss 2AF): Additions, 1957-1967
• Part 3 (U.S. Mss 2AF): Additions, 1941-1979
• Part 4 (M89-099): Additions, 1970-1988

Acquisition Information

Presented by Joseph C. Harsch, Washington, D.C. and Jamestown, Rhode Island, 1957-1989. Accession Number: MCHC65-098, MCHC67-142, MCHC68-003, MCHC71-114, MCHC81-006, M89-099

Processing Information

Original Collection processed by Janice O'Connell, 1964; some Additions processed by Diane E., 1968; and Hans Kaiser and Menzi Behrnd-Klodt, 1987.

U.S. Mss 2AF	Part 1 (U.S. Mss 2AF): Original Collection, 1928-1979 Physical Description: 8.6 c.f. (19 archives boxes and 5 volumes)  Scope and Content Note: Part 1 pertains to Harsch's early career and includes chronological correspondence, his reports from the London Naval Conference and the Harlan Trial, his Monitor coverage of World War II, radio and television scripts (1943-1955), manuscripts of his books, reviews, and other items. At the end of this finding aid are three appendices compiled when this part of the collection was organized: (1) a partial bibliography of the writings of Harsch, (2) a list of articles about Harsch, and (3) a list of letters in Part I considered significant to the history of mass communications.
Box   1-7	Correspondence, 1928-1957, June 12
	Scripts
Box   8-13	Meaning of the News, 1943, March 15 - 1952, July 13
Box   14	Report from Washington, 1943, January 2 - March 13
Box   14	BBC scripts, 1943, November and 1944, December
Box   15	NBC broadcasts, 1953-1955
Box   16	Miscellaneous radio and television scripts, 1935-1954
Box   16	WCFM news scripts, 1950-1951
Box   16	Background series, 1954-1955
	Book manuscripts
Box   17	Pattern of Conquest
Volume   2	Reviews, 1941
Box   17	The Curtain Isn't Iron
	Articles
Box   18	Miscellaneous magazine articles
Box   19	Harlan Trial Articles, 1938
Box   19	Writings from Europe, 1939-1953
	Clipped Monitor articles
Volume   1	Articles on the London Naval Conference, 1935-1936
Volume   5	Articles on the Harlan Trial, 1938
Volume   4	1935, December 4 - 1941, March 17
Volume   3	1941, December 7 - 1942, August 26
Box   19	Miscellaneous reviews
Box   19	College mementos
U.S. Mss 2AF	Part 2 (U.S. Mss 2AF): Additions, 1957-1967 Physical Description: 7.0 c.f. (18 archives boxes)  Scope and Content Note: Correspondence, radio and television scripts, Christian Science Monitor column drafts, and other materials are included in Part 2. Appendix 4 is an index of selected prominent correspondents' letters in this portion of the collection.	⇧
	Correspondence
	General
Box   20	1957, January - 1959, June
Box   21	1959, July - 1961, December
Box   22	1962, January - 1964, May
Box   23	1964, May - 1966 and undated
	Financial
Box   23	1957-1960
Box   24	1961-1966
Box   24	Speaking Engagements, 1958-1965
	Scripts
	NBC Daily News Spots
Box   25	1957-1958
Box   26	1959-1962
Box   27	1963-1965
Box   28	NBC Niteline, 1957-1959
	NBC Weekenders
Box   28	1957 - 1962, July
Box   29	1962, August - 1964, December
Box   29	NBC Emphasis, 1959-1965
Box   30	NBC TV Scripts, 1960, May - 1965, May
	NBC Situation Reports
Box   30	1965, January - 1966, February
Box   31	1966, March - 1967, June
Box   31	Projection 58, 60, 61, 62
Box   31	U.N. Special
Box   31	The Twentieth Century
	Articles and Lectures
	Christian Science Monitor Column Drafts
Box   32	1957-1959
Box   33	1960-1962
Box   34	1963-1964
Box   35	1965-1966
Box   36	Lectures, 1957-1964
Box   36	Drafts of articles by Harsch, 1957-1965
Box   37	Newspaper clippings of Articles by Harsch
	Miscellany
Box   37	Interviews with Joseph C. Harsch
Box   37	Research Materials: Speeches by British governmental officials
Box   37	Background memoranda, reports, and notes by Harsch
Box   37	Miscellaneous undated materials
Box   37	Miscellaneous financial statements
Box   37	NBC expense accounts, 1965-1967
U.S. Mss 2AF	Part 3 (U.S. Mss 2AF): Additions, 1941-1979 Physical Description: 5.4 c.f. (5 record center cartons and 1 archives box)  Scope and Content Note Part 3 of the Harsch Papers has been arranged in two sections: Correspondence and Personal Papers, and Broadcast Scripts and Article Drafts. Harsch's CORRESPONDENCE AND PERSONAL PAPERS include several folders of general correspondence from friends and business associates, mainly pertaining to his reporting, broadcasting, writing, and related travel arrangements; letters sent to the Christian Science Monitor in response to Harsch's columns, and drafts of Harsch's replies to the latter. There are also individual folders of correspondence with major radio and television networks