Andrew W. Cordier papers, 1918-1975
Summary Information
Abstract
At a Glance
- Call No.:
- Ms Coll\Cordier,MS#1589
- Bib ID:
- 4078651 View CLIO record
- Creator(s):
- Cordier, Andrew W (Andrew Wellington), 1901-1975
- Repository:
- Rare Book and Manuscript Library
- Physical Description:
- 160 linear feet (202520 items in 347 boxes)
- Language(s):
- English .
- Access:
- 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.
-
The following boxes are located off-site: Boxes 1-346. You will need to request this material from the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
Certain files have been closed by the United Nations, by special order of the Secretary-General.
During March 1991, the status of all materials which had previously been closed to the public was reviewed with respect to the declassification policies outlined in the two letters from U.N. Chief Archivist Alf Erlandsson. Under these guidelines, code cables, items captioned "Top Secret" or "Strictly Confidential" and certain personal records remain closed.
In May 2016, The United Nations declassified the entire contents of Boxes 175-184. These materials are now available for research use. In August 2024, the contents of boxes 104-108 were opened, with the exception of one folder in box 107 that remains restricted.
In most cases, materials for which restrictions remain in force have been removed from the regular collection and placed in specially marked boxes at the end of the series. The only exception to this practice involves boxes which contain restricted materials exclusively. These have been sealed with red string and lef in sequence with the rest of the collection.
In the box list, those subject folders from which restricted materials have been removed are marked with an asterisk (*). In addition, dummies have been placed in those folder explaining the nature and quantity of the restricted materials removed. Sealed boxes (containing only restricted materials) are indicated with a number sign (#).
Description
Summary
Correspondence, manuscripts, documents, printed material, and photographs of Cordier. The papers cover three periods of Cordier's life: the early years, especially undergraduate and graduate school, as a professor at Manchester College in Indiana, and as a member of the U.S. State Dept.; the United Nations period, as a member of the Secretariat, and including the files of the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation and working files for the publication of THE PUBLIC PAPERS OF THE SECRETARIES-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS; and the Columbia University period, containing Cordier's personal and working files during the time of his deanship and presidency. Among the prominent correspondents are Dag Hammarskjöld, Trygve Lie, Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., Chester W. Nimitz, Lester B. Pearson, Nelson A. Rockefeller, Carlos P. Romulo, Eleanor Roosevelt, Adlai E. Stevenson, and Harry S. Truman.
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Series VII: Andrew W. Cordier Working Papers, 1971-1975
Personal Correspondence: Six Folders of letters with a variety of people; filed chronologically covering period 1971-1975 (August)
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Supplement to Cordier register (6,3/03)
Boxes 235 and 236 (metal card files) have been reboxed in document boxes. Box 235 has become Boxes 235A and 235B, and Box 236 is now Boxes 236A and 236B
Arrangement
The papers are organized in 11 series, with one supplement series. The arrangement and list of the material in Boxes 39-202 is adapted from the work done on the files in Cordier's office.
- Series I: Cataloged Correspondence
- Series II Catalogued Manuscripts, Documents and Photographs
- Series III, 1923-1944
- Series IV, 1930-1947
- Series V:The United Nations Period And Related Files
- Subseries V.1: Invitations
- Subseries V.2: Personal Correspondence and Administrative Files of Cordier
- Subseries V.3: United Nations Administration
- Subseries V.4: The Secretaries General
- Subseries V.5: Subject Files
- Subseries V.6: The Public Papers of the Secretaries General of the United Nations
- Subseries V.7: United Nations Bibliography and Miscellany
- Subseries V.8:The Dag Hammarskjold Foundation
- Subseries V.9: Miscellaneous Studies, Reports and Projects, 1948-1971
- Series VI: The Columbia University Period And Related Files
- Series VII: Andrew W. Cordier Working Papers, 1971-1975
- Series VIII: Honorary Degrees, Plaques, Awards and Honors
- Series IX: Photographs, Printed and Miscellaneous Material
- Series X: 1979 Addition, 1979
- Series XI: 1980 Addition, 1980
- Supplement to Cordier register (6,3/03)
Using the Collection
Restrictions on Access
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.
The following boxes are located off-site: Boxes 1-346. You will need to request this material from the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
Certain files have been closed by the United Nations, by special order of the Secretary-General.
During March 1991, the status of all materials which had previously been closed to the public was reviewed with respect to the declassification policies outlined in the two letters from U.N. Chief Archivist Alf Erlandsson. Under these guidelines, code cables, items captioned "Top Secret" or "Strictly Confidential" and certain personal records remain closed.
In May 2016, The United Nations declassified the entire contents of Boxes 175-184. These materials are now available for research use. In August 2024, the contents of boxes 104-108 were opened, with the exception of one folder in box 107 that remains restricted.
In most cases, materials for which restrictions remain in force have been removed from the regular collection and placed in specially marked boxes at the end of the series. The only exception to this practice involves boxes which contain restricted materials exclusively. These have been sealed with red string and lef in sequence with the rest of the collection.
In the box list, those subject folders from which restricted materials have been removed are marked with an asterisk (*). In addition, dummies have been placed in those folder explaining the nature and quantity of the restricted materials removed. Sealed boxes (containing only restricted materials) are indicated with a number sign (#).
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Preferred Citation
Andrew Wellington Cordier Papers. Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Columbia University.
Related Archival Materials
For the records of the Office of the Columbia University President, see Central Files (UA#0001). In addition, see also the Andrew Cordier Papers at the Columbia University Archives (UA#0145); the University Protest and Activism Collection (UA#0007) and the Joint Committee on Disciplinary Affairs Records (UA#0006).
Accruals
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Ownership and Custodial History
Gift of Andrew W. Cordier, 1975, 1979& 1980; transferred from the Lehman Library, 1977; gift of Doreen Geary, 1982.
About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Revision Description
2009-06-26 File created.
2011-09-14 EAD file created directly from PDF by Patrick Lawlor
2014-04-18 XML document instance revised by Catherine C. Ricciardi
2016-05-12 XML document instance revised by Catherine C. Ricciardi
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
Biographical / Historical
Andrew Wellington Cordier was born in Canton, Ohio in 1901. He died on Long Island in 1975. Cordier was educated at Manchester College in Indiana (1923-44); the Univ. of Chicago; and the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva.
From 1944 to 1946 he worked at the U.S. Dept. of State, after which he joined the United Nations, eventually serving as Executive Assistant to the UN secretaries general. He was a chief negotiator for the United Nations in the Congo in 1960. In 1962 he left the UN to become Dean of the School of International Affairs (SIA) at Columbia University. He served as acting President of Columbia in the years 1968 and 1969; later he was appointed President (1969-70). After leaving the Columbia presidency, Cordier returned to his position as Dean of SIA and served until 1972.
In 1970 Cordier was awarded the Alexander Hamilton medal, the university's highest honor.
Subject Headings
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.
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