Main content
Howard C. Petersen Papers
Notifications
Held at: Princeton University Library: Public Policy Papers [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Public Policy Papers. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Howard C. Petersen (1910-1995) was an expert in international economics and foreign trade. He served in the War Department under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, as Assistant Secretary of War for President Harry S. Truman, as National Finance Chairman and fundraiser for the Dwight D. Eisenhower campaigns, and as Special Assistant on International Trade for President John F. Kennedy. Petersen was also a principal drafter of the Selective Service Act, a lawyer, and president of Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Company.
Howard Charles Petersen was born in East Chicago, Indiana on May 7, 1910. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1930 from DePauw University and a law degree (J.D.) with distinction in 1933 from the University of Michigan. He also received honorary degrees from DePauw University in 1953, Drexel Institute at St. Joseph's College in 1962, Swarthmore College in 1968, and the University of Pennsylvania in 1974. Petersen married Elizabeth Anna Watts of Princeton, Indiana in 1936, whom he met while he was a student at DePauw University. They had two children, Elizabeth Spiro Clark and Howard Jr.
From 1933 to 1941, Petersen was an associate in the New York law firm Cravath, deGersdorff, Swaine & Wood. He worked predominantly on general corporation, financial, and public utility law, specializing in utility bond issues. He was also involved with the first security filings done by the firm under the new Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations. While at the law firm, Petersen was introduced to Grenville Clark. Clark enlisted Petersen to leave the practice of law and become a member of the National Emergency Committee of the Military Training Camps Association. The Military Training Camps Association was formed during World War I by Clark and Elihu Root to train officers for the United States Military. The National Emergency Committee of the association was formed in 1941 with Grenville Clark as chair. As a key member of the committee, Petersen was one of the principal drafters of the Burke-Wadsworth Bill, which became the Selective Service Act of 1940. He then served as counsel of the committee appointed by President Roosevelt to draft the initial regulations for the Selective Service.
Petersen was hired as the special assistant and then executive assistant to the Undersecretary of War, Robert P. Patterson, from 1941 to 1945. He was promoted to Special Assistant to the Secretary of War, also under Robert P. Patterson, in 1945. In December 1945, Petersen was appointed Assistant Secretary of War by President Truman, a position he held until August 1947. His worked on the economic recovery of occupied Germany and the Western Allies and supervised United States military occupational activities in Germany, Japan, Korea, Austria, and Italy, traveling overseas several times to carry out his duties. One of his significant contributions was to help prevent famine in Europe by laying the groundwork for the Marshall Plan. He also served as the War Department's chief representative at the State Department on political policy and the War Department's member on the State-War-Navy Coordination Committee. Petersen was awarded the Medal of Merit, Exceptional Civilian Service Award, and the Selective Service Medal for his service. He resigned his post for financial reasons.
Petersen returned to private sector work as Executive Vice President and Director of Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Company, later renamed The Fidelity Bank. He was elected President and Chief Executive Officer in 1950. Through his leadership, Petersen transformed a mid-sized Philadelphia trust company into a modern full-service bank within the national and international financial communities. He was also involved in the banking industry as a whole, serving as president of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association and filling key roles in the American Bankers Association and the International Monetary Conference.
He retained his position at Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Company while also serving Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy. From 1951 to 1953, Petersen served as the National Finance Chairman for the 1952 Eisenhower presidential campaign and as Chairman of the Finance Committee for the Citizens for Eisenhower. In 1954, he was a member of the Finance Committee of the National Citizens for Eisenhower Congressional Committee, and he assisted in fundraising for the Eisenhower campaign in 1956, but not in an official capacity. Petersen served as Special Assistant to President John F. Kennedy for International Trade Policy from 1961 to 1962. He was appointed to manage Kennedy's controversial campaign for a new foreign trade policy. His main task was to assist with the passage of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, and he also negotiated the conclusion of the 1960-1962 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) negotiations with the European Economic Community. Petersen resigned after the Trade Expansion Act was passed.
He was elected Chairman of Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Company in 1966. In 1969, he became the Chairman and CEO of Fidelity Corporation of Pennsylvania, later renamed Fidelcor Inc. He retired as CEO of Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Company and Fidelity Corporation in 1975 but continued as Chairman of both institutions. He resumed his responsibilities as President and CEO on an interim basis in 1978, and retired December 31, 1978.
In addition, Petersen served as a member, director, or chairman of a wide variety of institutions, including financial, political, legal, education, and social organizations. These positions included chairman of the Adela Investment Company, a corporation for the development of Latin America, an officer for the Committee for Economic Development, Director of the Panama Canal Corporation, and a trustee of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Petersen was chairman of the boards of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J., the University of Pennsylvania Museum, and the Marshall Foundation, and chairman and advisory committee member of Export-Import Bank of Washington.
