Cowen, Myron M. Papers

Dates: 1935-1965.

U.S. Ambassador to Australia, 1948-1949; U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, 1949-1951; U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, 1952-1953

The papers of Myron M. Cowen consist of appointment diaries, correspondence, financial records, itineraries, invitations, memorandums, newspaper clippings, press releases, printed materials, reports, scrapbooks, speeches, and telegrams primarily related to Myron Cowen’s service as U.S. Ambassador to Australia, the Philippines, and Belgium, his personal life, and his career as a lawyer.

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

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Size: 11 linear feet.
Access: Open.
Copyright: The donor gave their copyright interest in writings in this collection to the U.S. government. Documents created by U.S. government officials in the course of their duties are in the public domain. Copyright interest in other documents presumably belongs to the creators of those documents, or their heirs.
Processed by: Willie L. Harriford, Jr. (1967); David Clark (2010); Janice Davis and David Clark (2015); David Clark (2024-2025).

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

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Myron M. Cowen was born on January 25, 1898, in Logan, Iowa. He graduated from Drake University of Des Moines in 1918. From 1919 to 1926, he practiced law in Des Moines. From 1926 to 1933, he was the commissioner for the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. He continued his legal practice from 1935 to 1948 in Washington D.C. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Australia from 1948 to 1949, U.S. ambassador to Philippines from 1949 to 1952, and U.S. ambassador to Belgium from 1952 to 1953. From 1953 to 1965, he practiced law in Washington, D.C. He died on November 1, 1965, in Washington, D.C.

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COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

The papers of Myron M. Cowen consist of appointment diaries, correspondence, financial records, itineraries, invitations, memorandums, newspaper clippings, press releases, printed materials, reports, speeches, and telegrams primarily related to Myron Cowen’s service as U.S. Ambassador to Australia, the Philippines, and Belgium, his personal life, and his career as a lawyer. The collection is arranged in two series, a Subject File and a Speech File.

The Subject File consists of appointment diaries, correspondence, financial records, and other materials primarily relating to Cowen’s career as an Ambassador from 1948 to 1953. The series includes correspondence with President Harry S. Truman, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Douglas MacArthur, Secretary of State Dean Acheson, General Omar Bradley, and Governor Thomas Dewey, and contains information about the countries in which Cowen served as Ambassador, the Japanese Peace Treaty, and Cowen’s travels.

The Speech File consists of speeches, speech drafts, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and printed materials primarily related to Myron Cowen’s speeches during his diplomatic career.

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SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Container Nos.

  

Series
1-19   SUBJECT FILE, 1935-1965
Appointment diaries, correspondence, financial records, itineraries, invitations, memorandums, newspaper clippings, press releases, printed materials, reports, scrapbooks, and telegrams. Arranged alphabetically.
20-22   SPEECH FILE, 1948-1958
Speeches, speech drafts, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and printed materials. Arranged chronologically.
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FOLDER TITLE LIST

SUBJECT FILE, 1935-1965

Box 1

  • A
  • Acheson, Dean
  • Air Force
  • Alger, F.M.
  • American-Australian Association
  • American Historical Collection of the Philippines
  • Appointment Diary, 1949
  • Appointment Diary, 1950
  • Appointment Diary, 1951
  • Appointment Diary, 1952
  • Appointment Diary, 1953
  • Army

Box 2

  • Art
  • Articles
  • Australia - Congratulatory Letters
  • Australia - Departure Letters
  • Australia - Diplomatic Correspondence
  • Australia - Diplomatic Farewell Dinner
  • Australia - Eden, Anthony
  • Australia - Editorials
  • Australia - Embassy
  • Australia - Embassy Staff
  • Australia - Geelong Harbor Trust Commission
  • Australia - General [1 of 3]

Box 3

  • Australia - General [2 of 3]
  • Australia - General [3 of 3]
  • Australia - Governor General
  • Australia - Invitations
  • Australia - Jones, Charles Lloyd
  • Australia - Miscellaneous Correspondence
  • Australia - New Zealand - United States Security Treaty
  • Australia - Perth
  • Australia - Press Clippings
  • Australia - Programs and Directories
  • Australia - Rabling, Harold
  • Australia - Rentoul, A.L.
  • Australia - Richards, Bart
  • Australia - Robinson, W. S.
  • Australia - Station Invitations
  • Australia - Sydney Visits
  • Australia - Thanks, Cards of
  • Australia - Thanks, Letters of
  • Australia - Travel to U.S.
  • Austria - Vienna
  • Automobiles

