Scope and Content Note
The papers of Clarence Kirshman Streit (1896-1986) span the years 1838 to 2000 with the bulk from 1939 to 1994. Although the collection is divided into three parts, some topics and time periods are common to all parts. The collection mainly reflects Streit's advocacy of a plan for an Atlantic Union of democracies, chiefly through the organization, Federal Union, Inc., later renamed Association to Unite the Democracies, Inc.
Part I
Part I of the papers spans the years 1910 to 1987, with the bulk concentrated from 1939 to 1977. The majority of the items pertain to the educational organization, Federal Union, Inc., which Streit established in 1939 to promote his plan for an Atlantic union of democracies. The papers in Part I consist of seven series: Notebooks and Notes; Correspondence; Newspaper Correspondent Files; Federal Union, Inc.; International Movement for Atlantic Union, Inc.; Speeches, Statements, and Writings; and Scrapbooks.
The Notebooks and Notes series, 1917-1984, documents a wide range of Streit's accomplishments. The two earliest items record Streit's army service while with the Eighteenth Engineers in France, 1917-1918. Later papers relate to his personal interests and his activities to promote the Atlantic union movement. Topics include article ideas and material, scheduling information, vacation trips, fund-raising, the Atlantic Convention Resolution, and trips related to the federal union movement.
The Correspondence series, 1917-1987, consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence reflecting Streit's advocacy of an Atlantic union of free nations. This series is divided into two subseries, Alphabetical Correspondence and Chronological Correspondence. Much of the Alphabetical Correspondence, 1918-1982, consists of correspondence between Streit and national government leaders. Additional correspondence of this type also appears in the Federal Union and International Movement for Atlantic Union series. The Chronological Correspondence, 1917-1987, includes correspondence with friends, acquaintances, the public, and national and international leaders.
Papers in the Newspaper Correspondent Files, 1919-1939, pertain to Streit's career as a foreign correspondent for the Philadelphia Public Ledger and the New York Times. Much of this material relates to his tenure as a League of Nations correspondent in Geneva, Switzerland, 1929-1939. One file worthy of note is that of Charles A. Lindbergh. As a staff reporter, Streit covered Lindbergh's flights to Mexico and Latin America in 1927-1928. For specific information about Streit's other assignments consult the biographical note.
The Federal Union, Inc., series, 1917-1987, constitutes more than three-fourths of these papers. This series is divided into three subseries: General Files, Subject Files, and Freedom & Union Files. The General Files, 1939-1987, and the Subject Files, 1917-1987, overlap, containing similar types of material and letters from many of the same correspondents. The General Files contain mostly correspondence and items of a more general nature, while the Subject Files primarily document Streit's duties as president of Federal Union. Also included in these two series is correspondence between Streit and national and international leaders, particularly during World War II and the Cold War period. The Subject Files include much information pertaining to advertising and promotion, fund-raising, planning and research, organizational projects, board elections and meetings, and other activities to inform the public about the Atlantic union cause. In addition, this series contains early material about the establishment of the organization, including two folders filed under the organization's former name, the Inter-Democracy Federal Unionists. Also documented is the later change in name in 1984 from Federal Union to the Association to Unite the Democracies. Interfiled within these two series are papers relating to the International Movement for Atlantic Union (IMAU). Streit was active in both organizations, and members of Federal Union led in the founding of IMAU.
The Freedom & Union Files, 1943-1983, relate to Streit's activities as editor of Federal Union's monthly magazine, 1946-1975. This publication was designed to educate and inform the public about "world government, peace, and freedom." The majority of these files consist of articles, columns, and advertising material to promote the magazine.
Papers in the International Movement for Atlantic Union, Inc., series, 1946-1983, pertain chiefly to Streit's unsuccessful efforts to get an Atlantic Union Resolution passed in the United States Congress. The nonprofit IMAU sought the support of leaders and key individuals in the Atlantic community to promote the organization's goal of federating the North Atlantic democracies. Correspondence is primarily between Streit and IMAU members.
The Speeches, Statements, and Writings, 1910-1983, contains early examples of Streit's writings while a student. The majority of the papers, however, consist of articles, speeches, statements, and books relating to his Atlantic Union work.
The Scrapbooks, 1910-1959, chiefly contain, articles, clippings, and printed matter chronicling Streit's speeches and writings as a student, journalist, and advocate of the Atlantic Union movement.