Howard Petersen died in 1995 at his home in Radnor, Pennsylvania, at the age of 85.
Petersen's papers document his entire career, especially his work with the new Security and Exchange Commission regulations as a lawyer in the 1930s and with the United States War Department during World War II, and include correspondence, articles, and publications. The papers also document his career as a lawyer and his service as president of Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Company, as Special Assistant on International Trade for President Kennedy, and as National Finance Chairman for the 1952 Eisenhower campaign.
Please see the series descriptions in the contents list for additional information about individual series.
The Papers have been arranged in four series:
The following articles were consulted during the preparation of the biographical note: "Howard Charles Petersen (7 May 1910-28 December 1995)" by William B. Eagleson, Jr. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 142, No.2 (June 1998), pp. 294-299. "Howard Petersen, 85, banker and trade adviser" by Eric Pace. New York Times (Late Edition (East Coast)). New York, N.Y.: Jan 1, 1996. pp. A32. "Our Assistant Secretary of War" by Lucian Warren. The Phi Gamma Delta. Washington, D.C.: March 1946. pp. 392-395.
This collection was acquired from the Howard C. Petersen estate in April 1998, with additions in December 2003 and July 2004.
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
This collection was processed by Adriane Hanson in 2005. Finding aid written by Adriane Hanson in December 2005.
Materials separated from this collection include duplicate publications, personal bank statements, news magazines and newspapers, and invitations and itineraries from the International Monetary Conference.
People
- Clark, Grenville (1882-1967)
- Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David) (1890-1969)
- Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald) (1917-1963)
- Petersen, Howard C. (Howard Charles) (1910-1995)
Organization
- Committee for Economic Development.
- Cravath, de Gersdorff, Swaine & Wood.
- Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Company
- United States. War Department
- International Monetary Conference
- Military Training Camps Association (U.S.)
Subject
- Banks and banking
- Campaign funds -- United States
- Draft -- Law and legislation -- United States
- Economics. -- 20th century
- Foreign trade regulation
- International economic relations
- Securities -- United States -- Cases
- Tariff -- Law and legislation
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Economic aspects
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Manpower
Occupation
- Publisher
- Public Policy Papers
- Finding Aid Author
- Adriane Hanson
- Finding Aid Date
- 2006
- Sponsor
- These papers were processed with the generous support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission and the John Foster and Janet Avery Dulles Fund.
- Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, any copyright vested in the donor has passed to The Trustees of Princeton University and researchers do not need to obtain permission, complete any forms, or receive a letter to move forward with use of donor-created materials within the collection. For materials in the collection not created by the donor, or where the material is not an original, the copyright is likely not held by the University. In these instances, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have a question about who owns the copyright for an item, you may request clarification by contacting us through the Ask Us! form.
Collection Inventory
The Biography series contains articles about Petersen, correspondence, publications from institutions he was involved with, programs for events, and photographs. The institutions include The Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, The George C. Marshall Foundation, and universities where he received honorary degrees.
Arranged alphabetically by document type. Correspondence is arranged chronologically.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
The Private Sector Work series documents Petersen's career in the fields of law and finance. Please see the subseries descriptions in the contents list for additional information about individual subseries.
Divided into four subseries, arranged chronologically by the organization in which he worked: Cravath, DeGersdorff, Swaine & Wood, New York Law Firm; Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Company, Committee for Economic Development, and Adela Investment Company S.A.
Physical Description12 boxes
The majority of the Cravath subseries is composed of documents pertaining to specific cases handled by the firm, including their first filings under the Securities Exchange Act. These documents include memoranda detailing the research findings of associates (primarily Howard Petersen) for the partners of the firm, drafts of documents prepared for clients, and documents submitted to the court. The clients represented in the collection are largely public utility and transportation companies and include Columbia Gas & Electric Corporation and Daytona Power and Light Company, Morgan Stanley & Co. In addition, the subseries includes press releases and publications summarizing court opinions, interpretations and implications of securities laws, and publications of corporate legal codes.
Arranged alphabetically by document type.
Physical Description8 boxes
4 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
3 folders
1 folder
2 folders
2 folders
4 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 boxes
1 folder
2 boxes
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 boxes
2 boxes
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
4 folders
The Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Company subseries includes programs and publications of membership and bylaws of the American Bankers Association Monetary Conference and International Monetary Conference. The subseries also contains articles about Petersen's banking career and the success of Fidelity-Philadelphia, publications by the bank, and text for a few speeches delivered by Petersen on financial subjects.
Arranged alphabetically by subject or document type.