Box 4

  • B
  • Bankers Trust Company
  • Belgium – Antwerp
  • Belgium – Businessmen
  • Belgium – Clippings
  • Belgium – Congratulatory Letters
  • Belgium – Congressmen
  • Belgium – Departure Letters
  • Belgium – Economic Trends and Prospects
  • Belgium – Embassy
  • Belgium – General [1 of 2]
  • Belgium – General [2 of 2]

Box 5

  • Bell Report
  • Benguet Consolidated Mining Company
  • Bills Paid [1 of 2]
  • Bills Paid [2 of 2]
  • Bradley, Omar
  • Bruce, David
  • C
  • Chase National Bank
  • Christmas Card Lists
  • Clay, Eugene H.
  • Clippings

Box 6

  • Club Memberships
  • Connally, Tom
  • Contributions
  • Council of Foreign Relations, Philippine Study Group [1 of 2]
  • Council of Foreign Relations, Philippine Study Group [2 of 2]
  • D
  • Democratic National Committee
  • Dewey, Governor Thomas
  • Dickens, Randolph
  • Draper, William
  • Dulles, John Foster

Box 7

  • E
  • Editorial Comments [1 of 3]
  • Editorial Comments [2 of 3]
  • Editorial Comments [3 of 3]
  • Eisenhower, President Dwight D.
  • Elizalde, Joaquin M.
  • Escolta Walking Corporation
  • F
  • Far East Trip
  • Far Eastern Council
  • Filing
  • Fredstone, Jeanette and Arthur
  • First Conference of Australian Editors
  • Fulbright, J. William

Box 8

  • G
  • Ghent
  • Guests
  • Gutt, Camile
  • H
  • Hildred, Sir William P.
  • Holland File
  • Hong Kong
  • Humelsine, Carlisle
  • I
  • Indelco
  • Insular Lumber Company
  • International Harvester Company
  • International News Service
  • Introduction, Letters of
  • Invitations, 1951
  • Invitations – Accepted, 1952

Box 9

  • Invitations – Accepted, 1953
  • Invitations – Regretted, 1952
  • Invitations – Regretted, 1953
  • Italy
  • J
  • Japan
  • Japanese Peace Treaty [1 of 8]
  • Japanese Peace Treaty [2 of 8]
  • Japanese Peace Treaty [3 of 8]

Box 10

  • Japanese Peace Treaty [4 of 8]
  • Japanese Peace Treaty [5 of 8]
  • Japanese Peace Treaty [6 of 8]
  • Japanese Peace Treaty [7 of 8]
  • Japanese Peace Treaty [8 of 8]
  • K
  • Kaighin & Hughes

Box 11

  • L
  • Lansdale, Edward
  • Legion of Honor
  • Leysohn, Hal
  • License for Gun
  • Lopez, Fernando – Vice President
  • MacArthur, General Douglas
  • Magsaysay, Luz
  • Magsaysay, Ramon
  • Magsaysay, Ramon – Inauguration
  • Magsaysay, Ramon – Newspaper Clippings
  • MATS
  • Menus
  • N
  • National City Bank of New York
  • National Foreign Trade Council
  • National Movement Free Elections
  • Navy
  • New York Times "Ambassador Article"
  • New York Times Forum on Air
  • New York World’s Fair
  • New York World’s Fair Clippings [1 of 3]

Box 12

  • New York World’s Fair Clippings [2 of 3]
  • New York World’s Fair Clippings [3 of 3]
  • Newspaper Clippings [1 of 2]
  • Newspaper Clippings [2 of 2]
  • Newspapers
  • O

