Open.
According to the deed of gift signed December 10, 1973, copyright of these materials has been assigned to the United States Govermnent. Documents in this collection that were prepared by officials of the United States as part of their official duties are in the public domain. Users of these materials are advised to determine the copyright status of any document from which they wish to publish.
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law. The copyright law extends its protection to unpublished works from the moment of creation in a tangible form. Direct your questions concerning copyright to the reference staff.
Received from Lincoln Gordon in 1973 (MS-1974-003; MS-1974-010), 1985 (MS-1985-014), 1997 (MS-1997-029), 2005 (MS-2006-010), and 2009 (MS 2010-008).
CLASSIFIED ITEMS: Selected folders may contain withdrawal sheets where documents containing national security classified information were removed from this collection. WITHDRAWN ITEMS: Selected folders may contain withdrawal sheets where documents, in accordance with the donor's deed of gift, were removed from the collection. These include documents which may be used to injure or harass any living person. All withdrawn documents have been placed under seal and upon request the Kennedy Library will review any material which has been closed for a period of not less than 2 years for the purpose of opening items which no longer require restrictions. Researchers should consult the reference staff to obtain the appropriate form(s).
Opened December 2015.
Processed by Jennifer Marciello, Christina Fitzpatrick, Lauren Wallace, Caleigh Ross, Gabrielle Womack. Series 1 was processed by Jane Silva in 2010 but not opened at that time.
Abraham Lincoln Gordon was born in New York City on September 10, 1913, and attended Harvard University where he received a bachelor’s degree in 1933. Following graduation, Gordon studied at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar and obtained his Ph.D. in 1936, then returned to Harvard to become an instructor in government. He went to Washington in 1939 to serve with the United States National Resources Planning Board and the Council of National Defense. During World War II and its aftermath, Gordon served with the War Production Board, the Civilian Production Administration, and as a consultant to the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission.
Gordon returned to Harvard in 1946 to become an Associate Professor of Business. In 1947, he was appointed Professor of Government and Administration and held the position for three years. While a member of the Harvard faculty, Gordon continued his government service. He was a consultant to the Department of State in 1947, assisting in the formulation of the Marshall Plan, and worked for the Economic Cooperation Administration (ECA) in 1948. He moved to Paris in 1949 as a member of the ECA European Staff. In 1950, Gordon returned to Washington and became an economic advisor to Averell Harriman, then Special Assistant to President Truman. In 1951, Gordon was named Assistant Director of the Mutual Security Agency. From 1952 to 1955, he served concurrently as Chief of the Mutual Security Agency Mission to the United Kingdom and as Minister for Economic Affairs in the United States Embassy in London.
In 1955, Gordon was appointed the William Ziegler Professor of International Economic Relations at the Harvard University School of Business. He continued to serve as a consultant with the State Department and the Defense Department. In 1961, he became a member of President Kennedy's Task Force on Latin America, and served as a delegate to the Inter-American Economic and Social Council (IA-ECOSOC) Conference at Punta del Este, during which time he helped establish the Alliance for Progress. In September 1961, he became Ambassador to Brazil. He served in this position until March 1966, having accepted as appointment as Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, a position in which he served until June 1967.
Next, Gordon assumed the presidency of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. His tenure as President, from July 1967 to March 1971, was marked by student unrest and protests relating to the Vietnam War, as well as financial issues relating to the university’s budget.
Gordon returned to Washington for a year to teach at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). In 1972, he became a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars at the Smithsonian Institution. In 1975, Gordon was hired as senior fellow at Resources for the Future, an organization that researches environmental and energy issues. From October 1980 to December 1983, he was a member of the Senior Review Panel for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and also served as National Intelligence Officer-at-Large for the final year. Finally, in January 1984, Gordon became a scholar at the Brookings Institution, where he researched and wrote two books, Eroding Empire: Western Relations with Eastern Europe (1987) and Brazil's Second Chance (2001).
Lincoln Gordon married Allison Wright in 1937. She died in 1987. The couple had two sons, Robert and Hugh, and two daughters, Anne ("Sally") and Amy. Gordon passed away at the age of 96 on December 19, 2009.