concerning Harsch's broadcasting commitments and with the Christian Science Monitor, other journals, and Harsch's publishers. Many of the folders include small quantities of news clippings about Harsch, contracts, royalties statements, and drafts of articles. There are similar materials documenting Harsch's European trips in 1953, 1955, 1956, and 1957, including his first trip to the Soviet Union in 1955. Harsch's other personal papers include congratulatory letters, news clippings, and other papers about the DuPont Award, which Harsch won in 1952; personal income and expenses reports; and income tax returns and papers. For many years, Harsch maintained a busy schedule of personal lectures in addition to his broadcasting and writing commitments, generally speaking on foreign affairs topics. Included in the collection are correspondence regarding invitations to speak, arrangements, and fees, both with individual groups and with Harsch's agent, together with contracts, notes, outlines, and speeches. BROADCAST SCRIPTS AND ARTICLE DRAFTS comprise the second series in the 1987 additions. Scripts and drafts are filed in reverse chronological order, and arranged by network, journal, or topic. Most of the drafts are typewritten carbons and have been annotated by Harsch. Included are scripts for ABC Reports, 1967-1970; scripts from a few broadcasts for the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation; many drafts of Harsch's Christian Science Monitor column, 1967-1979; a few drafts of articles about John Foster Dulles and Harsch's series on the Pacific, reporting about World War II; drafts of articles written during and describing his 1955 European trip; NBC broadcast scripts, 1956-1957; and scripts for Reports From America, prepared for the United States Information Agency for broadcast in Europe.	⇧
	Series: Correspondence and Personal Papers
	Correspondence
Box   38 Folder   1-11	General, 1942-1957, 1965-1969
Box   38 Folder   12	ABC Correspondence, 1967-1971
Box   38 Folder   13	BBC Correspondence and News clippings regarding Report From America, 1951-1957
Box   38 Folder   14-15	CBS Correspondence and Contracts, 1943-1949
Box   38 Folder   16	Christian Science Monitor, 1941-1957
Box   38 Folder   17	Doubleday, Brandt and Brandt, and Other Publishers - Correspondence, Contracts, Royalties, 1942-1955
	European Trip Correspondence, Writings, and Notes
Box   38 Folder   18	1953
Box   38 Folder   19	1955
Box   38 Folder   20	1956
Box   38 Folder   21	Trip to Poland, Vienna, London, 1957
Box   38 Folder   22	Memoranda, 1951-1957
Box   38 Folder   23	NBC Correspondence and Contracts, 1952-1956
Box   38 Folder   24	Press Opinion Correspondence and Articles, 1953-1957
Box   39 Folder   1	The Reporter Correspondence and Articles, 1951-1953
	Other Personal Papers
Box   39 Folder   2	DuPont Award File, 1952
Box   39 Folder   3	Income and Expenses Reports, 1954-1957
Box   39 Folder   4	Income Tax Returns and Papers, 1959-1969
	Lectures
Box   39 Folder   5	Foreign Affairs Lectures, 1941
Box   39 Folder   6-9	Lecture Correspondence and Contracts, 1951-1957, 1964-1972
Box   39 Folder   10-11	Speeches and Lecture Outlines, 1950-1957
	Series: Broadcast Scripts and Article Drafts	⇧
	ABC Reports Scripts
Box   39 Folder   12-21	August 1967 - December 1969
Box   40 Folder   1-2	January - June 1970
Box   40 Folder   3	BBC Broadcast Scripts, 1954-1956
Box   40 Folder   4	Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Scripts, 1941
	Christian Science Monitor Column Drafts
Box   40 Folder   5-21	January 1967 - September 1971
Box   41 Folder   1-22	October 1971 - September 1975
Box   42 Folder   1-20	October 1975 - December 1979
Box   43 Folder   1	Dulles, John Foster - Article Drafts, 1954, 1956
Box   43 Folder   2	European Trip (First Trip to Russia) - Article Drafts, 1955
Box   43 Folder   3-5	NBC Broadcast Scripts, 1956-1957
Box   43 Folder   6	Pacific Article Series (from World War II)
Box   43 Folder   7	United States Information Agency, Report from America - Scripts and Memos, 1955-1957
M89-099	Part 4 (M89-099): Additions, 1970-1988 Physical Description: 2.0 c.f. (2 record center cartons)  Scope and Content Note: Additions, 1970-1988, consisting primarily of original typescripts of Christian Science Monitor column articles for 1981-1988 and American Broadcasting Company scripts for 1970-1971.	⇧
	Christian Science Monitor - Writings
Box   1 Folder   1-15	1981, July - 1983, July, 1984-1985
Box   2 Folder   1-9	1986-1988
Box   2 Folder   10-11	Last Broadcasts - ABC Scripts, 1970, July - 1971, April