The most prominent and frequent of Streit's correspondents are Theodore C. Achilles, Justin Blackwelder, Patricia Botond, Percival Flack Brundage, Arthur F. Burns, Winston Churchill, Will Clayton, Michel Debré, Donald P. Dennis, John Foster Dulles, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Paul Findley, Lyndon B. Johnson, Estes Kefauver, John F. Kennedy, George C. Marshall, Walden Moore, Richard M. Nixon, Owen J. Roberts, Nelson A. Rockefeller, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Elmo Roper, Maurice Schumann, Adlai E. Stevenson, Harry S. Truman, Miller Upton, and Harold Clayton Urey.
Part II
Part II of the collection spans the years 1838-1990, with the majority of the papers concentrated in the period 1939-1986. The papers supplement files in Part I and pertain principally to Streit's advocacy of a federation of democratic Atlantic nations united in opposition to totalitarianism. The papers in Part II are organized largely according to the arrangement of Part I and include ten series: Family Papers; Diaries; Notebooks; Correspondence; Newspaper Correspondent Files; Federal Union, Inc.; International Movement for Atlantic Union, Inc.; John A. Mathews Files; Speeches, Statements, and Writings; and Miscellany.
The Family Papers series, 1896-1986, consists mainly of correspondence between Streit and his family while Streit was a transitman for the United States Public Lands Surveys in Alaska in 1916, his service with the Eighteenth Engineers in France, 1917-1918, and as a foreign correspondent, 1920-1939. Many of Streit's military letters describe his service as a security guard assigned to the American Commission to Negotiate the Peace in France after World War I. Other noteworthy items include the memoirs of Streit's father, Louis L. Streit, and excerpts from the diaries of Streit's mother, Emma Kirshman Streit.
The Diaries, 1916-1984, and Notebooks, 1914-1986, chronicle Streit's diverse life. The early diaries and notebooks document his activities as a surveyor, soldier, and reporter. Later volumes relate to his efforts as an advocate for the Atlantic union movement. The travel diaries are incomplete, as Streit seemed to have difficulty sustaining them. The appointment diaries and notebooks, however, also record many of his activities, meetings, speaking engagements, and trips.
Papers in the Correspondence series, 1917-1988, consist of incoming and outgoing correspondence concerning Streit's work to promote an Atlantic union of democracies. The majority of the correspondence is between Streit and world leaders and complements the correspondence series in Part I of the papers.
The Newspaper Correspondent Files, 1919-1936, supplement similar papers that appear in the original installment. This series documents Streit's years as a foreign correspondent for the Philadelphia Public Ledger and the New York Times, particularly his coverage of the League of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, and Charles A. Lindbergh's flights to Mexico and Latin America, 1927-1928.
Comprising almost one third of this addition, the Federal Union, Inc., files, 1838-1990, consists of two subseries: Subject Files and Freedom & Union Files. The Subject File, 1896-1990, includes correspondence with national leaders and information concerning the promotion of ideas and activities to gain support from the public and from international leaders for Atlantic union. This subseries also contains a few papers of Streit's wife, Jeanne, who remained active in federal union matters after Streit's death in 1986. In addition, there is a substantial amount of material documenting efforts to have Atlantic union resolutions passed in the United States Congress. As in Part I, interfiled with this subseries are papers relating to the International Movement for Atlantic Union, Inc. Streit was active in both organizations, and their functions sometimes overlapped. The Freedom & Union Files, 1838-1982, contain material relating to Federal Union's monthly magazine. The papers feature articles, columns, photographs, and background material for articles and columns.
The International Movement for Atlantic Union, Inc., files, 1961-1984, contain a few papers that were not received with the original installment. The bulk of this series is comprised of incoming and outgoing correspondence.
Included in Part II of the collection are the papers of John A. Mathews, an associate of Streit who was actively involved in the Atlantic Union movement. The John A. Mathews series, 1943-1986, primarily documents Mathews involvement with the Organizing Committee for an Association to Promote Public Support for a Federation of Democratic Nations and the International Association for Federal Union.
Papers among the Speeches, Statements, and Writings, 1910-1987, consist mainly of Streit's early writings as a student and later his many writings about the Atlantic union cause. An especially noteworthy item is a partial draft of Streit's autobiography entitled, "Biography of an Idea." Other writings include letters to the editor, pamphlets, short stories, poetry, songs, and lyrics.