This collection contains records that document Lincoln Gordon's entire professional career and numerous positions in academia and government service. The papers document Gordon’s interest in topics such as business, economics, government and Latin American politics (with a focus on Brazil), as well as his involvement in a variety of non-profit organizations and associations. The collection spans the years from 1931 to 2007. Main types of records include chronological files, correspondence, subject files, speech files, photographs, office files, and appointment calendars.
The collection is arranged into eight series. Series 1: Harvard Business School contains files generated during Gordon’s tenure as a professor of business, government, and international economic relations. Material here primarily relates to the courses Gordon taught, his publications, and his academic interest in the economics of Brazil and Latin America. Series 2: Government Posts and Consulting documents Gordon’s work with agencies and organizations spanning the years of 1940 to 1959, many related to World War II and post-war aid to Europe. This series mainly contains chronological files, correspondence, and reports. Series 3: Ambassador to Brazil contains files from Gordon’s term as ambassador from September 1961 to June 1966. This series contains many speeches and photographs, and significant information on Brazil and Latin America. Series 4: Assistant Secretary of State contains records generated during Gordon’s term as Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affiars (January 1966 to June 1967). Materials primarily relate to Latin America, foreign relations, and social and economic programs. Series 5: Johns Hopkins University contains material generated during Gordon’s presidency of the school (1967-1971). A significant topic in this series is the student unrest and protest movement of the period. Series 6: Office Files contains files from Gordon's various professional positions after leaving Johns Hopkins. It contains a wide breadth of material related to his research projects and publications, mostly related to economics, population studies, Eastern Europe, and Brazil. Series 7: Appointment Calendars contains three sets of Gordon's calendars that document his professional and personal activities from 1936 to 2007, although there are some gaps in coverage. Series 8: School Notebooks and Diary contains a limited number of Gordon's class notebooks from Harvard and Oxford Universities, plus one very short diary that he kept during 1936 to 1937.
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
This series contains materials related to Lincoln Gordon’s teaching career at Harvard Business School. His three official titles were Associate Professor of Business, Professor of Government and Administration, and the William Ziegler Professor of International Economic Relations. Groups of records include chronological files, conference and meeting files, course files, general correspondence, name files, publications, seminar files, speech files, and subject files. The chronological files range from 1946 to 1961, and the topics here relate mainly to Harvard University, publishing, recommendations, invitations, various reports, and consulting projects. Conference and meeting files include materials and publications relating to events Gordon attended or spoke at. Course files include materials relating to the classes Gordon taught at Harvard and include teaching materials and student information. Gordon taught in the fields of economics, government, and international business. Speech files document Gordon’s speaking engagements. Subject files include topics relating to Gordon’s various interests, mainly relating to economics and Latin America (especially Brazil), as well as consulting work and other organizations he was involved in while serving as a Harvard professor.
It is important to note that Gordon also worked for various government agencies during the time he was employed by Harvard. His government work was carried out during leaves of absence from the university, or during summer breaks. There is overlap of topics and materials in this series and in Series 2: Government Posts and Consulting. Researchers should consult both series for materials related to Gordon’s government positions.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains five photographic prints.
Contains eight photographic prints.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains two photographic prints.
Contains three photographic prints.
Contains three audio recordings.
Contains four audio recordings.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains one photgraphic print.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains one photographic print.
This folder contains material related to a Latin American policy meeting hosted by the Foreign Policy Clearing House in December 1960. Items include an agenda, correspondence, papers, and handwritten notes by Lincoln Gordon.
Contains twenty-three photographic prints.
Contains one photographic print.
This folder contains a copy of the final Report to the President-Elect of the Task Force on Immediate Latin America Problems, as well as a letter from task force chairman Adolf A. Berle.
Three (3) audograph electronic sound writer discs titled "Economic Development of Brazil and the Problem of Transportation."
Four (4) dictabelt recordings dated 20 October 1959.