• The Annals of the American Academy, “Can Germany Contain Russia Safely?” July, 1952.
• The Atlantic Monthly, “The Balance of Military Power,” June, 1951; “Washington Report,” March, May, 1953.
• Aussen Politik, “Präventivkrieg und militärisches Gleidgewicht,” 5 Jahrgang, 1954; “Wandtungen der Sowjetunion,” 7 Jahrgang, 1956.
• Carrie Chapman Catt Memorial Fund, Inc., Series No. 18, “The Role of Political Parties in the United States,” October, 1955.
• The Christian Register, “The Struggle for Power Vacua,” August, 1950.
• Christian Science Monitor, 1929-1997.
• Collier's, “Terror's His Trade,” November 30, 1940; “How Germans Take It,” May 17, 1941.
• CBS Quarterly Digest of Addresses, “Our New Secretary of State,” April, 1949.
• Daily Mirror Newspapers Ltd., (Special Report) “Spotlight on Anglo-American Partnership,” “Uncle San and John Bull,” (1948?).
• Harper's, “The Curtain Isn't Iron,” October, 1949; “John Foster Dulles, A Very Complicated Man,” September, 1956.
• Headline Series No. 77, “American Policy in Eastern Europe,” September-October, 1949.
• The Listener, “President Truman's Strength and Weakness,” October 27, 1949; “Anglo-American Differences,” December 29, 1949; “The President's Attack on Mr. Eisenhower,” October 9, 1952; “America Loses the Italian Election,” June 18, 1953; “The New Balkan Alliance,” June 25, 1953; “Towards a United Germany,” July 2, 1953; “The New Conflict in Germany,” July 9, 1953; “The Significance of Mr. Beria's Dismissal,” July 16, 1953; “McCarthy Over Europe,” July 23, 1953.
• The Nation, “Another View of Eisenhower,” June 7, 1952.
• The New Republic, “The Certainty of Change,” January 14, 1957.
• New York Times Magazine Section, “Hitler's Reich, A One-Man Concept,” May 18, 1941; “The Unbelievable Nazi Blueprint,” May 25, 1941.
• The Philadelphia Bulletin Forum, “The Defense of Western Europe,” March 13-14, 1951.
• Redbook, “Passages from Pattern of Conquest,” December, 1941.
• The Reporter, “Poland, A Change Ahead,” August 2, 1949; “Which Road? The Chicago Choice,” July 22, 1952; “Are Liberals Obsolete?” September 30, 1952; “What's Happened to Ike?” October 28, 1952; “The Stevenson Phenomenon,” March 3, 1953; “Eisenhower's First One Hundred Days,” May 12, 1953.
• The Round Table No. 173, Anonymous article./itemb
• The Sign, “Hitler's Trap for Germans,” November, 1941.
• United Nations World, “Report from Washington,” September, 1952.
• Williams Alumni Review, “Elephant Tracks in Washington,” May, 1953.

