Ernest Cuneo Papers, 1926-1988 | Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum
Collection Overview
Title: Ernest Cuneo Papers, 1926-1988
Primary Creator: Cuneo, Ernest (1926-1988)
Extent: 80.42 Cubic Feet
Arrangement:
These papers are arranged into three series:
1. General Correspondence, c. 1932-1988 (Containers 1-66)
2. Writings (Containers 67-162)
3. Reference Materials (Containers 163-166)
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The Papers of Ernest Cuneo is a 166 box collection in 3 series. It contains personal and business correspondence relating to Cuneo's law practice, newspapers business, writings, and intelligence work; drafts and copies of columns, articles, and books; and reference material. Further to the biographical note, Ernest Cuneo was an American intelligence operative non-pareil.
Cuneo, a New York attorney, began his career in the early 1930s as a legal assistant to New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia before he began working with the Democratic National Committee under James Farley. Much of this period is revealed through Cuneo's writings in Series 2. Here there are several boxes of manuscripts for Cuneo's popular 1955 book "Life With Fiorello" which later inspired a Broadway Production. There are also some one dozen boxes on Farley including some that contain drafts of an unpublished book about the former Postmaster General and FDR campaign manager.
Cuneo went on to become far better known for his war-time exploits. His pivotal role in the formation of the OSS with "Wild Bill" Donovan has been well chronicled. Boxes 107 and 108 contain writings about the OSS years and Cuneo's relations with the British Intelligence agents that inspired that agency's creation. Here the collection reveals the remarkable literary careers that he and his clandestine associates would later achieve. Box 6 contains some background on Ian Fleming's "James Bond" franchise. Box 36 contains information on the North American Newspaper Alliance partnership he formed with Fleming and others.
The collection also documents Cuneo's long professional relationship with broadcaster and sensationalist newsman Walter Winchell. More than just attorney-client, Cuneo went on to edit Winchell's autobiography, elements which may be found here. There are 10 boxes of Winchell correspondence in Series 1. There are another 5 boxes of writings provided to Winchell at the end of series 2. In toto, they provide a view into the news business and the "leak" culture during the mid-20th century. The collection is useful in the areas of both media and popular culture studies.
Collection Historical Note
Cuneo was born in East Rutherford, New Jersey in 1906. His first newspaper experience was as editor of the school newspaper at East Rutherford High School and a stringer for the Passaic Daily News. He was also a star athlete in high school and later played football at Columbia University and for a professional team in Brooklyn. During college vacations he worked for the New York Daily News.
After he was graduated from law school, Cuneo became law secretary to Fiorello LaGuardia, then a congressman from New York. In this capacity, he was involved in briefing LaGuardia for the Seabury investigation of judicial malpractice and in the investigation of fraudulent bankruptcies. In 1936, James Farley appointed him associate general counsel of the Democratic National Committee.
When World War II began, General William Donovan, head of the Office of Strategic Services [OSS], appointed Cuneo liaison officer between the OSS, British Intelligence, the FBI, the Department of State, and the White House. While working with Donovan and head of British Intelligence, Sir William Stephenson, Cuneo became acquainted with Stephenson's aide, Ian Fleming. A close friendship developed between the two men. Fleming later credited Cuneo with more than half the plot for Goldfinger, and all of the basic plot of Thunderball. For his service during the war, Cuneo was decorated by Italy, Great Britain, and the City of Genoa.
As a lawyer, Cuneo was an authority on libel and constitutional law, especially in the freedom of the press. He represented Walter Winchell during Winchell's most influential period. In his later years, although he continued to practice law, Cuneo was more involved in the newspaper business and in writing. He served as president of the North American Newspaper Alliance and was later editor-at-large of the Saturday Evening Post. For a number of years he wrote a syndicated column, "Take It or Leave It," which appeared three times a week. The success of the column led to an offer to take over the "National Whirligig," the original "news behind the news" column, which appeared five days a week. Cuneo also wrote several books including The Dynamics of World History, Science and History, and Life with Fiorello.
Cuneo, who died in March 1988, was married to Margaret Watson who predeceased him in 1976. The couple had two children, Sandra and Jonathan.
Administrative Information
Repository: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum
Access Restrictions: Material that constitutes an unwarranted invasion of privacy has been closed.
Use Restrictions: Material in this collection is subject to the Copyright Law, Title 17 of the U.S. Code. See special notice to researchers on Roosevelt and Farley materials.
Acquisition Source: Sandra and Jonathan Cuneo
Acquisition Method: The papers were donated to the Library by Ernest Cuneo's children, Sandra and Jonathan Cuneo.
Related Materials: Democratic National Committee Papers
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: General Correspondence, c. 1932-1988],
[Series 2: Writings],
[Series 3: Reference Materials],
[All]
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Series 3: Reference Materials
- Condolence letters on death of Ernest Cuneo, 1988; Saturday Evening Post; Memorial Service for Enest Cuneo, March 1988; Writings.
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Box 127
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AFL-CIO Trade Union News
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American Mystique on Capitol Hill
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Anderson, Ruth J.
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Arlington Cemetery
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Army Pay and Allowances
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Arnold, Matthew Dover Beach
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Belgrade - Europe Must Show Its Colors
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Bergin, Martin [1]
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Bergin, Martin [2]
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Berle, Peter A.
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Biddle, Francis
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Book Excerpts
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Book Jackets, etc.
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Books (list)
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Calley, Lt. William, Jr. - Investigation
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Box 128
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Box 129
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Box 130
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Dahl, Roald
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Davis, Maj. Gen. Raymond G.
