Garner, Robert L. Papers

Dates: 1947-1976

Vice-President, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 1947-1956

The papers of Robert L. Garner consist mostly of materials written by Garner, including speeches, a diary, an article, and an autobiography. The papers also include correspondence, memoranda, and printed materials relating to his career with the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation.

[Administrative Information | Biographical Sketch | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List]

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Size: 10 linear inches (around 1600 pages).
Access: Open.
Copyright: Joan F. McCampbell donated to the U.S. government her copyright interest in all unpublished writings in this collection. Documents created by U.S. government employees in the course of their official duties are also in the public domain. Copyright interest in other documents presumably belongs to the creators of those documents, or their heirs.
Updated by: Sarah Bell (2009) as part of the Truman Library Internship Program.
Supervising Archivists: Randy Sowell and David Clark.


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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

1894 (August 7)

 

Born, Bolton, Mississippi

1916

 

B.S. degree, Vanderbilt University

1916-1917

 

Student at Columbia University School of Journalism

1917-1919

 

Served in Army during World War I, rising to rank of Captain in the 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division

1919-1925

 

Worked at Guaranty Trust Company of New York

1925-1926

 

Worked in financial department at Continental Insurance Company

1926-1943

 

Assistant Treasurer, Treasurer, and Vice-President, Guaranty Trust Company

1943-1947

 

Financial Vice-President and Director, General Foods Corporation

1947-1956

 

Vice-President, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank)

1956-1961

 

President, International Finance Corporation

1961-1975

 

Director, American Security and Trust Company

1975 (December 13)

 

Died, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

The Robert L. Garner Papers are comprised of a diary, speeches, printed materials, and other items relating to his work as Vice-President of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (also known as the World Bank) from 1947 to 1956, and as President of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) from 1956 to 1961. During this period, Garner was deeply involved with financial reconstruction after World War II.

From February 1947 to April 1949, Garner kept a detailed diary of his daily activities as Vice-President of the World Bank. From 1947 to 1961, he traveled around the world to attend meetings and deliver speeches on international finance. Together, his diary and speeches make up about ninety percent of the collection.

The remainder of the collection includes an article by Garner on the financial relationship between the United States and developing nations, an autobiography entitled, This is the Way It Was with Robert L. Garner, correspondence and memoranda relating to Garner’s trip to North Africa and the Middle East in 1949, and a copy of Garner’s oral history interview with Columbia University.

Related collections at the Truman Library include the Papers of Harry S. Truman (Official File 85-E), Roman L. Horne, and John W. Snyder.

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SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Container Nos.

 

Series

1-2

  SUBJECT FILE, 1947-1976
Speeches, a diary, an article, an autobiography, correspondence, memoranda, printed materials, and other items. Arranged alphabetically.
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FOLDER TITLE LIST

SUBJECT FILE, 1947-1976

Box 1

  • Appreciation Certificate, 1957
  • Garner, Robert L. – Data Regarding
  • “International Bank for Reconstruction and Development” by Robert L. Garner, February 13, 1947-March 31, 1948, Volume I [February 13, 1947-August 28, 1947]
  • “International Bank for Reconstruction and Development” by Robert L. Garner, February 13, 1947-March 31, 1948, Volume II [August 29, 1947-March 31, 1948]
  • “International Bank for Reconstruction and Development” by Robert L. Garner, April 1, 1948-April 3, 1949, Volume I [April 1, 1948-June 30, 1948]
  • “International Bank for Reconstruction and Development” by Robert L. Garner, April 1, 1948-April 3, 1949, Volume II [July 1, 1948-April 3, 1949]
  • Memoranda and Correspondence Regarding North Africa and Middle East Trip, 1949 [2008 accretion]

Box 2

  • Minutes and By-Laws of the Meetings of Ben Lomond, Inc., 1963
  • “The United States and the Developing Nations,” Article by Robert L. Garner
  • This is the Way It Was with Robert L. Garner, 1972 [autobiography]
  • World Bank-Meetings Attended, Speeches, 1947-1949
  • World Bank-Meetings Attended, Speeches, 1950-1955
  • World Bank-Meetings Attended, Speeches, 1956-1959
  • World Bank-Meetings Attended, Speeches, 1960-1961
  • World Bank Project-Interview with Robert L. Garner, Columbia University
[ Top of the page | Administrative Information | Biographical Sketch | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List ]