Physical Description4 boxes
3 boxes
3 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
3 folders
2 folders
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
The Committee for Economic Development subseries contains articles about Petersen's involvement with the CED, papers for a symposium with Japan, a few CED publications, the proceedings of a meeting of the Reform of the International Monetary System subcommittee, and published testimony given by Petersen before Congress as a representative of CED about foreign trade policies.
Arranged alphabetically by document type.
Physical Description2 boxes
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
(includes remarks by Petersen titled "United States/Japanese Trade and Economic Relations")
Physical Description1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
(includes editorial reactions to the report)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
The Adela Investment Company subseries includes schedules and lists of attendees for Board of Directors and Executive Committee meetings, as well as the 1968 annual report, articles about the company, and a small amount of correspondence.
Arranged alphabetically by document type.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
The Public Service series contains papers from the various positions Petersen held with the United States Government and from Petersen's efforts as a citizen to improve the governance of the United States. Please see the subseries descriptions in the contents list for additional information about individual subseries.
Divided into six subseries, arranged chronologically by the organization in which he served: Selective Service Act, War Department, Grenville Clark, Campaigns to Elect Eisenhower President, Panama Canal Company, and Special Assistant to President Kennedy for International Trade Policy.
Physical Description12 boxes
The Selective Service Act subseries documents the development of the Burke-Wadsworth Bill (The Selective Service Act) by the National Emergency Committee of the Military Training Camps Association (MTCA). The papers include correspondence, drafts and revisions of the bill, reports by the MTCA, and hearings before Congress. The subseries also includes pamphlets on the implementation of the Selective Service Act, and press releases and radio addresses to inform the public about the law.
Arranged alphabetically.
Physical Description3 boxes
2 boxes
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
4 folders
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
The War Department subseries contains documents from Petersen's tenure as special assistant and executive assistant to the Undersecretary of War, special assistant to the Secretary of War, and Assistant Secretary of War. The documents include appointment books, articles, correspondence, government publications, and speeches by Petersen. The main subjects include the National Service Act and manpower concerns about labor for the war effort, the age range for the draft, and universal military training. Petersen corresponded with government officials about these issues, as well as with concerned citizens and citizen groups, including Grenville Clark.
For related papers, see also Series 4: Oversized Materials.
Arranged alphabetically by document type or subject.
Physical Description7 boxes
2 boxes
3 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
3 folders
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
4 boxes
2 folders
1 folder
6 folders
6 folders
1 folder
4 folders
1 folder
2 folders
The Grenville Clark subseries documents his various efforts to promote world peace after WWII. Clark worked in the 1940s to revise the United Nations Charter, in the 1950s on disarmament, and in the late 1950s and the 1960s on the ideas in World Peace Through World Law, a book he wrote with Louis B. Sohn. The subseries includes correspondence, booklets written by Clark, materials from conferences, a few biographical articles, and the transcript of an interview of Clark by Petersen in 1959.
Arranged alphabetically by document type. Correspondence is arranged in reverse-chronological order within each folder.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
The Campaigns to Elect Eisenhower President subseries contains materials on Petersen's fundraising work for the Eisenhower campaigns. The majority of the subseries is correspondence between Petersen and other citizens working in organizations to help elect Eisenhower in 1952. The correspondence discusses fundraising, political issues, and campaign strategies. The correspondence also includes a few letters between Petersen and congressmen and one letter from Eisenhower. The subseries also includes programs from the inaugurations of President Eisenhower, a few articles about the campaigns, a list of national chairmen for each state or region, and a financial report for the period 1951-1952.
Arranged alphabetically by document type. Correspondence is arranged in reverse-chronological order within each folder.
Physical Description2 boxes
1 folder
2 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
The majority of the Panama Canal Company subseries is composed of photographs. The photographs include images of the Board visiting sites, of Board meetings, and of the trip of the boat "The Cosmic" through the canal. The subseries also contains the 1958 annual report of the company and a few booklets on the construction of the canal.
Arranged alphabetically by document type.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
The Special Assistant to President Kennedy for International Trade Policy series is largely composed of newspaper articles, many of which were written by or quote Petersen. The articles focus on United States tariff and free trade agreements with Europe and on the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The subseries also includes materials related to Petersen's appointment and resignation as special assistant, correspondence with citizens on his economic positions, a few photographs of Petersen, and a pen used to sign the Trade Expansion Act.
Arranged alphabetically by subject or document type.
Physical Description2 boxes
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
The Oversized Materials series contains materials from Petersen's service as Assistant Secretary of War, 1945-1947. The documents include photograph albums of Petersen with military and state officials, scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, documents appointing him as Assistant Secretary of War, and maps of his trips overseas. The maps show the cities he visited in Europe and the Pacific, the dates he arrived there, and who he was traveling with.
Arranged by size.
Physical Description3 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 folder
2 folders