Series 4: Subject Files, Part III Overview Series 1, 2 and 4 consist of subject files maintained by Jacob Blaustein. They are physically separate because they were in three different locations when the collection was acquired. They also have their own unique filing systems, indicating that they were meant to be kept separately. There is some overlap in subjects among the series, and while this in some cases means duplicate material, it is necessary to consult the relevant subject files in all three series to ensure that all the related material has been covered. The bulk of the files in all three series cover the years 1946-1968. There is very little that documents either Blaustein's life or business prior to the Supreme Court's dismissal of the lawsuit brought by the Blausteins against Standard Oil of Indiana (see Series 6) Although similar in content, the three series do have slightly different emphases. Series 1, which Jacob Blaustein referred to as his "Special Files," are the most extensive and provide details of his complex and successful career in business, philanthropy, and diplomacy. They are arranged in the original numeric system, and is the set of files that Blaustein would have consulted while at his office. Series 2 and Series 4 contain the files that he consulted when working off-site, and while often covering the same subjects, are less extensive than those in Series 1. These two series are arranged in Blaustein's original alpha-numeric sequence. There are unpublished index binders available for all of these series on-site. In general, the files contain published material, transcripts of phone conversations, copies of correspondence, invitations, legal papers, details of J. Blaustein's many business and diplomatic trips, news clippings, and budgets, agendas, minutes and speeches. Series 4 Series 4 shares some similarities in content to Series 1 and 2, although the files are generally smaller. The filing system for Series 4 is a series of double letter/number designations. Subject headings have been retained. Files beginning with AA through KK are filed alphabetically, and are mainly files with proper names of persons or institutions. This series includes material on Jacob's wife, Hilda, who served as either board member or executive officer for numerous charitable organizations, including United Jewish Appeal, American Jewish Committee, Baltimore Jewish Council, Jewish Educational Alliance, Women’s Advertising Club of Baltimore, National Conference of Christians & Jews, Jewish Family & Children’s Society, Associated Jewish Charities & Welfare Fund Campaign, and the Governor’s Commission for the Municipal Court. As a representative of these groups, Mrs. Blaustein often traveled separately from her husband and was called on to give speeches and presentations. Copies of some of these speeches are included in Files AA-1-63 to AA-1-69. Two of her most interesting speeches, presented in Baltimore on December 28, 1954 and January 1955, following the second of her trips to Israel, detail her observations of the state at its earliest beginnings (File AA-1-56). Her son, Morton, had noted that Mrs. Blaustein had “cried her way through Israel” during her first trip five years previous. Copies of Jacob Blaustein’s letters to his wife during their various separations in 1953 (File AA-1-56) are especially revealing of life away from business and government. He once noted, “Alto Dale is not Alto Dale” while she was away. Blaustein’s letters are serious accounts of his meetings and impressions, but they also reveal the trust and faith shared by husband and wife. In a copy of a letter to Mrs. Blaustein dated January 23, 1954, Blaustein asked her to review a statement he was to give at a reception for the President of Turkey because he found her “so helpful with respect to my speeches.” Also of interest in the series are files TT-1-1 to UU-4-28 (1967-1970) that describe Jacob Blaustein’s appointment to the Commission on Marine Science, Engineering and Resources (COMSER). He was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson and described the work of the commission as “interesting and fascinating.” One function of the commission was to search out living resources (food and protein) in the world’s seas that might eventually be used to feed the many undernourished populations of the world. Files VV-1-1 to VV-6-45 include most of Blaustein's noted speeches from 1945-1969, including his addresses before the United Nations; tributes to Dag Hammarskjöld and Eleanor Roosevelt; talks for the American Jewish Committee; acceptance speeches in appreciation of the many awards presented to him; and speeches made at meetings in New York and across the country, in Israel and European cities, and at local charity events. |