Box 13

  • P
  • Pace, Frank – Secretary of the Army
  • Personal
  • Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
  • Philippine-American Committee
  • Philippine-Australian Press Clippings and Editorials
  • Philippine Packing Corporation
  • Philippines [1 of 8]
  • Philippines [2 of 8]
  • Philippines [3 of 8]
  • Philippines [4 of 8]
  • Philippines [5 of 8]

Box 14

  • Philippines [6 of 8]
  • Philippines [7 of 8]
  • Philippines [8 of 8]
  • Philippines – Baguio Conference, 1950
  • Philippines – Compadre
  • Philippines – Congratulatory Letters
  • Philippines – Congress
  • Philippines – Congressional Visits
  • Philippines – Editorials

Box 15

  • Philippines – Embassy [1 of 2]
  • Philippines – Embassy [2 of 2]
  • Philippines – Manila [1 of 2]
  • Philippines – Manila [2 of 2]
  • Philippines – Manila Press Clippings
  • Philippines – Press
  • Philippines – The Future of the Philippines
  • Philippines – Travel [1 of 2]

Box 16

  • Philippines – Travel [2 of 2]
  • Philippines – U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty
  • Photographs
  • Printed Materials
  • Quirino, President – Trip to Washington
  • R
  • Raeburn Painting
  • Regrets and Acceptance, Week of September 22, 1952
  • Recto, Claro M.
  • Representation
  • Representatives, U.S. House of
  • Romulo, Carlos [1 of 3]
  • Romulo, Carlos [2 of 3]
  • Romulo, Carlos [3 of 3]
  • Rotary Club

Box 17

  • S
  • Scrapbook, 1948, July-December
  • Scrapbook, 1948-1949
  • Scrapbook, 1948, October-1949, March
  • Scrapbook, 1948-1949
  • Scrapbook, 1949, February-April
  • Scrapbook, 1949, February-June
  • Scrapbook, 1949, March-October
  • Scrapbook, 1949, May-September
  • Scrapbook, 1949, November-1950, March
  • Scrapbook, 1949, January-1952, June
  • Scrapbook, 1950, March-May
  • Scrapbook, 1950, May-June
  • Scrapbook, 1950, May-July
  • Scrapbook, 1950, July-August
  • Scrapbook, 1950, August-October
  • Scrapbook, 1950, October-1951, January
  • Scrapbook, 1950, December-1951, March
  • Scrapbook, 1951, March-April
  • Scrapbook, 1951, March-1952, March
  • Scrapbook, 1951, April-July
  • Scrapbook, 1951, July-August
  • Scrapbook, 1951, August-October
  • Scrapbook, 1951, October-November
  • Scrapbook, 1951, November-1952, March
  • Scrapbook, 1952, June 18
  • Scrapbook, 1952, June-October
  • Scrapbook, 1952, September-December
  • Scrapbook, 1952, December-1953, January
  • Scrapbook, 1952, December-1953, February
  • Scrapbook, 1953, February
  • Scrapbook, 1953, February-April
  • Scrapbook, 1953, March-June
  • Scrapbook, 1953, May-June
  • Scrapbook, 1953, December-1954, January
  • Scrapbook, Cowen, Dorothy F.-1949, July-December
  • Scrapbook, Cowen, Dorothy F.-1949, November-1950, July
  • Scrapbook, Cowen, Dorothy F.-1950, June-September
  • Scrapbook, Cowen, Dorothy F.-1950, September-1951, April
  • Scrapbook, Cowen, Dorothy F.-1950, October-1951, February
  • Scrapbook, Cowen, Dorothy F.-1952, March-September
  • Scrapbook, Cowen, Dorothy F.-1953, June-1954, May
  • Scrapbook, Cowen, Dorothy F.-1954, May-1956, April

Box 18

  • Senate, U.S.
  • Singapore
  • Soliongco Letter
  • Soriano, Andres
  • Spaak, Paul Henri – Bankers Trust Luncheon
  • State Department [1 of 2]
  • State Department [2 of 2]
  • State Department – Congratulatory Letters
  • State Department – Staff Meetings
  • T
  • Telegrams
  • Thailand – Bangkok
  • Thailand – Bangkok, February 13, 1950 – Chief of Mission Conference

