Summary Information
John Fischer Papers
1933-1970
U.S. Mss 30AF; MCHC68-107; Audio 111A; MCHC70-116
4.8 c.f. (12 archives boxes); plus additions of 2.8 c.f. and 1 tape recording
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers of John Fischer, an author and journalist who was editor-in-chief of Harper's Magazine, 1953-1969. Correspondence, 1945-1963, concerns the editing of Harper's, Fischer's own writing, and his work on the 1956 Presidential campaign for Adlai E. Stevenson. Among the prominent correspondents are Walter Lippmann, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., Theodore C. Sorenson, and Benjamin M. Spock. Fischer's writings are represented by drafts, notes, and related materials for three books (Why They Behave Like Russians, 1947; Master Plan, U.S.A., 1951; and The Stupidity Problem and Other Harassments, 1964); drafts of his column “The Editor’s Easy Chair;” free-lance articles; addresses; and clippings. Other records document Fischer's personal life and background.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-us0030af ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
John Fischer, writer and editor of Harper's Magazine, was born in Texhoma, Oklahoma. He attended the University of Oklahoma from 1928 to 1932, and Oxford University from 1933 to 1935. Honorary degrees have been granted to Mr. Fischer by Kenyon College, 1954, and by Bucknell University, 1956.
Mr. Fischer's professional writing career began when he was a reporter for the Daily Oklahoman in Oklahoma City and for the Globe-News in Amarillo, Texas; from 1933 to 1935, he was a reporter for the United Press in England and Germany and from 1935 to 1937 he worked for the Associated Press in Washington, D.C.
In 1937, Mr. Fischer went to work for the United States Department of Agriculture and remained there until January, 1942, when he was employed by the Board of Economic Warfare in Washington. He held various positions with this Board and in July, 1943, he became the chief representative for the Board of Economic Warfare and Foreign Economic Administration in India, in charge of foreign intelligence and lend-lease. From June to October of 1944 Mr. Fischer was with the Foreign Economic Administration in Washington.
In 1944 Mr. Fischer assumed the position of associate editor of Harper's Magazine and in 1953 he became the editor-in-chief.
Mr. Fischer has published many articles and three books: Why They Behave Like Russians (published in Europe as The Scared Men in the Kremlin), 1947; Master Plan: U.S.A., 1951; and The Stupidity Problem and Other Harassments, 1964.
Arrangement of the Materials
This collection was received in multiple parts from the donor(s) and is organized into 3 major parts. These materials have not been physically interfiled and researchers might need to consult more than one part to locate similar materials.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by John Fischer, Guilford, Connecticut, 1960-1967 and 1969. Accession Number: MCHC65-010, MCHC65-015, MCHC65-042, MCHC67-059, MCHC67-072, MCHC67-102, MCHC68-107, MCHC70-116
Original Collection processed by Janice O'Connell, 1964; some Additions processed by Margaret Hafstad, November 9, 1967.
Contents List
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U.S. Mss 30AF
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Part 1 (U.S. Mss 30AF): Original Collection, 1945-1963
2.4 c.f. (6 archives boxes)
: The Original Collection consists of materials presented to the Archives prior to 1964, the bulk of which relates to his books and articles. The correspondence is mostly concerned with articles Mr. Fischer wrote for Harper's Magazine. With a few exceptions, all of the materials are annotated and include notes, original manuscripts, and/or printer's copies of manuscripts. There is also a file of miscellaneous clippings.
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Correspondence
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Box
1
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1945-1961
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Box
2
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1962, January-October 10
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Box
3
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1962, October 11-1963, September 25
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Material regarding Why They Behave Like Russians (The Scared Men in the Kremlin), 1947
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Box
4
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Notes and clippings, arranged by chapter
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Box
4
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Original typescript manuscript
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Box
4
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Typesetting copy
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Box
4
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Galley proofs
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Box
5
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Typescripts of articles based on material in book
: Purchased by Harper's in 1946: “No Rest for the Weary Russians,” “The Russian Ruling Class,” “The Scared Men in the Kremlin,” “The Soviet Priesthood,” and “The Tired and Hungry Russians.”
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Box
5
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London Daily Mail condensation clippings, 1946, September 23-25
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Box
5
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Minneapolis Tribune reprint clippings
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Box
5
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Address: “Why the Russians Expect Another War,” by Fischer at the Economic Club of Detroit, 1947, January 6
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Box
5
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Unorganized clippings
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Material regarding Master Plan: U.S.A., 1951
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Box
5
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Original typescript manuscript
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Box
5
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Typesetting copy
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Box
5
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Manuscript of “The Lost Liberals,” Harper's Magazine, 1947
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Box
6
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Articles from “The Editor's Easy Chair,” 1956, 1962, undated
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Box
6
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Plan cards for books published by Harper's, 1950-1955
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Box
6
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Miscellaneous clippings
3 folders
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U.S. Mss 30AF
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Part 2 (U.S. Mss 30AF): 1966-1967 Additions, 1940-1967
2.4 c.f. (6 archives boxes)
: The Additions were received in 1966 and 1967, and include correspondence; articles, speeches, and editorials; a book manuscript and galley proofs; and biographical material. In the 1950s, Mr. Fischer was involved in writing campaign materials for Adlai Stevenson, helping to prepare a brochure for the 1956 campaign. Consequently, there are several letters to and from Stevenson, and a great many others making reference to him. An appendix to this finding aid lists many of these letters.