The final series, Miscellany, 1906-1987, includes items documenting Streit's early life as a transitman for the United States Public Lands Surveys, a soldier in World War I, and as a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University. This series also reflects Streit's avid interest in his alma mater, the University of Montana. His love of the natural landscape of Montana is documented in the Grizzly Riders International files. Streit participated in some of the Grizzly Riders yearly camping trips in Montana.
The most prominent or frequent of Streit's correspondents in Part II are Will Clayton, Charles de Gaulle, Michel Debré, John Foster Dulles, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Paul Findley, Christian Archibald Herter, Estes Kefauver, Henry Kissinger, Walden Moore, Richard M. Nixon, Owen J. Roberts, and Elmo Roper.
Part III
Part III of the collection spans the years 1898 to 2000, with the majority of the papers concentrated in the period 1939 to 1994. The papers supplement files in Parts I and II and pertain principally to Streit's advocacy of a federation of democratic Atlantic nations united in opposition to totalitarianism. Part III covers the activities of Federal Union, Inc., and Association to Unite the Democracies, Inc., in the years during and following Streit's tenure as president. The majority of the records of the Association to United the Democracies, Inc., document the organization's operations following Streit's death. The papers in Part III are organized largely according to the arrangement of Parts I and II and include eight series: Personal Papers; Correspondence; Speeches, Statements, and Writings; Subject File; Printed Matter; Federal Union, Inc.; Association to Unite the Democracies, Inc., and Oversize.
The Personal Papers series, 1898-1984, consists of materials documenting Streit's personal activities as a surveyor in Alaska, a soldier in World War I, a student and Rhodes Scholar, and the founder and spokesman for the Atlantic union movement. Also included is biographical information compiled to document Streit's life and career.
The Correspondence series, 1912-1998, consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence reflecting Streit's advocacy of an Atlantic union of free nations, as well as correspondence pertaining to personal matters and interests, such as his family and poetry. The majority of the series is arranged chronologically and consists of correspondence with family, friends, acquaintances, and the general public. Also included are attachments such as clippings, pamphlets, and photographs pertaining to Streit's personal and professional interests.
The Speeches, Statements, and Writings series, 1910-1989, includes examples of Streit's writings while a student and early in his career as a journalist, poetry, short stories, and speeches and statements relating to his role as spokesman for the Atlantic union movement. Also included is correspondence relating to his book, Union Now, and drafts of several additional books including The Unknown Turks, which was published posthumously, and two unpublished works, "For Us, The Living" and "Human Rights Versus States Rights."
The Subject File series, 1917-1982, contains correspondence and research files relating to Streit's work as an advocate for the Atlantic union movement and includes documentation relating to various attempts to nominate Streit for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Printed Matter series, 1910-1996, contains articles by Streit and others on a variety of topics relating to peace, democracy, and international cooperation. Also included are several books on topics of history and political science, each of which Streit heavily annotated.
The Federal Union, Inc. series, 1938-1990, is arranged in three subseries: Financial, Speakers File, and Subject File. The Financial subseries includes monthly and annual financial statements, budgets, investment and loan records, and material relating to the organization's tax-exempt status. The Speakers File subseries includes geographic files, records of speaking engagements, speakers' biographies, and sample speeches. The largest of the three subseries, the Subject File, includes correspondence, promotional material, clippings, and material relating to a variety of organizations and events promoting union of democratic nations, including youth groups. Also included are the Federal Union's internal records relating to promotion, fundraising, planning and research, organizational projects, and board meetings.
The Association to Unite the Democracies, Inc. series, 1966-2000, includes operational files such as records of the board of directors' meetings and activities, correspondence and memoranda between board members, and financial records. Also included are correspondence, promotional material, clippings, research files, and material relating to various organizations and events promoting union of democratic nations. The correspondence files contain primarily outgoing correspondence from Executive Director Ira Straus and other association staff and include correspondence with foreign and domestic government officials, related organizations, association members and prospective members, material relating to conferences and events, and letters to various newspapers and other publications.
The Oversize series, 1913-1915, consists of scrapbook pages containing clippings about Streit and his high school newspaper, photographs, school schedule, and University of Montana registration and fees documents.