Sidney Edward Mezes papers, 1917-1919

Summary Information

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

Cataloged and arranged.

• Series I: Correspondence
• Subseries I.1: Cataloged Correspondence
• Subseries I.2: Alphabetical Correspondence File
• Series II: "Inquiry Papers"

Description

Summary

Mezes' correspondence and documents relating to the Inquiry group. Correspondents include Emily Greene Balch, George Louis Beer, Isaiah Bowman, Wilbur Cross, Cleveland H. Dodge, Stephen P. Duggan, Edward A. Filene, Glenn Frank, Robert Herrick, Robert Lansing, Edward M. House, Samuel McCune Lindsay, Walter Lippmann, Breckenridge Long, Adolph C. Miller, William Phillips, Frank L. Polk, Albert Shaw, James T. Shotwell, Vladimir G. Simkhovitch, Frank William Taussig, Allyn A. Young.

This collection is separated into two parts. The first is a selection from the entire group of papers which was made and edited for publication by Ingrain Bander who "discovered" the papers in a storeroom of City College of which Mezes was president from 1914 to 1927. These papers are arranged in seven general subject groups and are class-marked for their place in the general file. The second and larger group is an alphabetical file of letters and documents. In both sections the papers relate to the "Inquiry" group of World War I which was appointed by President Wilson in 1917 "to collect and collate data that might be needed eventually at a Peace Conference." Mezes was executive director of this group. Mezes was brother-in-law of Colonel Edward House and many of the letters are addressed to him.

• Series I: Correspondence

• Series II: "Inquiry Papers"

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

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: Box 2. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies 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

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Sidney Edward Mezes papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Accruals

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Alternate Form Available

Microfilm available for part of the collection.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Date of acquisition--1934. Accession number--M-34.

Publications About Described Materials

Bander, Ingram, ed. The Inquiry Papers of Sidney Edward Mezes. Washington, D.C. : American Documentation Institute, 1938.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 08/--/89.

The original printed finding aid was converted into an EAD document in June 2020. There is additional description in the printed finding aid that was not included in the EAD document. The original printed finding aid is available here as a pdf.

Revision Description

2020-06-11 EAD document created by CCR.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

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Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

President of City College, 1914-1927, and Executive Director of the Inquiry group. The Inquiry group of World War I was appointed by President Wilson in 1917 to "collect and collate data that might be needed eventually at a Peace Conference."