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Correspondence
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Box
7
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1940-1957, June
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Box
8
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1957, July-1964, January
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Box
9
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1964, February-1966, March
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Box
10
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1966, April-1967; undated
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Box
10
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Office memoranda, 1961, undated
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Box
10
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Articles, 1946, August-October
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Box
10
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Speeches 1954, 1956, undated
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Box
10
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Biographical material
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Editorials
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Box
11
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“Personal and Otherwise,” 1954-1956
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Box
11
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“Easy Chair,” 1960-1967, undated
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Box
11
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Book manuscript for The Stupidity Problem, 1964
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Galley proofs
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Box
12
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The Inscrutable Americans,
February 1964
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Box
12
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The Stupidity Problem,
April 1964
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Box
12
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Clippings, 1946-1966
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MCHC68-107
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Part 3 (MCHC68-107, Audio 1111A): Additions, 1933-1968
2.0 c.f. (5 archives boxes) and 1 tape recording
: Additions, 1933-1968, documenting Fischer's professional and political work predominantly outside of his editorial position, as well as his personal life and biographical background. The papers include “The Editor's Easy Chair” article drafts from his tenure as the editor in chief at Harper's Magazine, personal correspondence, Adlai Stevenson presidential campaign related documents and clippings of articles written by Fischer, or that reference Fischer.
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Correspondence
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Box
1
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1937-1960
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Box
2
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1960-1968
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Box
2
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Undated
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Box
3
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“The Editor's Easy Chair” typescripts, 1957-1968
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Box
3
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Drafts and published article clippings by John Fischer, 1944-1964
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Box
3
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Speech drafts prepared for Adlai Stevenson, 1952
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Box
3
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Adlai Stevenson presidential campaign materials, 1951-1956
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Box
3
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Adlai Stevenson campaign, news clippings
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Box
3
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Critiques of Fischer's Master Plan U.S.A.: An Informal Report on America's Foreign Policy and the Men Who Made it, by college students
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Box
3
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“The Heritage of the English-Speaking Peoples and their Responsibility,” conference at Kenyon college
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Box
3
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United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, travel expenses
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Box
3
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Biographical file on Fischer
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Box
3
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News clippings written by or referencing Fischer
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Box
4
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1933-1956
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Box
5
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1967-1968
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Box
5
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Undated
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1111A/1
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Tape recording of West Point, United States Military Academy, English Seminar in which Fischer was a panelist, 1965
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MCHC70-116
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Part 4 (MCHC70-116): Additions, 1952, 1959-1970
0.8 c.f. (2 archives boxes)
: Additions, mainly 1959-1970, to the John Fischer papers cover most of Fischer's tenure as the editor-in-chief of Harper's Magazine. Materials include correspondence from readers and Fischer's replies, Fischer's “The Editor's Easy Chair” article drafts, a few clippings of his other published articles, as well as newspaper clippings that mention Harper's.
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Reader correspondence
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Box
1
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1952, 1959-1967
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Box
2
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1968-1970
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Box
2
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“The Editor's Easy Chair” corrected drafts, 1968-1970
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Box
2
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Other articles written by Fischer, clippings, 1968
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Box
2
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Newspaper clippings referencing Harper's Magazine
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Additional Descriptive Information
| From Adlai Stevenson |
1954, January 15; January 28 |
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1956, July 26; December 15 |
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1959, January 1; October 2 |
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1960, April 15; December 22 & 23 |
| To Adlai Stevenson |
1953, December 15 |
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1954, January 1; April 14 |
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1956, June 26; September 2; December 13 & 18 |
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1959, February 17; May 4; September 25; October 16 |
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1960, September 19; December 28 |
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1961, January 22; February 2 & 14 |
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1963, May 6 |
| Reference to Stevenson |
1954, January 9 & 18: November 8, 12, & 16 |
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1955, January 3; February 17 |
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1956, January 5; February 21 and 29: March 5, 6, 7, 8, 15, 22, and 26; April 16, 20, 24; May 9; June 21 and 29; July 3, 9, and 23; August 18, 20, 27, 28, 29, and 31; October 18 |
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1959, November 15, 20 |
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1960, August 19 |
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1961, February 2 |
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