Archibald Cary Coolidge
Encyclopedia
Archibald Cary Coolidge was an American
educator. He was a Professor of History at Harvard College
from 1908 and the first Director of the Harvard University Library
from 1910 until his death. Coolidge was also a scholar in international affairs, a planner of the Widener Library
, a member of the United States Foreign Service
, and editor-in-chief of the policy journal, Foreign Affairs
.
, from which he emerged summa cum laude in history in 1887. He also attended the University of Berlin and the École des Sciences Politiques in Paris. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Freiburg
in Germany 1892.
From 1893 on he taught various history courses at Harvard, first as an instructor, from 1899 on as Assistant Professor, and in 1908 he was made a full Professor of History. Coolidge turned the Harvard College Library into a major research institution. In 1908 he was appointed to the Harvard Library Council and was chairman of this council in 1909. In 1910 he became the first Director of the Harvard University Library. Coolidge's tenure saw the building of the Widener Library
.
Between college terms and parallel to his post at Harvard, Coolidge also pursued a career in diplomacy
, which fit his travel interests and his desire and aptitude for learning languages well. He held posts as secretary to the American legation in Saint Petersburg, Russia (1890–1891), as private secretary to the American minister in France (1892), and as secretary to the American legation in Vienna (1893).
At the end of World War I
, more important assignments followed. Coolidge joined the "Inquiry
" think tank established by Woodrow Wilson
. The U.S. State Department sent him in 1918 to Russia to report on the situation there. In 1919, he was made the head of the so-called Coolidge Mission, which was "appointed by the American Delegation on 27 December and set up headquarters in Vienna.". Secretary of State Lansing informed Coolidge in a telegram dated 26 December 1918, that "You are hereby assigned to the American Commission to observe political conditions in Austria-Hungary and neighboring countries.". Coolidge and his group in Vienna analyzed the state of affairs on the Balkans and made recommendations for the benefit of the U.S. participants at the Paris Peace Conference, 1919
. In 1921 Coolidge worked as a negotiator for the American Relief Administration
and helped organize the humanitarian aid to Russia after the famine of 1921
. Coolidge also was one of the founders of the Council on Foreign Relations
, which grew out of the "Inquiry" study group, and served as the first editor of its publication Foreign Affairs
from 1922 until his death in 1928.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator. He was a Professor of History at Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
from 1908 and the first Director of the Harvard University Library
Harvard University Library
The Harvard University Library system comprises about 90 libraries, with more than 16 million volumes. It is the oldest library system in the United States, the largest academic and the largest private library system in the world...
from 1910 until his death. Coolidge was also a scholar in international affairs, a planner of the Widener Library
Widener Library
The Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library, commonly known as Widener Library, is the primary building of the library system of Harvard University. Located on the south side of Harvard Yard directly across from Memorial Church, Widener serves as the centerpiece of the 15.6 million-volume Harvard...
, a member of the United States Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
, and editor-in-chief of the policy journal, Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs is an American magazine and website on international relations and U.S. foreign policy published since 1922 by the Council on Foreign Relations six times annually...
.
Biography
Archibald Coolidge was born in Boston, Massachusetts as the third of five boys. His parents were Joseph Randolph Coolidge and Julia Coolidge née Gardner, both from prominent and wealthy Boston families. Coolidge attended seven different elementary and preparatory schools, the Adams Academy in Quincy, and Harvard CollegeHarvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, from which he emerged summa cum laude in history in 1887. He also attended the University of Berlin and the École des Sciences Politiques in Paris. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
in Germany 1892.
From 1893 on he taught various history courses at Harvard, first as an instructor, from 1899 on as Assistant Professor, and in 1908 he was made a full Professor of History. Coolidge turned the Harvard College Library into a major research institution. In 1908 he was appointed to the Harvard Library Council and was chairman of this council in 1909. In 1910 he became the first Director of the Harvard University Library. Coolidge's tenure saw the building of the Widener Library
Widener Library
The Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library, commonly known as Widener Library, is the primary building of the library system of Harvard University. Located on the south side of Harvard Yard directly across from Memorial Church, Widener serves as the centerpiece of the 15.6 million-volume Harvard...
.
Between college terms and parallel to his post at Harvard, Coolidge also pursued a career in diplomacy
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
, which fit his travel interests and his desire and aptitude for learning languages well. He held posts as secretary to the American legation in Saint Petersburg, Russia (1890–1891), as private secretary to the American minister in France (1892), and as secretary to the American legation in Vienna (1893).
At the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, more important assignments followed. Coolidge joined the "Inquiry
The Inquiry
The Inquiry was a study group established in September 1917 by Woodrow Wilson to prepare materials for the peace negotiations following World War I. The group, composed of around 150 academics, was directed by presidential adviser Edward House and supervised directly by philosopher Sidney Mezes...
" think tank established by Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
. The U.S. State Department sent him in 1918 to Russia to report on the situation there. In 1919, he was made the head of the so-called Coolidge Mission, which was "appointed by the American Delegation on 27 December and set up headquarters in Vienna.". Secretary of State Lansing informed Coolidge in a telegram dated 26 December 1918, that "You are hereby assigned to the American Commission to observe political conditions in Austria-Hungary and neighboring countries.". Coolidge and his group in Vienna analyzed the state of affairs on the Balkans and made recommendations for the benefit of the U.S. participants at the Paris Peace Conference, 1919
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
. In 1921 Coolidge worked as a negotiator for the American Relief Administration
American Relief Administration
American Relief Administration was an American relief mission to Europe and later Soviet Russia after World War I. Herbert Hoover, future president of the United States, was the program director....
and helped organize the humanitarian aid to Russia after the famine of 1921
Russian famine of 1921
The Russian famine of 1921, also known as Povolzhye famine, which began in the early spring of that year, and lasted through 1922, was a severe famine that occurred in Bolshevik Russia...
. Coolidge also was one of the founders of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
, which grew out of the "Inquiry" study group, and served as the first editor of its publication Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs is an American magazine and website on international relations and U.S. foreign policy published since 1922 by the Council on Foreign Relations six times annually...
from 1922 until his death in 1928.
Publications
- The United States as a World Power (1908)
- The Origins of the Triple Alliance (1917)
- Ten Years of War and Peace (1927)
- Editor-in-Chief, Foreign Affairs, a journal of the Council on Foreign Relations