William Pfaff Papers

Collection

Identifier: MSN/MN 10026

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of the personal and professional papers of journalist William Pfaff. Pfaff’s professional materials include his writings from each stage of the writing process, such as research notes, drafts, proofs, and published materials. The collection also contains conference materials and speeches, financial records, and materials from Pfaff’s work at the Hudson Institute, a non-profit research center on public policy. Also included are Pfaff’s personal papers which consist of correspondence, agendas, photographs, and Notre Dame memorabilia. Significant topics include journalism, American foreign policy, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, terrorism, communism, Soviet relations, and American and European history. Materials include clippings, newspapers, magazines, drafts, manuscripts, research, pamphlets, speeches, lectures, journals, reports, correspondence, financial records, contracts, agendas, address books, photographs, and electronic records.

Dates

1942-2015
Majority of material found in 1965-2015

Creator

Pfaff, William, 1928-2015 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Folders 132, 702-704, and 707-709 are restricted.

Conditions Governing Use

Biographical / Historical

William Pfaff (1928-2015) was a foreign affairs journalist and author. Pfaff was born in Iowa and earned a B.A. in English literature and political science from the University of Notre Dame in 1949. He travelled extensively through southeast Asia while serving in the Special Forces during the Korean War before eventually settling permanently in Paris, France. Pfaff was the Assistant Editor of Commonweal Magazine (1949-1955), writer at ABC News (1955-1957), and Deputy Director of the Hudson Institute’s European Affiliate (1971-1978). As a freelance journalist, Pfaff wrote for the International Herald Tribune, New Yorker Magazine, Harper’s, and others. Pfaff is also the author of seven books and co-author of three books with Edmund Stillman.

Extent

25 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

French

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into seven series: I. Writings; II. Conference Materials, Speeches, and Course Materials; III. The Hudson Institute; IV. Correspondence; V. Financial Records; VI. Personal Papers; and VII. Electronic Resources. Series I, II, III, V, and VI are arranged chronologically. Series IV is arranged alphabetically by correspondent.

Subjects

Address books Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Agendas (administrative records) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Articles Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Clippings (information artifacts) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Communism Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Compact discs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Contracts Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Correspondence Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Drafts (documents) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Electronic records (digital records) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Europe -- History -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Financial records Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Flash drives Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Floppy disks Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Foreign news Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Freelance journalism Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Journalism Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Journals (periodicals) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Lectures Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Magazines (periodicals) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Manuscripts (documents) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Newspapers Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Pamphlets Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Persian Gulf War, 1991 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Pfaff, William, 1928-2015
Photographs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Reports Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Research (documents) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Soviet Union -- Foreign relations Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Speeches (documents) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Stillman, Edmund O.
Terrorism Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
United States -- Foreign relations Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
United States -- History -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings