Part 1 (U.S. Mss 30AF): Original Collection, 1945-1963
Physical Description: 2.4 cubic feet (6 archives boxes) 
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Correspondence

1945-1961

1962 January-October 10

1962 October 11-1963 September 25

Material regarding Why They Behave Like Russians (The Scared Men in the Kremlin), 1947

Notes and clippings, arranged by chapter

Original typescript manuscript

Typesetting copy

Galley proofs

Typescripts of articles based on material in book
Scope and Content Note: 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.”

London Daily Mail condensation clippings, 1946 September 23-25

Minneapolis Tribune reprint clippings

Address: “Why the Russians Expect Another War,” by Fischer at the Economic Club of Detroit, 1947 January 6

Unorganized clippings

Material regarding Master Plan: U.S.A., 1951

Original typescript manuscript

Typesetting copy

Manuscript of “The Lost Liberals,” Harper's Magazine, 1947

Articles from “The Editor's Easy Chair,” 1956, 1962, undated

Plan cards for books published by Harper's, 1950-1955

Miscellaneous clippings
Physical Description: 3 folders 

Part 2 (U.S. Mss 30AF): 1966-1967 Additions, 1940-1967
Physical Description: 2.4 cubic feet (6 archives boxes) 
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Correspondence

1940-1957 June

1957 July-1964 January

1964 February-1966 March

1966 April-1967; undated

Office memoranda, 1961, undated

Articles, 1946 August-October

Speeches 1954, 1956, undated

Biographical material

Editorials

“Personal and Otherwise,” 1954-1956

“Easy Chair,” 1960-1967, undated

Book manuscript for The Stupidity Problem, 1964

Galley proofs

The Inscrutable Americans, 1964 February

The Stupidity Problem, 1964 April

Clippings, 1946-1966

Part 3 (MCHC68-107, Audio 1111A): Additions, 1933-1968
Physical Description: 2.0 cubic feet (5 archives boxes) and 1 tape recording 
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Correspondence

1937-1960

1960-1968

Undated

“The Editor's Easy Chair” typescripts, 1957-1968

Drafts and published article clippings by John Fischer, 1944-1964

Speech drafts prepared for Adlai Stevenson, 1952

Adlai Stevenson presidential campaign materials, 1951-1956

Adlai Stevenson campaign, news clippings

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

“The Heritage of the English-Speaking Peoples and their Responsibility,” conference at Kenyon college

United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, travel expenses

Biographical file on Fischer

News clippings written by or referencing Fischer

1933-1956

1967-1968

Undated

Tape recording of West Point, United States Military Academy, English Seminar in which Fischer was a panelist, 1965

Part 4 (MCHC70-116): Additions, 1952, 1959-1970
Physical Description: 0.8 cubic feet (2 archives boxes) 
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Reader correspondence

1952, 1959-1967

1968-1970

“The Editor's Easy Chair” corrected drafts, 1968-1970

Other articles written by Fischer, clippings, 1968

Newspaper clippings referencing Harper's Magazine