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
This series contains files related to Lincoln Gordon’s various government posts and consulting positions from 1939 to 1961. The files chiefly relate to Gordon’s work with the following agencies, commissions, and boards: Atomic Energy Commission; Civilian Production Administration; Economic Cooperation Administration; Mutual Security Agency; National Housing Council; National Resources Planning Board; National Security Resources Board; Office of Defense Mobilization; Reclamation Bureau; State Department's European Recovery Program; and War Production Board. Types of material in this series include correspondence, administrative forms, memoranda, minutes, official reports, speeches, and subject files. There is also a set of personal correspondence dating from 1950 to 1955. Significant topics in the series include World War II regulations and price controls, post-war aid to Europe, and the Marshall Plan.
It is important to note that Gordon was also a professor at Harvard Business School during the time he worked for these various government agencies. There is overlap of topics and materials in this series and in Series 1: Harvard Business School. Researchers should consult both series for materials related to Gordon’s government consulting positions.
Contains one photographic print.
This folder contains correspondence and background material related to the Task Force on Immediate Latin America Problems. Items include reports from the Organization of American States, such as the Report of the Advisory Committee on Economic and Social Affairs, and notes by Lincoln Gordon.
This folder contains correspondence and background material related to the Task Force on Immediate Latin America Problems. Items include papers, memoranda, and notes by Lincoln Gordon.
This folder contains correspondence and background material related to the Task Force on Immediate Latin America Problems. Items include papers, a draft agreement between the United States and the Inter-American Development Bank for a Social Development Trust Fund, and notes by Lincoln Gordon.
Contains four photographic prints.
Arranged into six groups listed alphabetically by type, thereunder alphabetically by subject.
This series consists of materials relating to Lincoln Gordon’s role as Ambassador to Brazil, a position in which he served from September 1961 to June 1966. Groups of material include articles and publications, clippings, chronological files, photographs, speech files, and subject files. Many of the documents are written in Portuguese. Articles and publications files include works written by Gordon while he was ambassador, as well as some articles written prior to his 1961 appointment that relate to Brazil. Topics in the chronological files mainly relate to Harvard University, book publishing, recommendations, invitations to conferences and events, and various reports relating to Brazil and economics. Speech files document the Ambassador’s speaking engagements from his appointment in September 1961 to his farewell speech in 1966, and most files have copies of the speech in both English and Portuguese. Subject files include topics relating to Gordon’s various interests, mainly relating to Brazil and Latin America, as well as consulting work and organizations he was involved in while serving as Ambassador.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains two photographic prints.
Contains seven photographic prints.
Contains twenty-seven photographic prints.
Contains six photographic prints.
Contains three photographic prints.
Contains eight photographic prints.
Contains nine photographic prints.
Contains four photographic prints.
Contains seven photographic prints.
Contains three photographic prints.
Contains fifteen photographic prints.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains ten photographic prints.
Contains four photographic prints.
Contains nine photographic prints.
Contains twenty-one photographic prints.
Contains ten photographic prints.
Contains nine photographic prints.
Contains four photographic prints.
Contains six photographic prints.
Contains three photographic prints.
Contains six photographic prints.
Contains fifteen photographic prints.
Contains ten photographic prints.
Contains six photographic prints.
Contains seven photographic prints.
Contains sixteen photographic prints.
Contains twenty-two photographic prints.
Contains four photographic prints.
Contains eleven photographic prints.
Contains fifty-six photographic prints.
Contains six photographic prints.
Contains six photographic prints.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains two photographic prints.
Contains five photographic prints.
Contains fourteen photographic prints.
Contains five photographic prints.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains sixteen photographic prints.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains twenty-four photographic prints.
Contains twenty-eight photographic prints.
Contains eighteen photographic prints.
Contains four photographic prints.
Contains ten photographic prints.
Contains three photographic prints.
Contains seven photographic prints.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains nine photographic prints and one photographic print (contact sheet).
Contains four photographic prints.
Contains five photographic prints.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains eleven photographic prints.
Contains three photographic prints.
Contains three photographic prints.
Contains eighteen photographic prints.
Contains three photographic prints.
Contains nine photographic prints.
