A detailed index of the volumes is available at https://library.columbia.edu/content/dam/libraryweb/locations/rbml/carnegie/CEIP%20Indices%20PDF.pdf.
This collection is located on-site.
Correspondence, memoranda, financial documents, minutes, book and lecture typescripts, printed matter, reports, press releases, news clippings, posters, architectural plans, and photographs document the activities of the New York and Washington Offices of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace from 1910 until 1954, as well as the founding, administration, and activity of the Centre Europeen (CEIP Paris Office) and the work of the Carnegie Endowment in Europe in 1911-1940. The CEIP records are most complete for the 1940-1945 period, while some documentation from the post-war period was retained by the Endowment. The collection does not include any records on grants given by the CEIP. Grant files and post-1954 materials are still with the Endowment in Washington, DC.
(137 volumes, 105 boxes)
The Secretary, chief administrative officer of the Endowment, conducted the general correspondence and signed all instruments in the name of the corporation. In addition to its general administrative duties, the Secretary served as the secretary of the Board of Trustees and of the Executive Committee; edited and distributed the Endowment's Year Book (annual report); supervised the production, free distribution, and sales of most of the Endowment's publications; and oversaw the operation of the Endowment's library in its Washington office. (Source: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Summary of Organization and Work. Washington DC: CEIP, 1941 (pp. 16-17.).
The Secretary's Office records (Series I) contain general correspondence files, annual report materials, trustee minutes and files, financial records, officer files and correspondence, a large collection of mostly unsolicited peace plans and proposals, publicity files, reports prepared for Trustee information, and files relating to other Carnegie organizations. Within this series, specific Endowment activities and program areas are documented by files on its depository library program, its incorporation in 1930 its library, its physical plant and offices, its publishing program, and its role in the Second Pan-American Conference.
Series II: Division of Economics of History, 1910-1930
(31 vols)
The Division of Economics and History was established at a conference in Berne, Switzerland called by the Endowment in August 1911. John Bates Clark, the Division's first director, led the conference. The participants considered the best methods "to promote a thorough and scientific investigation of the causes and the results of war." The conference resulted in a plan of investigation and an extensive list of topics for study. The aim of the studies was to reveal direct and indirect consequences of warfare.
The Berne participants, plus two additional members, formed a Committee of Research, the function of which was to select authors, to consult with these writers during the research and writing process, to read completed manuscripts, and to recommend worthy studies to the Endowment for publication. After the outbreak of World War I, the Division was forced to alter its program. The Division commissioned a series of studies dealing with topics of immediate importance in connection with the war.
In 1919 James Shotwell became General Editor of the proposed Economic and Social History of the World War. The Committee of Research was dissolved in September 1919 and was replaced by national Editorial Committees. In 1924 Shotwell was appointed Director of the Division. Soon after, the Economic and Social History of the World War series was brought to a conclusion, comprising about 150 volumes, and the Division shifted its focus from the study of war to the study of peace. During the second half of the 1920s the Division's publications included a series on the Paris Peace Conference, studies on Canadian-American relation (conferences on which the Division also organized), and several monographs on the contribution of economic competition to political conflict. (Source: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Summary of Organization and Work (Washington DC: CEIP, 1941), pp. 46-51.)
Files relating the Division's collaboration with other organizations and participation in specific projects can be found in Series VI and VII. Copies of some of the Division's publications can be found in Series VIII.
This series is indexed. (Indices are available in RBML.
Electronic versions of the indices are in preparation.)
Series II. is organized into the following subseries:
A. General correspondence
B. Economic and Social History of the World War
Series III: Division of Intercourse and Education
(82 boxes, 218 volumes)
The Division of Intercourse and Education was established on March9, 1911 in order to: (1) diffuse information and educate public opinion regarding the causes, natures, and effects of war, and means for its prevention and avoidance; (2) cultivate friendly feelings between the inhabitants of different countries and increase their knowledge and understanding of each other; and (3) maintain, promote and assist such establishments, organizations, associations, and agencies that are useful in the accomplishment of the purposes of the corporation.
The original intention was to carry out as much of the work of the Division as possible through organizations already in existence or established for particular purposes. To this end, the Endowment entirely supported the American Association for International Conciliation from 1910 until 1924 when it was dissolved and its activities taken up by the Division. The Division made other substantial subventions (grants) to the American Peace Society, the Bureau International Permanent de la Paix at Berne, l'Office Central des Associations Internationales at Brussels, and various periodicals in the international field.