Box 19

  • Thank You Notes
  • Time Magazine
  • Travel Letters
  • Truman, President Harry S.
  • Van Zeeland, Paul
  • Visitors
  • Visits – Binche, February 17, 1953
  • Visits – Bruge, February 12, 1953
  • Visits – Charleoi, 1952
  • Visits - Hoboken, February 6, 1953
  • Visits - Liege, May 5, 1953
  • Visits - Louvain
  • Visits - Maline, Belgium, March 27, 1953
  • Visits - Mons, January 22, 1953
  • Visits - Namur, February 4, 1953
  • Visits - Pouderies Reunies, January 30, 1953
  • Visits - Verviers, January 29, 1953
  • Visits - Zwereigen
  • W
  • Washington Appointments
  • Washington – Press
  • "Where Do We Go From Here in Asia" Correspondence
  • Williams Air Force Base- Chandler, Arizona
  • XYZ

SPEECH FILE, 1948-1958

Box 20

  • 1948, September 5 - Australian Broadcasting Commission Network
  • 1948, September 15 - Australian American Association
  • 1948, September 27 - Australian American Association
  • 1948, September 29 - Employer's Association at Canberra
  • 1948, October 27 - Junior Chamber of Commerce
  • 1948, November 12 - Conference of Australian Editors
  • 1948, November 18 - English Speaking Union
  • 1948, November 27 - St. Andrews Day Dinner
  • 1949, January 12 - Australian Federation of Commercial Broadcasting Stations
  • 1949, February 15 - Sydney Junior Chamber of Commerce
  • 1949, February 21 - Constitutional Club
  • 1949, March 3 - Farewell Address by Mrs. Cowen
  • 1949, March 10 - Australian American Association
  • 1949, March 16 - Radio Address
  • 1949, March 21 - Coral Sea Message
  • 1949, April 12 - American Australian Association
  • 1949, May 23 - Presentation of Credentials to President of the Philippines
  • 1949, May 23 - Response of President Elpidio Quirino to Statement of M. M. Cowen
  • 1949, May 26 - Radio Broadcast
  • 1949, May 30 - Memorial Day Exercise
  • 1949, June 6 - "America's Policy in Japan"
  • 1949, September - T. B. Drive
  • 1949, September - Recorded Radio Program with Congressman M.G. Burnside
  • 1949, September 1 - Rotary Club of Manila
  • 1949, September 8 - Overseas Press Club
  • 1949, December 15 - Presentation of Length of Service Awards
  • 1949, December 17 - YMCA International Christmas Celebration
  • 1950, January 1 - New Year's Message
  • 1950, January 4 - New Year's Greeting to American Community in the Philippines
  • 1950, January 12 - Secretary Acheson's Address Before the National Press Club
  • 1950, February 1 - Transferring Pier 9 Manila South Harbor to Philippine Government
  • 1950, February 3 - Iloilo Rotary Club
  • 1950, February 22 - Washington's Birthday
  • 1950, February 22 - Lion's Club
  • 1950, March 15 - Secretary Acheson's Address Before Commonwealth Club of California
  • 1950, March 21 - Opening U.S. Information Service in Davao
  • 1950, March 22 - Cagayan, Misanis Oriental, on Occasion of Dedication and Ceremony of Transferring Title of the Rehabilitation Work to the Philippine Government
  • 1950, March 23 - Opening Ceremony of the Jones Bridge
  • 1950, March 26 - Commencement Exercise at Centro Escolar University
  • 1950, April 17 - Statement Before Sub-Committee of Senate Foreign Relations Committee
  • 1950, April 25 - University of the Philippines Commencement Exercises
  • 1950, May 2 - Convention of National Confederation of Trade Unions
  • 1950, May 9 - Cebu Rotary Club
  • 1950, June 4 - Transfer of Pier at Zamboanga
  • 1950, June 4 - Philippine Veterans Legion National Convention at Davao
  • 1950, June 10 - U.S. Return to Philippines
  • 1950, June 14 - Flag Day Ceremony, Elks Club, Manila
  • 1950, June 30 - Harvard Club of Manila
  • 1950, July 4 - Fourth of July Statement
  • 1950, August 3 - Pier 13 Transfer to Philippine Government
  • 1950, August 18 - Late President Quezon's 72nd Birthday Anniversary
  • 1950, August 25 - Opening Gilbert Bridge Daoag, Ilocos Norte
  • 1950, September 1 - Rotary Club Speech, Legaspi, Albay
  • 1950, September 14 - Re-Opening of the Mananga Bridge

