Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 1243

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

8 linear feet (8 boxes)

Preferred Citation:

Jurgis Šaulys papers, 1896-1950 (bulk: 1903-1935), Ms. Coll. 1243, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1896-1950 (inclusive) and 1903-1935 (bulk)

Creator:

Šaulys, Jurgis

Form:

Diplomatic documents and Correspondence

Abstract:

Jurgis Šaulys (1879-1948) was a Lithuanian civic leader, an economist, a signatory of the Lithuanian Declaration of Independence in 1918, and later, a diplomat. He had a great interest in many subjects and was involved with political and literary organizations. Much of his correspondence in this collection is with prominent Lithuanian scholars and literary and political figures.

Jurgis Šaulys (1879-1948) was a Lithuanian economist, civic leader, and diplomat who was an active member of political movements in Lithuania throughout his life. He briefly attended the Kaunas Theological Seminary, but was dismissed for his participation in the Knygnesiai movement, which illegally disseminated materials published in the Lithuanian language. He earned his doctorate in economics from the University of Bern in 1912, but maintained his involvement in Lithuanian political activities while studying in Switzerland.

Šaulys was active in the independence movement and was a founding member of the Lithuanian Democratic Party. When he returned from Switzerland, he edited the Lietuvos Žinios (Lithuanian News). He was a member of the Vilnius Conference which met in September of 1917 and was later elected Secretary-General of the resultant Council of Lithuania, which worked to establish an independent Lithuanian State.

After Lithuania achieved independence, Šaulys entered the diplomatic service and served as an envoy to Germany, Switzerland, the Vatican, and Poland. He attended diplomatic conferences and corresponded with political figures from many other countries including Germany, Switzerland, the Vatican, Poland, Italy, and France. After Germany invaded Poland in 1939, Šaulys moved to Switzerland, taking the position of Lithuanian ambassador until the legation closed when the League of Nations was dissolved in 1946. Jurgis Šaulys died in Lugano, Switzerland in 1948.

This collection consists of materials related to the efforts to achieve Lithuanian independence; documents related to the German occupation of Lithuania; materials concerning Lithuanian legations headed by Jurgis Šaulys in Berlin, Bern, Rome, and the Vatican, as well as other diplomatic materials; materials related to books and book societies; and correspondence with important literary and political figures.

The collection is organized into two series: political and literary files and correspondence. The political and literary files include memoranda, bylaws and protocols, political and organizational documents, essays, newspaper clippings, maps, notebooks, financial documents, and some correspondence. These files are related to Šaulys's diplomatic work and political organizing. This series is arranged in the original order in which it was received and may be meaningful in Lithuanian. Researchers will find that this series does include some correspondence and that some political and literary files are similarly filed within the correspondence series.

The correspondence series includes political and diplomatic communication, as well as personal correspondence with prominent figures such as Jono Biliuno, V. Poželos, Vyduno, M. Römerio, I. Jonynas, J. Jablonskio, T. Daugirdo, and M. Poželos, among many others. This series includes folders for individual correspondents, as well as folders for specific years. The individual correspondence appears first and is arranged alphabetically by last name. The rest of the correspondence is arranged chronologically. Researchers will find that there is correspondence filed within the political and literary files. Similarly, researchers may find other documents such as financial papers, newspaper clippings, and memoranda in the correspondence folders.

The collection's processor does not read Lithuanian and has therefore relied heavily on extant transcriptions of folder titles and translation software. Transcriptions and folder titles may not always be accurate and researchers may need to spend more time examining a larger selection of the collection in order to find relevant materials. Transcription of diacritics has occurred whenever possible. However, some diacritics in the Lithuanian language could not be transcribed and in these cases, the letters in the Roman alphabet appear without the diacritic.

Works referenced:

Jurgis Šaulys

Jurgis Šaulys