After World War I, the Division made several grants toward reconstruction efforts in Europe, including the restorations of the library of the Royal University of Belgrade, the municipal library at Reims, the library of the University of Louvain, and the official buildings of the Commune of Fargniers in the Department of Aisne. Early in the post-war period, however, the Trustees decided to apply all of the Endowment's resources to its own program of work. The Division's grant-making activities were gradually reduced and eventually discontinued.
To inform public opinion and promote international understanding, the Division published and distributed literature, cooperated with libraries and educational institutions in many countries, worked with students, conducted a program of adult education, collaborated in the organization of international conferences, and sponsored the international visits of statesmen and professors.
Specifically, the Division published the monthly International Conciliation; collaborated with the Vatican Library in cataloging its manuscripts, incunabula, and printed books; established International Mind Alcoves in public libraries in small communities throughout the United States; and sponsored International Relations Clubs of students throughout the world to which it sent books and pamphlets to incite and inform discussion. (For files on these projects and others see VII. Projects .
The Division maintained offices in Paris (the European Centre, see Series III.C. and the CEIP European Centre Records held in RBML for more) and London (see III.D.) (Source: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Summary of Organization and Work. Washington DC: CEIP, 1941 pp18-28.)
The records of the Division consist of general correspondence (1910-1934); topical volumes (1910-1940), which comprise records of the Division that were bound by Endowment staff into volumes covering general categories; the Division's office files on the European Centre, London office, and Geneva Research Center; and the manuscripts of the lectures sponsored by the European Centre (the Cours).
Series III. is organized into the following subseries:
A. General correspondence
B. Topical volumes
C. European Centre
D. London Office
Series IV: Division of International Law
(150 volumes, 9 boxes)
The Trustees of the Endowment formed the Division of International Law to: (1) to aid in the development of international law and its acceptance among nations; (2) establish a better understanding of international rights and duties and a sense of international justice among the countries throughout the world; and (3) promote a general acceptance of peaceable methods in the settlement of international disputes.
The Division devoted its efforts in three principal areas: facilitating the study and improving the teaching of international law and related subjects; furthering the development of international law and restating its rules in a more unified and systematic way; and improving the documentation of international law through a publication program resulting in the production of some 200 volumes.
The Division helped found and support an Academy of International Law, which opened in 1923 provided financial and administrative support to six conferences of teachers of international law between 1914 and 1941 sponsored a series of eight summer sessions on international law to which it invited teachers from smaller colleges and prospective teachers who expected to begin their academic careers in small colleges; and awarded a series of fellowships in international law for the purpose of increasing the number of qualified scholars in the field.
Soon after its formation, the Division of International Law entered into a cooperative arrangement with the Institut de Droit International. Through this arrangement the Institut created an advisory committee to counsel the Division, and in turn, the Institut for many years received financial assistance from the Endowment to encourage attendance at its sessions and aid in the publication of Annuaires. The Division also helped establish the American Institute of International Law in 1915 cooperated with and supported Harvard Research in International Law; financially assisted other societies of international law including the Grotius Society of London, the Société de Législation Comparée of Paris, the Association Yougoslave de Droit International of Belgrade, the Istituto Italiano di Diritto Internazionale of Rome, and the International Law Association; cooperated with governmental and non-governmental organizations including the Department of State of the U.S, the Neutrality Board of the United States, the Pan American Union, the Advisory Board of Jurists at the Hague, the Inter-American Commission of Jurists created by the International Conferences of American States, and the Permanent Court of International Justice; and lent technical and other specialized assistance to the work of several assemblies and conferences, including the American Commission to Negotiate Peace at Paris (1919), the Washington Conference on the Limitation of Armament (1921-1922), and several of the Pan American Scientific Congresses.
The Division gave financial assistance to several international law books and journals by purchasing copies and distributing them to libraries and other interested institutions. The Division also had its own extensive publication program issuing collections of international documents, reports of tribunals, treatises, pamphlets and monographs on particular topics, and the series the "Classics of International Law," the publication of which the Endowment took over from the Carnegie Institution. (Source: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Summary of Organization and Work. Washington DC: CEIP, 1941 pp31-45.)
