Collection ID: LCP2005/014.EAP 027
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Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Tubman, William V. S., 1895-1971
Abstract:
William V. S. Tubman (1895-1971), Liberia's longest serving President, served from 1944–1971. Tubman's presidency was marked by great changes in the economy, politics and social environment of Liberia. The materials in the collection include papers from the years of Tubman's presidency, his personal correspondence and memorabilia from Tubman's family.
Extent:
21 cubic feet; (21 records cartons) and 48 microfilm reels
Language:
Materials are primarily in English
Preferred citation:

[item], William V.S. Tubman Papers. [Microfilm]. Bloomington, IN: Liberian Collections, Indiana University Libraries, 2008.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman (1895-1971), nineteenth president of Liberia, was born November 29, 1895 in Harper City, Maryland County, Liberia to Alexander Tubman and Elizabeth Rebecca Barnes Tubman. His paternal grandparents, manumitted slaves, were repatriates who in 1837 had immigrated from Georgia (USA) to the Maryland Colony in Africa. Tubman received his education at Government Elementary School in Harper City and the Cape Palmas Methodist Seminary. He began his political career in 1912 as an assistant in Probate Court, going on to serve in Harper City as a Councilman and teacher from 1914-1917. During this period Tubman also read law under the tutelage of Senator Monroe Cummings. He was admitted into the Maryland County bar in 1917 and appointed County Attorney. He became Inspector of Internal Revenue in 1919. He was elected to the Liberian Senate from Maryland County in 1923, serving until 1937 at which time President Edwin J. Barclay appointed him to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia. Tubman left the Supreme Court in 1943 to run for the presidency. His campaign was successful and he succeeded Edwin J. Barclay as president in January 1944. Clarence L. Simpson, Sr. served as his first vice president.

As Liberia's longest serving president, Tubman's presidency was marked by great changes in the economy, politics and social environment of Liberia and the African continent. Scholars divide the Tubman presidency into three periods. During the first period (1944-1955), he made successful efforts to bring loyal personal and political supporters into the government. As a Monrovia outsider he created a new political base of indigenous Liberians and disaffected members of the political elite. He also began to implement the policies that would characterize his presidency: the pursuit of national unification through accelerated assimilation of indigenous Liberians into the mainstream of an essentially repatriate-created society; advocacy of his Open Door Policy for foreign economic involvement in development; and diplomatically aligning with the Western countries in their East/West power conflicts.

During the second period (1955-1968), Tubman attempted to modernize the country's economic and social institutions. The right to vote had been extended earlier to indigenous citizens, although a restrictive property clause was maintained. By 1964 a series of administrative reforms included the transformation of the former hinterland provinces to county status, dividing Liberia into nine counties—the original five coastal counties, plus four new interior counties: Lofa, Bong, Nimba and Grand Gedeh. The coastal and interior regions had been separated by lack of roads, disparities in education, means of communication and even by different laws. This reorganization was designed to remove distinctions between the coast and interior and to advance the goal of greater national integration of the indigenous peoples.

Although the legacy of the past still reflected differences in education, lifestyle and worldview between inhabitants of the coast and the interior, educational and political opportunities began to make inroads into the interior during the 1960s. These major internal political reforms brought representational parity between approximately 30,000 repatriates and one million indigenes, but the historic economic ascendancy of the repatriates and the absolute political power by the presidency still remained.

Through his Open Door policy Tubman continued to facilitate and encourage foreign businesses to locate and invest in Liberia, including major companies such as the Liberian Mining Company (LMC), the Liberian American Swedish Mineral Company (LAMCO), Bong Mining Company and the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company (already established in the late 1920s). Concession agreements were signed with over sixty companies, including agricultural and forestry concerns. Within a period of 25 years, Liberia attracted foreign investments exceeding one billion U.S. dollars. Although Liberia seemed to benefit from its phenomenal economic growth during the 1950s and 1960s, this prosperity was not accompanied with commensurate human development and equity. The Liberian economy depended on foreign investors who usually exported their unprocessed extracted products to processing industries in more economically developed countries, depriving Liberia of jobs and revenues that could have supported a better educational, medical and economic infrastructure. Instead, Liberia's national economy developed into a dual system in which the concession sector had little connection with the rest of the economy.

During the decolonization era President Tubman enjoyed great international stature as one of Africa's leading statesmen and. His presidency coincided with Africa's dramatic transition from a continent of colonies to a continent of independent states. In 1944 as Tubman began his first term as President, only four independent states existed in Africa: Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa and Liberia. By the time of his death in 1971, there were forty independent African states.

