Robert Finn Papers

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.

Call Number:: MC302
Repository:: Princeton University Library: Public Policy Papers
Extent:: 7.92 linear feet ((7 containers))
Language:: English
Date:: 1970-2014 (inclusive)
Creator:: Finn, Robert (1945 December 19)
Abstract:: Robert Finn is a an American diplomat, a lecturer in Turkish Studies and International Relations, and a translator of Turkish fiction and poetry. The Robert Finn Papers consist of writings, drafts, speeches, photographs, and a number of audiovisual materials related to Ambassador Finn's career as a diplomat, translator, and Princeton lecturer.

Finn

Robert Finn is a an American diplomat, a lecturer in Turkish Studies and International Relations, and a translator of Turkish fiction and poetry. Finn studied at St. John's University and New York University before earning a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University in 1978. Beginning as a Foreign Service member in 1978, Finn served in Pakistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan. He was the first ambassador to Afghanistan in over 20 years when he assumed the office in 2002. He served in Afghanistan until 2004, and retired from the Foreign Service in 2005.

The Robert Finn Papers consist of writings, drafts, speeches, photographs, and a number of audiovisual materials related to Ambassador Finn's career as a diplomat, translator, and Princeton lecturer. The collection documents Finn's Foreign Service career in Pakistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan. Additionally there is a significant amout of materials related to Finn's career as a translator of Turkish fiction and poetry, as well as appointment books, speeches and talks, and some commemorative plaques, certificates, and awards.

The collection was donated by Robert Finn in 2020. The accession number associated with this donation is ML-2020-06.

The collection was processed by Will Clements in November, 2021. Most of the collection was housed in archival folders, physically arranged, and organized into series. Optical media containing videos, photographs, and other documents were processed according to born digital workflows, and physical media was discarded.

Some personal items and duplicate photographs were separated from the collection and returned to the donor.

Publisher: Public Policy Papers
Finding Aid Author: Will Clements
Finding Aid Date: 2021 December 02
Access Restrictions: The collection is open for research use, except for five folders in Box 2 (Foreign Service Employee Evaluation Reports and Application for Retirement) which are restricted during the lifetime of the donor due to the presence of personally identifiable information.
Use Restrictions: Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. For quotations that are fair use as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission to cite or publish is required. For those few instances beyond fair use, any copyright vested in the donor has passed to Princeton University and researchers must submit the Publication and Broadcast Form. For materials not created by the donor, in addition to completing this form for Princeton, researchers are responsible for determining who may hold the copyright and obtaining approval from them.

Collection Inventory

Physical Description

2 boxes

Notepad, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Amb. Finn Art Collection Shipping Inventory, 1996. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

The Afghanistan Connection, proposal by Ambassador Robert Finn, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Ambassadorial documents, circa 1998-2001. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Amb Finn - Photos + CV + Copies of Passport, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

International Muğam Festival Program, circa 2005. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Silk Road Map, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Virgül (Magazine), 2004. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence, 1995-2000. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Afghan Airforce Assessment, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

The Caucasus Region Map and Gazetteer of Populated Places, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

The Ambassadorial Seminar (Notebook), undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Orientation Program for Foreign Service Officers [Group photos], 1978 August 22-1978 September 29. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Representational Voucher - Ambassador Finn, 2002-2003. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Incoming Correspondence, 1999-2001. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Representational Vouchers, 1999-2001. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Outgoing Correspondence, 1999-2001. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Swearing In Ceremony, 1998. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence, circa 1999-2004. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Robert Finn Confirmation Hearing - Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 1998. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Personal Correspondence, 1993-1994. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

State Department Purchase Orders, 2003. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

State Department FOIA Documents, 2011. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

To Our Ambassador, circa 2001. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Tajikistan Directory and Business Cards, 1999. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

25th Anniversary of Karadeniz (Black Sea) Technical University, 1981. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence, 1994-1998. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence and Clippings, 1984-1989. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Clippings, circa 1985-1991. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Foreign Service Photographs and Memorabilia, circa 1993-1998. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Colin Powell Letter of Appreciaton and Clippings, circa 2003-2009. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence, 2003-2006. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Ambassador Finn's Arrival at Post, 2002. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Notes, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Book: The Modern Ambassador: The Challenge and the Search, undated. 1 item.

