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Gilbert F. Close Papers
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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
During World War I, Gilbert Fairchild Close held several positions in the government of President Woodrow Wilson, culminating with that of Stenographer and Private Secretary to the President.
Close was born January 7, 1881 in Pittsford, NY, the son of John Edward and Mary Ellen Hooper Close. He entered Princeton University in 1899 and graduated with the Class of 1903. Subsequently he earned his Masters from Princeton in 1909.
From 1903 to 1906, Close worked for the newly organized Princeton Alumni Weekly. Following five months with the First National Bank of Scranton, Close returned to Princeton to work as Secretary to the President of the University, Woodrow Wilson, with whom he had taken classes as an undergraduate. After three and a half years as Secretary, Close took the position of Editor of Official Publications and Assistant to the Secretary of Princeton University. In May 1917, he left that post to serve as Confidential Clerk and Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy. Close served Wilson as Stenographer and Private Secretary to the President between August 1918 and February 1920. During this time, Close was often by the President's side, whether vacationing with him, or more significantly, accompanying him to the Paris Peace Conference. One of Close's duties at the conference was to type the first draft of the Treaty of Versailles. Following the Peace Conference, Close joined the President on his tour of the United States to promote the treaty.
For the remainder of his career, Close worked for the Commonwealth Steel Company, and its successor, General Steel Broad Castings. His titles with the company included Assistant to the President, Editor of The Commonwealther, Director of Personnel, and Director of Public Relations.
Close married Helen Smith Farrer in 1908. The couple had three children, Gilbert Fairchild, Jr., Charles Donald, and Helen Elizabeth. Following his wife's death in 1937, Close married Mrs. Marva D. House. He died in 1952.
The papers consist of personal and professional correspondence from Close's tenure in the government, as well as items gathered while traveling with President Wilson to Europe in 1918-1919 for the Paris Peace Conference. Many photographs from the trip are part of the collection, including multiple photos of President Woodrow Wilson, Britain's David Lloyd George, France's Georges Clemenceau, and Italy's Vittorio Orlando.
Please see the series descriptions in the contents list for additional information about individual series.
Associated Press. (1952, October 27). Gilbert Close, Aide to President Wilson. New York TImes,p. 27. Princeton University Class of 1903. (1923). Twenty-year Record of the Class of 1903. Princeton: Princeton University. Princeton University Class of 1903. (1953). Fifty Years Later: The Half Century Record of the Class of 1903 of Princeton University. Princeton: Princeton University.
Digital images of some photographic prints in this collection are available via Flickr.
This collection was donated by Close's daughter, Helen Close McCann, in June 2003.
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 Jennifer Sharp in June 2006. One box of material had been re-housed in an archival box at the time of accessioning in 2003. Finding aid written by Jennifer Sharp in June 2006.
Unused stationary, a 1945 radio address, and newspaper clippings were separated from this collection.
People
- Albert I, King of the Belgians, 1875-1934
- Clémenceau, Georges, 1841-1929
- Close, Gilbert F.
- Orlando, Vittorio Emanuele, 1860-1952
- Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924.
Organization
Subject
- Publisher
- Public Policy Papers
- Finding Aid Author
- Jennifer Sharp
- Finding Aid Date
- 2006
- Access Restrictions
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The collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
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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 Correspondence series contains letters sent and received by Close during his work with President Wilson. The letters to his wife, Helen Close, document his journey to Europe aboard the USS George Washington for the Paris Peace Conference, the people encountered in Europe, the places visited, and the treaty's progress.
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
The Woodrow Wilson series contains a mix of correspondence, memorabilia, and photographs from Close's travel with the President both to Europe and within the United States. Much of the correspondence is from friends, many in Princeton, requesting favors from Close.Included among the memorabilia are a passenger list for the U.S.S. George Washington, luggage tags and other ephemera. The collection contains a detailed itinerary, complete with pullout map, from Wilson's ill-fated national tour in 1919. During this grueling trip, intended to win public support for the Treaty of Versailles, Wilson suffered a breakdown, the prelude to a debilitating stroke that would cloud the last year of his presidency.
Arranged alphabetically by topic.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
The Miscellaneous series contains a memoir written by Close's daughter, as well as his passport, and a collection of postcards from his travels.
Arranged alphabetically by topic or document type.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
The Paris Peace Conference Photographs series include photographs from President Wilson's travels to England, France, and Belgium in 1918 and 1919. The bulk of the collection was taken by the official United States Government photographer. The origin of the remainder is uncertain. Included are photographs of the German and Austrian delegations to the Peace Talks, Wilson and his staff, King Albert of Belgium, England's David Lloyd George, France's Georges Clemenceau, and Italy's Vittorio Orlando.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description2 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
The Oversize Materials series contains a French newspaper and two photographs.
Arranged by size.
Physical Description1 box
1 box
1 box
1 item