Dates: 1947-1976
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.
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Copyright: Joan F. McCampbell donated to the U.S. government her copyright interest in all unpublished writings in this collection.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.
[ Top of the page | Administrative Information | Biographical Sketch | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List ]
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1894 (August 7) |
Born, Bolton, Mississippi |
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1916 |
B.S. degree, Vanderbilt University |
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1916-1917 |
Student at Columbia University School of Journalism |
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1917-1919 |
Served in Army during World War I, rising to rank of Captain in the 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division |
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1919-1925 |
Worked at Guaranty Trust Company of New York |
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1925-1926 |
Worked in financial department at Continental Insurance Company |
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1926-1943 |
Assistant Treasurer, Treasurer, and Vice-President, Guaranty Trust Company |
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1943-1947 |
Financial Vice-President and Director, General Foods Corporation |
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1947-1956 |
Vice-President, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank) |
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1956-1961 |
President, International Finance Corporation |
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1961-1975 |
Director, American Security and Trust Company |
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1975 (December 13) |
Died, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
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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Container Nos. |
Series |
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1-2 |
SUBJECT FILE, 1947-1976 Speeches, a diary, an article, an autobiography, correspondence, memoranda, printed materials, and other items. Arranged alphabetically. |
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