Box 21

  • 1950, September 15 - Convocation of the Student Veterans Department, Arellano University
  • 1950, October 10 - Loyalty Day Program, College of Agriculture, Los Banos
  • 1950, October 20 - University of Manila Anniversary Celebration
  • 1950, October 20 - Baguio Rotary Club
  • 1950, October 24 - Rotary Club - Tarlac - United Nations Day
  • 1950, October 26 - Convocation of Feati Institute of Technology
  • 1951, March 5 - Opening of Ayala Bridge
  • 1951, March 9 - District Conference of Rotary International
  • 1951, March 28 - Convention of Methodist Missionaries
  • 1951, April 3 - Commencement Exercises, Sillman University
  • 1951, April 3 - Rotary Club, Lions Club, and Junior Chamber of Commerce Meeting
  • 1951, April 26 - Complete Assurance Against Aggression
  • 1951, April 27 – Moral Integrity in the World to Come
  • 1951, June 9 - T.V Program "Battle Report"
  • 1951, June 15 - Press and Radio Conference
  • 1951, July 3 - Fifth Anniversary of Philippine Independence Day
  • 1951, July 4 - Fourth of July Statement
  • 1951, July 5 - Rotary Club Celebration
  • 1951, July 10 - Opening of the MacArthur Bridge
  • 1951, July 13 - Economic Cooperation Assistance Cargo in the Philippines
  • 1951, August 22 - Manila Lions Club
  • 1951, October 28 - National Movement for free elections
  • 1951, October 26 - 40th Anniversary Scottish Rite Masonry
  • 1951, October 31 - Fund Campaign Managers, United Nations Appeal for Children
  • 1951, November 9 - Award of the Philippine Legion of Honor
  • 1952, November 23 - NBC-TV Battle Report
  • 1952, April 9 - Bataan Day
  • 1952, April 15 - University of Colorado World Affairs Conference
  • 1952, June 12 - Belgian Press Association
  • 1952, June 17 - Mrs. Cowen, American Women's Club
  • 1952, June 18 - Belgo-American Association
  • 1952, July 2 - Cercle Gaulois
  • 1952, July 9 - Offshore Procurements
  • 1952, September 23 - Fulbright Grantees
  • 1952, September 24 - Ghent Fair
  • 1952, September 25 - American Club of Brussels
  • 1952, October 1 - Cercle Royal Mars et Meraire
  • 1952, November 22 - Harvard-Yale Dinner
  • 1952, December 16 - Louvain University
  • 1952, December 19 - Belgo-American Association at Charleroi
  • 1953, January 21 - Anglo-American Press Association
  • 1953, February 3 - American Chamber of Commerce in Belgium
  • 1953, February 12 - Bruge - College of Europe
  • 1953, February 18 - American Women's Club

Box 22

  • 1953, February 20 - Antwerp
  • 1953, March 4 - Chambre de Commerce de Bruxelles
  • 1953, March 20 - U.S. International House Alumni
  • 1953, April 15 - Les Amis Philanthropes
  • 1953, May 5 - American Day at the Liege International Fair
  • 1953, May 30 - Henri-Chapelle Memorial Day
  • 1953, May 31 - Memorial Day Speech at Waregem
  • 1953, October 26 - Women's National Democratic Club
  • 1953, October 29 - Foreign Policy Association
  • 1953, December 5 - Philippine Club
  • 1954, February 24 - Committee for a National Trade Policy
  • 1954, February 27 - Foreign Policy Association Speech, New York
  • 1954, March 23 - Young Republican Speech, New York
  • 1954, May 4 - Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs
  • 1954, May 24 - St. Paul, Minnesota
  • 1954, June 3 - Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • 1955, January 14 - University of Cincinnati
  • 1958, May 24 - Ambassador Bohlen's Speech, Cebu Press and Radio Association
  • Undated
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