When the British colony of Gold Coast became the independent country of Ghana in 1957, it set in motion African attempts to establish the political direction for a re-emerging Africa. Tubman believed in a future determined through consultations among Africa's leaders and he favored an organization that featured African political cooperation and consultation among its leaders, rather than the continental government model favored by Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah. A series of conferences, including the 1959 Sanniquellie Conference in Liberia, the Casablanca Conference in 1961 and a number of smaller meetings and behind-the-scenes talks ensued. On May 25, 1963, thirty-three independent African countries signed the Charter for the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Liberian President Tubman and his Secretary of State, J. Rudolph Grimes, played key roles in drafting and negotiating the final document.

Tubman's foreign policy usually aligned Liberia with the Western countries in Cold War politics, opposing countries and movements perceived to be leaning towards socialism or communism. Tubman would sometimes, however, associate Liberia's foreign policy with the non-aligned states, notably on issues of decolonization.

During the third period of the Tubman era, the final years of his presidency (1968-1971), the country struggled with economic recession and fiscal stringency. The Tubman administration faced growing opposition resulting in the intensification of political paternalism.

Tubman died on July 23, 1971 in a London clinic following a prostate operation. He was succeeded by his Vice President, William R. Tolbert, Jr. Tubman was survived by his wife, Antoinette Louise Padmore Tubman and his children, including Wilhelmina Tubman-Tucker, William V. S. Tubman, Jr., William Eli Tubman (deceased) and John Hilary Tubman.

Scope and Content:

The W.V.S. Tubman papers comprise 21 linear feet of documents spanning the years from 1904 to 1992 with the bulk of the materials covering the period of his presidency, 1941-1971. The collection is organized into three record groups:

The Liberian Government Papers record group consists of documents pertaining to the activities and business of the Liberian Government. The W.V.S. Tubman Personal Papers record group consists of documents from Tubman's life outside of his presidency and concerns his family, friends and personal business matters. The Civil Society-Related Materials record group consists of documents from civic, religious and fraternal groups.

The first three series of the Liberian Government Papers record group consist of materials from the three branches of the government: The Executive Branch Administrative Files include papers, reports, correspondence and other documents from the various government departments, offices, bureaus, commissions and organizations of the Tubman administration.

The naming convention for departments and agencies was to file documents under the last name used during Tubman's presidency. For example, the subseries Department of Information and Cultural Affairs contains the Liberian Information Service correspondence because the earlier Liberian Information Service was reorganized into the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs in 1965. Government agencies grow and divide over time and often change their names.

The Legislative Branch Administrative Files include laws (acts) passed by the Legislature, drafts of legislation and House of Representatives' correspondence. The Judiciary Branch Administrative Files contains records from the Supreme Court and the ten Circuit Courts.

The Liberian Government Papers record group includes two related series in addition to materials for the three governmental branches. The voluminous General Government Correspondence series contains personal letters specifically addressed to Tubman that petition the President for some type of action: job, loan, school fees, rent, or medical fees. Some ask for a visitation; others thank him or include a small gift (such as a Bible). Many letters are handwritten, coming from all parts of Liberia, both rural and urban and from every strata of the society. Fulfilling these requests would often involve both governmental and personal issues, a reflection of Tubman's all-encompassing leadership style and persona.

The Subject Files series contains speeches, souvenir programs and invitations that do not pertain to a specific government department or agency. It includes materials from Tubman's Vice Presidents and former President Arthur Barclay.

The William V.S. Tubman Personal Papers record group is divided into four series: Personal Correspondence, Tubman Financial Records, Tubman Farm Records and Tubman Family Biography. The Personal Correspondence contains letters from family members and friends of Tubman, including an extensive set from his butler, Jimmy Barrolle, who handled many personal matters for Tubman.

The documents in the Tubman Financial Records series are a sampling of the large collection of financial records found at the Tubman Estate. These records (mainly receipts) pertain specifically to Tubman's family and include groceries and clothing for the family, home repair costs and other documentation of general spending for a family. There are also a number of letters regarding personal business matters.

The Tubman Farm Records pertain to farms and related facilities owned by the Tubman family, including the Totota Farm, Coo-Coo's Nest and the Tubman Zoo. The majority of these documents are financial records, but they also include reports and correspondence.

The Tubman Family Biography contains notable documents from Tubman and his family members including college degrees, family court documents, news clippings and other memorabilia.

The Civil-Society Related Materials record group contains papers of various non-governmental organizations that Tubman was either affiliated with or interested in. Many youth and women's organizations are represented in the Civic, Social and Political Organizations series as well as documents from the World Health Organization. There are also documents from other organizations such as the Boy Scouts of Liberia. The Fraternal Orders series contains correspondence, souvenir programs and financial documents from various lodges within the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, the United Brothers of Friendship and Sisters of the Mysterious Ten and the Order of the Eastern Star.