Contains three photographic prints.
Contains seventeen photographic prints.
Contains two photographic prints.
Contains seventeen photographic prints.
Contains nineteen photographic prints.
Contains four photographic prints.
Contains sixteen photographic prints.
Contains twelve photographic prints.
Contains twenty-four photographic prints.
Contains seven photographic prints.
Contains thirty-six photographic prints. One corresponding photographic negative was separated for preservation purposes.
Contains fifty-four photographic prints.
Contains ten photographic prints.
Contains four photographic prints.
Contains twenty photographic prints.
Contains eight photographic prints and two photographic prints (contact sheets).
Contains two photographic prints.
Contains six photographic prints.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains five photographic prints.
Contains seven photographic prints.
Contains two photographic prints.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains eight photographic prints.
Contains seventeen photographic prints.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains seven photographic prints.
Contains three photographic prints.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains five photographic prints.
Contains six photographic prints.
Contains twenty-two photographic prints.
Contains two photographic prints.
Contains ten photographic prints.
Contains thirty-four photographic prints.
Contains ten photographic prints.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains one hundred and thirty-four photographic prints.
Contains forty-eight photographic prints.
Contains twenty-nine photographic prints.
Contains thirty-six photographic prints.
Contains four photographic prints.
Contains three photographic prints.
Contains three photographic prints.
Contains four photographic prints.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains three photographic prints.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains thirty photographic prints.
Contains five photographic prints.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains three photographic prints.
Contains seven photographic prints.
Contains ten photographic prints.
Contains three photographic prints.
Contains fifteen photographic prints.
Contains twelve photographic prints.
Contains sixteen photographic prints.
Contains five photographic prints.
Contains eight photographic prints.
Contains nine photographic prints.
Contains six photographic prints.
Contains two photographic prints.
Contains sixteen photographic prints.
Contains seven photographic prints.
Contains eight photographic prints.
Contains three photographic prints.
Contains eleven photographic prints.
Contains twenty-four photographic prints. Seven photographic negatives were separated for preservation purposes.
Contains seven photographic prints.
Contains four photographic prints.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains four photographic prints.
Contains thirteen photographic prints.
Contains two photographic prints.
One oversized photographic print was separated for preservation purposes.
Contains thirty-nine photographic prints.
Contains two photographic prints.
Contains four photographic prints.
Contains thirteen photographic prints.
Note: There is no page 11 in this report.
For separated oversize items (OVZ-87/3.-#9, OVZ-87/3.-#10), see Box MAP042.
Arranged alphabetically by type.
This series contains files related to Lincoln Gordon’s term as Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs. Gordon was appointed to this post at the State Department in January 1966 and left it in June 1967. The majority of the documents in this series relate to Latin America, foreign relations, and social and economic progress. Types of material include appointment records, articles and publications, personal correspondence, speeches, and State Department documents such as clippings, memoranda, yearly reviews, and meeting information.
Thirty-six photographic prints have been separated for preservation purposes.
One oversized photographic print has been separated for preservation purposes.
Contains two photographic prints.
Arranged alphabetically by type.
This series contains files related to Lincoln Gordon’s tenure as President of Johns Hopkins University. Gordon took over the presidency after the retirement of Milton S. Eisenhower, and served as president from July 1967 to March 1971. He resigned after facing criticism from faculty members over the university's financial situation. Main topics in this series include his duties, actions and opinions as university president, student unrest and protests during his tenure, and the passing of his mother, Dorothy Lerner Gordon. Types of material in the series primarily relate to the president’s office and include Gordon’s correspondence, chronological files, memoranda, reports, office files, and speeches.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains six photographic prints. Three photographic color transparencies (slides) were separated for preservation purposes.
This folder contains copies of Lincoln Gordon's speech titled, "Toward a Doctrine of Positive Interdependence," given at a Princeton University conference on the topic of Intervention and the Developing States. Other items related to the conference include correspondence, programs, and a press release.
Contains two photographic prints.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains one photographic print.
Contains one photographic print.
Arranged alphabetically by subject or type of record.
