Papers of Edwin O. Reischauer

The Papers of Edwin O. Reischauer documents an extensive period of Reischauer's life, including his tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Japan, his return from Japan and his period as an instructor at Harvard. The collection contains correspondences; memoranda; reports; student papers; letters of recommendation; minutes; photographs; maps; teaching material including syllabi, examinations and maps; manuscripts including drafts, articles, letters to the editor, book reviews and miscellaneous published and unpublished work by Reischauer; photographs; and other papers. Also included are general correspondences with individuals in the scholarly, public and governmental worlds as well as personal letters to friends and family. The collection also contains correspondence related to Reischauer's membership on the Board of Trustees of the Asia Foundation; Reischauer's tenure as editor of the Harvard University Press American Foreign Policy Series Library including correspondence with Reischauer's predecessor as editor, Crane Brinton; his tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Japan; the Japanese Institute at Harvard; critiques of work by colleagues and students; publishing endeavors, grant proposal and other projects. Material from his service as U.S. Ambassador includes scrapbooks, mementoes, newspaper clippings including extensive coverage of his stabbing, itinerary, congressional statements, photographs, a collection of Japanese publications as well as U.S. Embassy Press Summaries of Japanese Articles on the Ambassador. The collection also includes autobiographical material including a bibliography of his work, resumes, military career information and a biographical profile.

Reischauer's wide ranging interest include Japanese and Far Eastern society, government and Culture; foreign policy; media and film; teaching and scholarship including research centers; the private sector including university relations with foundations and the corporate world; funds and trust; commissions, conferences and committees; and faculty and University affairs. A general theme is Reischauer's paramount concern with East-West relations, understanding and goodwill.