• The Commonweal, “The New Puritanism,” reviewed, October 9, 1953.
• London Times Literary Supplement, “Eastern Perplexities,” review of The Curtain Isn't Iron, December 8, 1950.
• New York Herald Tribune Books, “Two Chilling Reports on Big Time Piracy,” review of Pattern of Conquest, August 31, 1941.
• New York Times, “Books of the Times,” review of Pattern, August 26, 1941.
• --------------, review of Pattern, September 7, 1941.
• --------------, Book Review Section, review of The Curtain Isn't Iron, July 9, 1950.
• --------------, “Television in Review,” review of Background series, December 13, 1954.
• The Providence Sunday Journal, “Considering a Nazi Flop,” review of Pattern, August 31, 1941.
• Saturday Review, “It's How the Characters Feel That's Important,” review on Background series, September 25, 1954
• ---------------, “Revival of the Eastern Twilight Zone,” review of Curtain, July 9, 1950.
• Tune In, “Joseph C. Harsch, War Correspondent-and Scholar-Analyses 'Meaning of the News,' ” October, 1944.
• Variety, “As It Looks to Flannery,” March 29, 1948.
• -------, “Show Biz-News Biz Wedding,” review on Background series, August 25, 1954.

• 1 Mechanics::  

• a-Selection of radio topics:  February 21, 1945

• b-Interpreting news:  March 12, 1945

• c-Method employed in covering news of the week in five minutes:  December 11, 1945

• d-Enunciating words, JCH to Callan:  July 25, 1951

• e-Editor tampers with his column, JCH to Johanson:  November 29, 1954

• f-Contract for Curtain Isn't Iron:  October 19, 1949

• g-Contract for Japanese Curtain edition:  November 20, 1950

• h-Urged to write a book, McCormick to JCH:  September 30, 1949

• i-Satisfying public and sponsor, JCH to C. Hollenbeck:  February 4, 1954

• j-Christian Science Monitor position on political issues explained in regard to MacArthur firing, by Harsch:  June 27, 1951

• k-Creating sympathy for American reaction to the United Kingdom:  January 16, 1945

• l-Freedom of the press compared to the freedom of radio, JCH to Bassett:  February 28, 1944

• 2 Criticism::  

• a-A Communist's reaction to the interpretation of Communism by Harsh:  December 11, 1945

• b-United States Information Agency film narrated by JCH criticized for lack of profundity, Swing to JCH:  January 13, 1956

• c-Criticized for alleged British and Russian sympathy:  August, 1945

• d-Criticized for revealing official secrets, Clausen to JCH:  June 7, 1953

• e-Criticized for using Britain and America as inclusive terms, Holloway to JCH, Connor to JCH:  July 20, 1953 October 16, 1953

• f-A reader proof-reads Patterns of Conquest, sends errors to JCH, Collins to JCH:  February 11, 1942

• g-Television presentation of news criticized by Producer Ted Mills, to JCH:  February 23, 1955

• 3 Audience Response::  

• a-Great response to a bombing of Berlin story:  November 23-24, 1943

• b-Fan mail lauding Patterns of Conquest:  August, 1941

• c-Substantial response to a series of five radio addresses dealing with Eastern Europe:  July, 1949

• Acheson, Dean:  1958, January 28

• :  1958, February 27

• Astor, David:  1963, July 13

• :  1963, April 17

• :  1963, March 16

• Bernhard, Prince of the Netherlands:  1962, February

• Bowles, Chester:  1961, June 27

• Brandon, Henry:  1958, February 20

• Eden, Anthony:  1960, June 2

• :  1957, October 18

• Fischer, John:  1958, February 18

• :  1958, March 10

• :  1958, March 27

• Fulbright, J. W.:  1960, November 29

• :  1961, August 12

• Gunther, John:  1961, August 3

• Heath, Edward:  1962, March 30

• Hoover, J. Edgar:  1957, October 16

• Kennan, George:  1958, March 7

• Lindley, Ernest K.:  1958, February 19

• :  1958, April 30

• :  1958, March 6

• Lippman, Walter:  1957, August 10

• :  1959, October 28

• :  1960, October 22

• :  1960, December 3

• :  1961, November 14 (3 letters)

• Lyon, Cecil B.:  1958, June 9

• MacMillan, Harold:  1963, November 28

• :  1964, March 19

• :  1964, February 11

• Pell, Claiborne:  1961, September 8

• Reston, James:  1961, July 12

• Salisbury, Harrison:  1958, March 24

• Schlesinger, Arthur:  1963, March 27

• Wilson, Harold:  1963, March 4