Skip to main content

William W. Lancaster papers

 Collection
Identifier: HC.MC-1246

Scope and Contents

This collection includes photographs and memoranda related to a trip taken by William W. Lancaster to Europe in 1948. It covers meetings held by Lancaster with European financial officials, as well as information on the International Sugar Agreement, correspondence regarding Lancaster's experience as a European traveler, personal correspondence, and correspondence regarding Lancaster's business interests.

This collection also includes personal letters and telegrams to Lancaster, as well as copies of letters sent by him on personal matters (though often touching official topics, and often on official stationery); information and correspondence related to the Soviet Union and its relationship with the United States; and correspondence with and about Sir Stafford Cripps, a Labour member of the Atlee government in the United Kingdom who served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Finally, much of the collection is made up of “day notes,” which are handwritten accounts of what Lancaster did each day, written on the pages of a daily planner pad which were then torn out. They are as short as a description of where Lancaster went on a given day, or long enough to require several additional stapled pages. Some notes also include memos regarding Lancaster's official activities on that day. During the time period covered by the notes, Lancaster worked for the National City Bank of New York, later Citibank.

Dates

  • Creation: 1942 - 1955

Creator

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).

Biographical / Historical

William Woart Lancaster (1874-?) worked for and with the United States State Department. He received an undergraduate (1897) and law degree (1899) from Harvard University. He was involved with international banking issues and relations with Great Britain and the U.S.S.R. during and after World War II. He worked for National City Bank (he may have served as chairman) as well as serving as the head of Foreign Policy Association and possibly the American-Soviet Friendship Society.

Lancaster married Elizabeth Lansing Greig in 1918, and had at least three children: Stephen Symonds Lancaster, born 1919; Mary Lancaster, born 1921; and William Woart Lancaster II. He was Episcopalian.

Source: internal evidence, Who's Who in New York (City and State), Issue 7, Harvard Class of 1897, Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Report, The Letters of Allen Ginsberg (Ginsberg was the college roommate of William Woart Lancaster II).

Extent

1.5 linear ft.

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection includes correspondence, day notes (a rough daily diary), photographs, and other documents related to William W. Lancaster's work as an international financial expert and advocate of closer American-Soviet ties in both a public and private capacity during World War II and the early Cold War era.

Acquisition

The William W. Lancaster papers were donated to Special Collections, haverford College in 1969 by Elmore Jackson.

Processing Information

Processed by Jon Sweitzer-Lamme.

Title
William W. Lancaster papers, 1942-1955
Status
Completed
Author
Jon Sweitzer-Lamme
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Find It at the Library

Most of the materials in this catalog are not digitized and can only be accessed in person. Please see our website for more information about visiting or requesting repoductions from Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections Library

Contact:
370 Lancaster Ave
Haverford PA 19041 USA US