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Democratic Newspapers
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Demosthenes
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Dinner Prayer
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Don Ricardo
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Douglas, William O.
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East-West Theatre Balance in Europe
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Education
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Emerson, William R.
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Energy - Survival Challenge
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Ernst, Morris
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Espionage
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European Jews
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Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938
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Falklands
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Federal Highway Authority
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Federal Motor Vehicle Authority
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Federal Troops vs. Violence
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Fleming, Ian
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Football Pictures (copies)
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Foreign Relations
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"The Forgotten FDR" New Republic, 1982
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Frankfurter, Felix
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Freedom of Information Act
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French Language Notes [1]
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French Language Notes [2]
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Goldberg, Arthur J.
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Greece, History of
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Greeks in America
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Box 131
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Haggadah - Passover Seder
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Harvard - Anthropology
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Hendrickson, Anders
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Holmes, Oliver Wendell
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Hopkins, Harry L.
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Human Affairs and International Diplomacy
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Hypothesis
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Income Tax Laws
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Industrial Insurance
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Intelligence Wars in the United States
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Invasion
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Iran - Israel
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Israel Embassy - Policy Background
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Italian Language Notes
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It's Four Square in the United States Under the Democrats
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It's Four Square in Washington Under the Democrats
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Ivanov, Gregor [1]
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Ivanov, Gregor [2]
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Jackson, Henry
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Box 132
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Johnson, Lyndon B.
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Judd, Walter H.
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Judicial Code USC 591
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Kapaun, Father Emil J.
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Karr, David
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Kennedy, John F.
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Key Minerals - U.S. Gets from Abroad
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Kipling, Rudyard
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Krol, John Cardinal [1]
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Krol, John Cardinal [2]
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LaGuardia, Fiorello - Centenary
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Lamphere Papers
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Lane, Frank
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Lebanon - Background Material
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Legal Matters
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Box 133
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Liberty
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Lincoln, Abraham The Day Mr. Lincoln Spoke at Gettysburg
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Lists
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Lobbying Information
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"Look at that Little Kid" Washingtonian, 1983
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Long Term Economic Growth in the South
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Lyons, Leonard
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Macaulay, Thomas - Prophesy
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Marine Lieutenant's Battle
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Mauchly, John W.
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Media
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Michener, James A.
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Military
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MIA's - Korea
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Neutrality
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New Race in Space
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New York Times Listing Catalogue
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Newsletter File
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Newspapers, Magazines - Copies of Articles
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Nostradamus
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Notes and Miscellaneous Pages
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Oak Hill Cemetary
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Office of Economic Opportunity - State Summaries [1]
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Office of Economic Opportunity - State Summaries [2]
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Office of Economic Opportunity - State Summaries [3]
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Box 134
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Parks and Recreation
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Pearson , Drew and Thomas Corcoran
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Pendergast Machine
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Philippines
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Poets
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Politectonic Zones
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Political Matters
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Pollak, Richard
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The Present Danger
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Presidents
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Press Relations Wire, Inc.
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Proxmire, Senator William
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Psychological Warfare - Col. James A. McDonald USMC
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Quotations
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Reading Notes
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Representation of Congress by Congressional and Private Legal Counsel in the Courts
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Reston, James "Scotty"
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Reverie of Space and Time
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Right of People to Petition
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Roosevelt, Franklin D. - Centenary
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Roosevelt, Franklin D. - Research Notes
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Rosenberg Case
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Russia's Real Threat to Iran
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Box 135
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Safety in Skiing
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Saint Benedict Doctrine
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Santayana, George
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Soviet Files [1]
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Soviet Files [2]
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Soviet Files [3]
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Soviet Files [4]
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Soviet Files [5]
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Soviet Files [6]
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Spithead Review - Naval Vessels
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Stalin - Lovestone Fight
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Stephenson, Sir William
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Stimson, Henry L. - Poem
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Stock Market Crash
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Stonehill Book
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Story of Ung
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Straight, Michael
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Student Loans and Higher Education
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Supreme Court Cases
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Terrorism
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Tower Commission
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United Auto Workers
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United Mine Workers
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United States - Aliens/Visas
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Box 136
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United States Government Departments and Agencies
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United States vs. Curtiss -Wright
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Utlited States vs. USSR Strengths
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Vehicle Safety
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Vitapix
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War Production
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West Berlin "Wall"
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White, Harry Dexter
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Who is the Imperialist?
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Williams, Harrison A. - Speech in Congress, February 22, 1972
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Wilson, Woodrow
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World Almanac
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World War II Casualties
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Printed Matter [1]
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Printed Matter [2]
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Box 137
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Box 138
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Box 138-152
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Box 153-157
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Box 158
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Box 159
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Box 160
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Box 161
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Box 162
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Box 163
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Condolence Letters on death of Ernest Cuneo, 1988
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For Bambi (envelope)
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Saturday Evening Post, April 1975, October 1975, February 1976, September 1976
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References 1&2 Library of Congress on Admiral Edward Boscowan (envelope)
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Reference Supporting Blocks - Salisbury Cathedral (envelope)
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References Center Bloc A Winchester (envelope)
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Supporting Block E The Royal Navy (envelope)
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Memorial Service for Ernest Cuneo, March 1988
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Box 164
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Box 165
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Box 166
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Browse by Series:
[Series 1: General Correspondence, c. 1932-1988],
[Series 2: Writings],
[Series 3: Reference Materials],
[All]