Physical Description

1 item

VHS: Azerbaijan, undated. 1 item.

Physical Description

1 item

VHS: One World, Turkey, undated. 2 items.

Physical Description

2 items

VHS: Robert Finn, undated. 1 item.

Physical Description

1 item

VHS: Turkey Econ Turmoil VOA/WN 3/01, undated. 1 item.

Physical Description

1 item

VHS: Taliban VOA/WN 3/01, undated. 1 item.

Physical Description

1 item

VHS: Farewell Party hosted in honor of H.E. Mr. Robert Patrick Finn...and his Deputy Mr. Bred Hanson, 2003 July 29. 1 item.

Physical Description

1 item

VHS: PAIYVAND, undated. 1 item.

Physical Description

1 item

VHS: Simmons College Warburg Lecture, Afghanistan: The Back Burner Again?, 2004 January 28. 1 item.

Physical Description

1 item

VHS, undated. 1 item.

Physical Description

1 item

VHS: Robert's last chat with Pres Aliyev, undated. 1 item.

Physical Description

1 item

Correspondence, circa 1984-1985. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence, 1985-1986. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

9/18/10 Hurra TV, 2010 September 18. 756 MB.

Scope and Contents

Physical Description

756 MB

Materials Viewable Online

Azerbaycan, 2007 May 22. 3.31 GB.

Physical Description

3.31 GB

Materials Viewable Online

Download content

International Forum "Afghanistan 5 Years Later", 2006 October 24. 5.65 GB.

Physical Description

5.65 GB

Materials Viewable Online

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Kirgizistan, 2007 May 22. 3.82 GB.

Physical Description

3.82 GB

Materials Viewable Online

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Robert Finn Interview Spring 06, 2006 June 06. 6.29 GB.

Physical Description

6.29 GB

Materials Viewable Online

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Photographs: Helicopter Flight Over Mountains in Kazakhstan, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Photographs: Dushanbe, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Washington Photos, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Helena Finn and Robert Finn Photos, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Photographs, undated. 4 folders.

Physical Description

4 folders

3/03 Charikar Natsios Wheat Sowing, 2002 June 11. 15 MB.

Physical Description

15 MB

Materials Viewable Online

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Amb. Finn Bamyian, 2002 August 05. 25 MB.

Physical Description

25 MB

Materials Viewable Online

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Task Force Kabul Photo Album, 2002 December 7 - 2003 May 4. 590 MB.

Physical Description

590 MB

Materials Viewable Online

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Duralaman Palace, 2003 January 30. 13 MB.

Physical Description

13 MB

Materials Viewable Online

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Welcome to Shahi Qala School Opening Ceremony, 2003 May 07. 292 MB.

Physical Description

292 MB

Materials Viewable Online

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2003 4th of July Kabul Awards Ceremony, 2003 July 04. 34 MB.

Physical Description

34 MB

Materials Viewable Online

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Khorog Badakshan, 2003 September 30. 632 MB.

Physical Description

632 MB

Materials Viewable Online

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Afghanistan 2, Almaty, Lake Issikul, Pamirs, Seven Lakes, etc., 2003 October 17. 485 MB.

Physical Description

485 MB

Materials Viewable Online

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Magical Mystery Tour 1, 2003 October 17. 562 MB.

Physical Description

562 MB

Materials Viewable Online

View digital content

Magical Mystery Tour 2, 2003 October 17. 523 MB.

Physical Description

523 MB

Materials Viewable Online

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Afghanistan (Rishma's Photos), 2003 October 17. 683 MB.

Physical Description

683 MB

Materials Viewable Online

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Ambassador Finn CAREs about Tajikistan, 2007 July 08. 35 MB.

Physical Description

35 MB

Materials Viewable Online

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Foreign Service Employee Evaluation Reports, 1991-2005. 4 folders.

