Finding Aid for James B. Reston Papers, 1935-1995 | University of Illinois Archives

Title: James B. Reston Papers, 1935-1995

ID: 26/20/120

Primary Creator: Reston, James B. (1909-1995)

Extent: 52.5 cubic feet

Arrangement: By functional group and sub-group

Date Acquired: 03/26/1996. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Journalism

Formats/Genres: Papers

Languages: English

James Barrett "Scotty" Reston (1909-95) papers include correspondence, publications, manuscripts, memoranda, reports, speeches, interview transcripts, and photographs relating to Reston's career with the Associated Press (1934-39) and with The New York Times (1939-89) as a reporter (1939-89), chief Washington correspondent (1953-64), associate editor (1964-68), executive editor (1968-69), vice president (1969-74), and columnist (1974-89). Reston won the Pulitzer Prize twice, in 1945 and in 1957, and several times served as a juror who helped select Pulitzer Prize recipients. Reston's papers contain information regarding World War II; the development of American journalism in the post-World War II period; the Pulitzer Prizes; the origins and growth of the United Nations; post-World War II U. S. presidential administrations and elections; U. S. Cold War diplomacy and relations with the Soviet Union and China, especially the decision to recognize mainland China in 1971; the Vietnam War, especially press coverage of and student demonstrations against; and the history, administration, design and labor relations of The New York Times. Notable correspondents and interviewees include Dean Acheson, Joseph Alsop, Russell Baker, Chester Bowles, George Bush, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Wallace Carroll, Jimmy Carter, Turner Catledge, E. Clifton Daniel, Orville Dryfoos, Max Frankel, Henry Kissinger, Aleksei Kosygin, Anthony Lewis, Miguel de la Madrid, Lester Markel, Francois Mitterand, Jean Monnet, A. M. Rosenthal, Anwar Sadat, Carlos Salinas de Gortari, I. F. Stone, Lewis Strauss, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Arthur Hays Sulzberger, Pierre Trudeau, George Wallace, and Tom Wicker.

James Barrett Reston, along with such writers as Eric Sevareid, Joseph Alsop, and Walter Lippmann, had a tremendous influence on shaping twentieth-century American journalism. After graduating from the University of Illinois, Reston worked in publicity and reporting before taking a job with the Associated Press. In 1937, he went to London to cover news and sports for the A. P. During this assignment, Reston met Arthur Hays Sulzberger, the publisher of The New York Times. Soon after their encounter, Reston began work at the Times's London bureau, and he continued his relationship with the paper until his death more than fifty years later. His specialties included political and international reporting, topics upon which he commented extensively first as a reporter and later as a columnist at the paper's Washington bureau. In addition to his duties as a writer, Reston served as the chief Washington correspondent from 1953 until 1964, and also worked as associated editor (1964-68), executive editor (1968-69), and vice president (1969-74). The best source on Reston's life is his 1991 autobiography, Deadline: A Memoir (New York: Random House, 1991). The papers contain extensive manuscript drafts of this book.

Journalism

Repository: University of Illinois Archives

Accruals: 3/28/1996; 3/30/1999

Access Restrictions: Open to public but requires application and agreement to policies on user form.

Other Note: 68 Pages

URL: https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/uasfa/2620120.pdf

PDF finding aid for James B. Reston Papers (26/20/120)