This series contains files from Lincoln Gordon's various professional positions circa 1971 to 2006. During this period, he worked at several non-profit think tanks and research organizations. These include the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (WWICS), Resources for the Future (RFF), and the Brookings Institution. The series contains a wide breadth of material related to his research projects and publications, and also covers all of his general professional activities. Gordon's research focused on economics, population studies, and foreign policy. He published two books while at Brookings, Eroding Empire: Western Relations with Eastern Europe (1987) and Brazil's Second Chance (2001). Gordon also worked for the Central Intelligence Agency from 1980 to 1983, both as a member of the Senior Review Panel and as National Intelligence Officer-at-Large. However, the papers contains very few records pertaining to the CIA. Types of documents in this series include correspondence, conference and travel materials, speeches, drafts, research notes and sources, publications, memoranda and reports, court documents, and photographs and audio recordings. There is a comprehensive set of chronological correspondence from 1978 to 2006, as well as a smaller group of alphabetical general correspondence circa 1967 to 1998. Early drafts of Gordon's memoir can also be found in this series, although the book was never completed. Also of note are voluminous files pertaining to Gordon's work as an expert witness for the Department of Justice on environmental pollution (Superfund) cases in the late 1980s to mid 1990s, due to the fact that he was the last living member of the War Production Board from World War II.
Contains 3 photographic prints.
Contains 1 photographic print.
Contains 2 photographic prints. One corresponding negative was separated for preservation purposes.
Contains 7 photographic prints.
For separated oversize material (OVZ-87/6.-#1), see Box MAP042.
Contains 6 photographic prints.
Contains 1 photographic print.
Contains 1 photographic print.
One strip of 4 photographic negatives has been separated for preservation purposes.
Check declass sheet
Contains 1 photographic print.
Contains 1 photographic print.
Contains 1 photographic print.
Contains 2 photographic prints.
Contains 5 photographic prints.
Contains 1 photographic print.
Contains 1 photographic print.
Contains 1 photographic print.
Contains 1 photographic print.
Contains 1 photographic print.
Contains 1 photographic print.
Contains 4 photographic prints.
Contains 2 photographic prints.
Contains 2 photographic prints.
Contains 1 photographic print.
1 audio recording has been separated for preservation purposes.
Contains 3 photographic prints.
Contains 12 photographic prints. One photographic negative was separated for preservation purposes.
Contains 1 photographic print.
Contains 3 photographic prints.
Recording of episode #165 of the radio program "Overseas Mission," produced by the Agency for International Development (AID) and aired on public radio WAMU-FM, American University, Washington, DC. Episode #165 aired on 22 May 1974 and featured a conversation with Lincoln Gordon
Arranged in three groups, thereunder chronologically.
This series contains appointment calendars kept by Lincoln Gordon from 1936 to 2007. These calendars document both his professional and personal activities on a daily basis. Each booklet covers one year, either a calendar year or an academic year. There are three distinct sets of appointment calendars, some of which overlap. However, there are also gaps in coverage where certain years are not represented. The first set of calendars, titled the Economist Diary, seem to be desk calendars that were kept in Gordon's office. The second set, the Economist Pocket Diary, is a pocket-sized version similar to the first set. The third set, sold by the Harvard Cooperative Society, is the smallest in size and appears to have been carried in Gordon's pocket as well. Although in some cases there are two calendars that cover the same year, there are often different notations in each book. Some calendars also contain contact information for various individuals and organizations. Please note that the Economist Diary books for 1979 to 1992 were returned to the Gordon family due to mold contamination.
Arranged chronologically.
This series contains a small number of Lincoln Gordon's college notebooks, plus one very short diary that he kept during 1936 to 1937. The school notebooks cover Gordon's undergraduate classes at Harvard University as well as his graduate work as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University. Each notebook often contains material from multiple classes, usually within the same academic semester. The contents include notes on lectures and reading assignments. The diary includes a small number of entries from Gordon's first year of teaching at Harvard, and his impressions upon meeting his future wife, Allison Wright.
Contains 2 photographic prints.