Physical Description

4 folders

Robert Finn Application for Retirement, 2005. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Physical Description

3 boxes

Seventeen Elegies for Sait Salim Halman, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Orpheus by Nazli Eray, translation by Robert Finn, circa 2005. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

105 [Modern Turkish Poetry], 2009. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Syllabi, circa 2004. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

The United States and Croatia: A Documentary History 1992-1997, circa 1997. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence and notes, circa 2008. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence, circa 2005. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Princeton University Job Offers, 2005-2011. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Translation Contracts, 2010. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence, 2006-2012. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

German Newspaper clipping sent to Helena Finn, 2009 April 1. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Some Female Characters in Turkish Fiction, article and correspondence, 1999. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Teaching, Translation, Correspondence, circa 1994-2011. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Hatiralar, 2008 March 26. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Research and Translation Materials, circa 2007-2011. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

WWS Student Evaluations of the Undergraduate Policy Seminars, 2010. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Research, Teaching, and Translation Materials, circa 2004-2005. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Turkish Reading Course, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Research and Writings, circa 2004. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Clippings, 2006-2007. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Research, Teaching, and Clippings, circa 2003-2004. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Personal and School Papers, circa 1972-1976. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Research Paper, circa 1970s. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

School Papers, circa 1974. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

School Papers, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

The Armchair by Aziz Nesin, translated by Robert Finn, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

School Papers, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Paper on Turkish Literature, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Research and Translation Materials, undated. 2 folders.

Physical Description

2 folders

Research Materials, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Mansion for Rent by Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoglu, translated by Robert Finn, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

In the White Garden by Tomris Uyar, translated by Robert Finn, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Tranlsation Materials, undated. 2 folders.

Physical Description

2 folders

The Early Turkish Novel by Robert Finn (bound thesis), 1978. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Turkish Manuscript, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Mansion for Rent by Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoglu, translated by Robert Finn [manuscript with notes], undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Research Materials, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Galeri Baraz Poster: Zeki Findikoglu, 1987-1988. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Tranlsation Materials, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

You're Hurt by Erdal Oz, translated by Robert Finn, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Research Materials: "The Poet Disillusioned: Halit Ziya Usakligil's Mai ve Siyah", circa 1984. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Tranlsation Materials, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence re: translation of Orhan Pamuk, 1987. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Transalation of Turgut Uyar, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Research and Transalation Materials, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Tranlsation Materials (various authors), circa 1987. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

A Spring Story by Sait Faik Abasiyanik, circa 1990. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Translations (various authors), undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Research and Transalation Materials, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Translation of Beyaz Kale by Orhan Pamuk, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Tranlsation Materials, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Physical Description

1 box

Speeches, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Afghanistan's Clouded Future - Speech at Liechtenstein Institute on Self Determination, Princeton University, 2010 March 31. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Visions and Revisions: Charting A Common Future for the US and Arab World, 2009 April 24-2009 April 27. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Speeches, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Helena Finn - Hazorea 219 (Speech), undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Articles, Speeches, Notes, circa 2003. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Speech, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence and Speeches, circa 1998-2009. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

3/30, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Speech, 2010 May 14. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Ataturk's World View, 2010 December 7. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Speech, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Speech, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Speech, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Speech, Women in Turkish Fiction, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Speeches, etc., circa 1986-1992. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Overview of US Foreign Policy Challenges - Hearts and Minds, 2009-02-06T00:00:00+00:00. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Appointment Books, 1986-2014. 20 items.

Physical Description

20 items

Physical Description

1 box

Flag Certificate, American Embassy, Kabul, 2002 May-2003 August. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Letters and Certificates of commendation, 2002-2003. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Certificate of Commendation, U.S. Marine Corps, 2003 April 27. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Group photo and certificate of appreciation: Pipelines and Fault Lines, the Future of Energy Security in Asia, 2003 October 21-23. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

State Department Retirement Plaque Letter, 2006 July 26. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Award plaques, circa 2005. 5 items.

Physical Description

5 items

Oversized Patch: September 11, 2001 World Trade Center Fallen Heroes, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Japanese Art print, undated. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Commendation Certificate from director of CIA, 1992. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Certificate of Appointment as Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, 1997 November 25. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Certificate of Appointment as Foreign Service Officer, Consular Officer, and a Secretary of the Diplomatice Service, 1982 June 17. 1 folder.

Physical Description

1 folder

Suggest a correction

Main content

Notifications

Overview and metadata sections

Collection Overview

Biography/History

Scope and Content

Acquisition Information

Processing Information

Appraisal

Administrative Information

Collection Inventory

Foreign Service, 1978-2009. 2 boxes.

Academic and Translation Materials, circa 1974-2011. 3 boxes.

Speeches, circa 1986-2009. 1 box.

Memorabilia, Certificates, and Awards, 1982-2003. 1 box.

Print, Suggest