The Health and Medical Organizations Records series contains speeches, correspondence, reports and souvenir programs for various medical centers throughout Liberia.

The In Memoriam series includes death notices, eulogies, obituaries and obsequies from friends, members of the community, colleagues and others. Materials include documents from memorial services held in Liberia for many notable people, including John F. Kennedy, Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Of special interest is the official funeral program for Martin Luther King Jr. at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Also included are notices, protocols and order of processions for Tubman's own funeral.

The Religious Organizations series includes conference memorabilia, correspondence, reports, speeches and invitations from various churches and religious organizations. Tubman was a staunch Methodist, but many of the materials are from other religious organizations.

Custodial history:

Copyright interests for this collection have not been transferred to the Trustees of Indiana University. Ownership of the W.V.S. Tubman papers and applicable copyrights are held solely by the family of W.V.S. Tubman. The copyright for correspondence other than that of W.V.S. Tubman in this collection resides with the writer of the said letters. It is the responsibility of all users to seek the applicable permissions of all writers or their heirs, prior to citing, quoting, or publishing from this correspondence in a way that can identify the writers.

Users seeking permissions prior to citing, quoting, or publishing from this correspondence in a way that can identify the writer may consult the Liberian Collections Project at Indiana University for guidance in contacting the copyright owners.

William V.S. Tubman accumulated the bulk of these personal papers and government documents during his presidency (1944-1971). Additional materials date from his pre-presidential life and career and a few documents were added posthumously by staff or family. After his death, the materials were transferred from the Liberian Executive Mansion in Monrovia to the Tubman Memorial Museum on the family estate in Bong County. In 1979, Mrs. Antoinette Louise Padmore Tubman, widow of the late President W.V.S. Tubman, commissioned Dr. Christopher Clapham, then a Senior Lecturer in Africa Studies at the University of Lancaster, to examine and classify the papers and to make recommendations as to the display, storage, preservation and access to the remaining papers. The papers were stored in the estate's basement library after the Museum closed in the 1980s.

The materials remained in the estate library, but in deteriorating conditions. In 2003, during Liberia's civil war, soldiers rummaged through the file cabinets in search of valuables, tossing folders and papers onto the floor and leaving them exposed to damage in Liberia's tropical climate. In 2005, the materials were retrieved ―as is‖ from the library and shipped to the E. Lingle Craig Preservation Laboratory atIndiana University where they were deep frozen at -10º F to stop mold growth and exterminate insects. Conservators then cleaned, flattened and disinfected the documents, preserving the original order when possible. From 2005–2008 Liberian Collections Project archivists sorted the materials, restoring, when possible, the filing order described by Dr. Christopher Clapham and the Liberian Executive Office filing guidelines.

Following the organization phase, the collection was microfilmed in 2008. The complete physical collection of the President W.V.S. Tubman Papers will be moved to Liberia whenever the Tubman family requests the shipment. Until then the collection will be stored at Indiana University.

Processing information:

Colleen McCorkell, Megan MacDonald, Lois Sabo-Skelton with assistance from Emily Symonds, Rose Marie Walter, Eric Holt, Darchelle Switzky, Jennifer Albano, Denise Dalphond, Andrea Bertrand, Bergis Jules and Shane Tucker.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into three major record groups: Liberian Government Papers, W.V.S. Tubman Personal Papers and Civil Society-Related Materials. All materials are arranged alphabetically within each series and then chronologically within each folder. (Additional organizational details for the correspondence follow.)

When possible, the current arrangement reflects the original categorization of the Tubman papers. However, because the documents were in considerable disarray when retrieved in 2005, restoring their arrangement was based on a variety of strategies. Scattered papers retrieved from the floor were inspected for relationships in found proximity, content or if stains and holes matched other pages. Records organization was retained "as found" when files were retrieved intact from the filing cabinet drawers. Project archivists also referenced a 1946 filing guide for Liberian government papers and used most of the organizational categories from Professor Christopher Clapham's unpublished 1979 report,"The W.V.S. Tubman Library of Presidential Papers," based on his 1970s inspection and organization of the intact collection. Archivists also consulted the Historical Dictionary of Liberia (Scarecrow Press) and conferred with D. Elwood Dunn, Svend E. Holsoe and other experts on the Liberian government during the Tubman era.

Given the large amount of correspondence strewn on the floor of the Tubman Estate basement library closet when the records were retrieved, the following principles were followed to sort the letters into the proper record groups and series:

Liberian Government Papers Record Group Letters on official government letterhead stationary or with an official signature block at the end of the letter were filed appropriately in the Executive Branch, Legislative Branch or Judiciary Branch Administrative Files series. Many of these letters mixed official and personal business.