Series IV. is organized into the following subseries:
A. General
B. Classics of International Law
C. Conferences
D. Fellowships
E. Meetings
F. Promotion
G. Reports and publications
H. Repor on Teaching of International Law
Series V: Conferences and Institutes
(14 boxes)
This series comprises the Endowment's files on the national and international conferences and institutes in which it participated or maintained an interest, as well as those it organized or funded. The files reflect the work of all three divisions and the secretary's office of the Endowment.
(52 boxes)
The Endowment cooperated with many organizations (governmental and non-governmental, national and international) to foster greater and more pervasive understanding of international relations and to increase support for international laws, cooperation, and accommodation.
These files represent the work of all three divisions and the secretary's office of the Endowment. They consist of correspondence, memoranda, minutes, agenda, press releases, pamphlets, periodicals, and other publications.
See also Series III.B. Topical volumes.
(72 boxes)
This series represents the files on the projects that were inititated, suported, and contributed to by all three divisions of the Endowment and its secretary's office.
See also Series III.B. Topical volumes.
(13 boxes)
This series comprises an assortment of boooks, pamphlets, periodicals, and typescript reports that were kept in the Endowmen's Library. It includes publications that were sent to the Endowment and kept as reference material, as well as Endowment publications. Printed material can be found througout the other series of the records. This series does not represent the entire CEIP library. For more information on the CEIP library see I.G.
Series VIII. is organized into three subseries:
A. CEIP reports and publications
B. Other publications
C. Clippings re the Endowment
This collection is arranged in nine series and several subseries.
A detailed index of the volumes is available at https://library.columbia.edu/content/dam/libraryweb/locations/rbml/carnegie/CEIP%20Indices%20PDF.pdf.
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
This collection is located on-site.
Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Curator of Carnegie Collections.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Records. Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Columbia University Libraries. [Box or Volume Number].
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace - Centre Europeen Records. Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Columbia University Libraries. [Box Number].
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. European Center.
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Parts of collection are available on microfilm. Please consult the curator for details.
Gift of the Carnegie Endowment, 1953 & 1954.
Source of acquisition--Carnegie Endowment. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1953. Accession number--M-53.
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Cataloged 04/17/89 CHF
Processed 1962 JAH, 2002 WS
Jennifer S. Comins converted and corrected content for EAD conversion of legacy finding aid, 9/18/2015
2009-06-26 File created.
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, established by Andrew Carnegie in 1910, is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States. Carnegie selected 28 trustees who were leaders in American business and public life; among them were Harvard University president Charles W. Eliot; philanthropist Robert S. Brookings; former Ambassador to Great Britain Joseph H. Choate; former Secretary of State John W. Foster; former president of MIT and then-president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Henry S. Pritchett; and Carnegie Institution of Washington president Robert S. Woodward. He chose longtime adviser Elihu Root -Senator from New York, former Secretary of War and of State, and future Nobel Peace Prize recipient- to be the Endowment's first president. The Endowment was initially organized into three divisions: the Division of Economics and History to study the causes and impact of war, the Division of Intercourse and Education to promote international understanding and cooperation, and the Division of International Law to aid in the development of international law and dispute settlement. A European Centre and advisory board, set up in Paris as part of the Division of Intercourse and Education, was initially headed by Baron Paul d'Estournelles de Constant, founder and president of the Association for International Conciliation. The Library of the Centre Europeen was founded in 1913 in order to establish a collection of works on international law, politics, economics, government, and social science. During the interwar period, the Endowment revitalized efforts to promote international conciliation, financed reconstruction projects in Europe, supported the work of other organizations, and founded the Academy of International Law at the Hague. Endowment publications of the interwar period included the unprecedented 22-volume Classics of International Law, and the 150-volume Economic and Social History of the World War. In 1925, Nicholas Murray Butler, also a Nobel Prize recipient, succeeded Elihu Root as president of the Endowment. Over the next 20 years he promoted his vision of international cooperation in business and politics. Among his other accomplishments, he was instrumental in fashioning the Kellogg-Briand no-war pact of 1928. The activities of CEIP European Centre were almost completely suspended during the Nazi occupation of Paris. In 1954 the Centre moved to Geneva. Following World War II and Butler's retirement, the Endowment's three divisions were consolidated under the direction of President Joseph E. Johnson. John Foster Dulles led the board. For the next two decades the Endowment conducted research and public education programs on a range of issues, particularly relating to the newly created United Nations and the future of the postwar international legal system. The Endowment provided diplomatic training for some 250 foreign service officers from emerging nations and published International Conciliation, a leading journal in the field.
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
All links open new windows.