Correspondence of a governmental nature that did not appear on official government letterhead stationary or did not include an official signature block was filed in the General Government Correspondence series This series includes letters specifically addressed to President Tubman that often petition him for some type of action.

The General Government Correspondence series is arranged alphabetically by author's name. Separate files were created for each person who corresponded four times or more with Tubman. Otherwise, all documents were arranged alphabetically in a "General" file for each letter of the alphabet (e.g., General "A", 1935-1971, undated). Because Tubman had close relationships with many writers, some letters use first names only. When the author's last name could not be ascertained with certainty, the letters were arranged by first names. (e.g., "Bob", 1946-1949, undated)

Correspondence found in the "Miscellaneous" files at the end of the General Government Correspondence series did not have a legible name or was a fragment without identification. The "Miscellaneous" letters were arranged chronologically, with undated documents in the "Miscellaneous, undated" file.

W.V.S. Tubman Personal Papers Record Group The Personal Correspondence series in this record group contains letters from family members and friends of Tubman, including an extensive set from his butler, Jimmy Barrolle, who handled many matters for Tubman. Because Tubman had a close relationship with most of these people, many letters only use first names. When the last name of the letter's author cannot be ascertained with certainty, they are arranged by first names. (e.g., Alice, 1946, 1968, undated; Belle, 1945, undated) The Personal Correspondence files are arranged alphabetically.

Under these arrangement rules, some individuals appear in more than one correspondence record group or series.

Physical facet:
1 restricted
General note:

Numbering for Records Cartons (Boxes) and Microfilms:In the following content list, the box number of each record carton containing the physical papers is indicated as well as the reel number of each microfilm. There are 21 boxes of papers, numbered Box 1 through Box 21, and 47 microfilm reels, numbered InU 3P–1070.01 through 1070.47. (The restricted materials constitute an additional box and microfilm reel of materials.)

Bibliography:

Dunn, D.E., Beyan, A.J., &amp; Burrowes, C.P. (2001). <span><em>Historical dictionary of Liberia</em></span>(2nd ed.)Lanham, M.D.: Scarecrow Press.

Dunn, D.E., &amp; Holsoe, S.E.(1985). <span><em>Historical dictionary of Liberia</em></span>(1st ed.)Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press

Dunn, D.E.&amp; Tarr, S.B.(1988). <span><em>Liberia: A National polity in transition.</em></span> Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press

Ernst, J.(2001)<span>Across the Sea.</span>In <span><em>From Augusta to Africa</em> (part 1).</span>Retrieved October 25, 2008, from http://chronicle.augusta.com/tubman/

Ernst, J.(2001)<span>Across the Sea.</span>In <span><em>From Augusta to Africa</em> (part 2).</span>Retrieved October 25, 2008, from http://chronicle.augusta.com/tubman/

"Farewell to an African pioneer,"Africa Week Magazine,1st-7thOctober 2007.

Gifford, J.M.(1975). <span>Emily Tubman and the African colonization movement in Georgia.</span><span><em>The Georgia Historical Quarterly</em></span>59(1),10-24.

Holsoe, S.E.(1969) <span>The ancestry of the president of Liberia, William V.S. Tubman.</span><span><em>Liberian Studies Journal</em></span>, 2(1), 9-13

Kraaij, F.P.M, van der.(1983).<span><em>The open door policy of Liberia: An economic history of modern Liberia.</em></span>Bremen:Im Selbstverlag des Museums.

Sawyer, A.C.(2005). <span><em>Beyond the pluner: Toward democratic governance in Liberia.</em></span>Boulder:Lynne Reiner Publishers.

Sawyer, A.C.(1992).<span><em>The emergence of autocracy in Liberia: Tragedy and challenge.</em></span>San Francisco:Institute for Contemporary Studies.

Online content

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

Closed for research and purchasing. One reel containing medical and school records and a small number of personal letters is restricted and not available.

Closed for research. Physical collection of papers will be returned to Liberia at the direction of the Tubman family. Contact the Liberian Collections at Indiana University for current location details.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

Due to the sensitivity of the content, some documents have been removed. Records withdrawn include personal letters, school report cards and medical reports. Targets have been placed at the points where these documents were removed to inform the user of intentional gaps in the collection.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[item], William V.S. Tubman Papers. [Microfilm]. Bloomington, IN: Liberian Collections, Indiana University Libraries, 2008.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
Herman B Wells Library
1320 East Tenth Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
BEFORE YOU VISIT:
Attention Visiting Researchers: The African Studies Collection is currently closed for research.
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
CONTACT:
afstlib@indiana.edu