Middle East Institute Archive: Board of Governors Minutes

Introduction

The MEI Archive is located on the first floor of the Oman Library. As the visitor enters the library, the bookshelves holding the Archive are located to the left, beginning with the Middle East Journal and extending to the Travelogue & Travel Guides Collection. Books published by MEI are cataloged and shelved accordingly, many of which are located in the General Collection and may be checked out to patrons with library cards.

Description of Archive: In time for MEI's 75th anniversary, the librarian Vickie Jacobs discovered most of the contents of the MEI Archive in a back corner of the Rare Books room in December of 2020. Now, patrons will find in the Archive a wide range of published and unpublished materials. A subset of the cataloged materials have been digitized and are included in the Digitized Rare Books Collection. This guide contains a description of the Board of Governors, or MEI Minutes, binders.

27 bound volumes of MEI Board of Governors meeting minutes date from 1946 through 1991. Each volume in the Archive is recorded below, with the title heading matching the title label on each volume. Listing of contents provide some names and organizations found within the volumes, as well as topics discussed, but listings are by no means exhaustive. Names and organizations are transcribed here as they appear in the documents.

Pages of the Minutes are predominantly onion-skin paper, and as a result are very fragile. Researchers interested in handling MEI Minutes contents are requested to consult the librarian first. While all volumes contain Board of Governors meeting minutes, the descriptions of contents specifically focus on topics that were discussed, names that were mentioned or present at the meetings, and other non-minutes documents included.

All topics, names, and organizations are listed in order of appearance. It is possible that the first occurrence was missed and so it is listed later in the contents than it actually first appears.

Organization of the MEI Minutes guide: The Contents section provides links to each volume for easy and quick navigation. The volumes are listed as they are shelved, in chronological order.

Access and Usage Guidelines: MEI Archive materials generally speaking do not circulate, and due to their unique and fragile nature, the Board of Governors (and Executive Committee) minutes are among the non-circulating items. However, researchers wishing to scan or copy pages from these volumes may contact the librarian in order to request document duplication. Scanning of Minutes pages must be on a special, archival scanner, in order to preserve the materials and avoid damage.

Processed by Oman Library Staff: Librarian, Vickie Jacobs; Volunteers, Marie Mach and Maria Jacobs.
Phone: (202) 785-1141 ext.229
Email: library@mei.edu

Internal Documents: Board of Governors and Executive Committee--Papers and Minutes (1946 - 1991)

All Minutes mention the MEJ and Library, so those departments are only listed under the topics when something exceptionally noteworthy is reported.

BOG Minutes 1946-1949
MEI's founding on May 8, 1946 to December 1949

• Formal establishment of The Middle East Institute at 1906 Florida Ave., N.W.; those in attendance: Georege Camp Keiser; Halford L. Hoskins; Henry Villard; Edwin M. Wright; Eric Archdeacon; C. Grove Haines.
• Authorization to establish Board of Editors; Advisory Council of the Middle East Journal and MEI brochure [blue book - shelved separately]; Library of Diplomatic Affairs Foundation
• Adoption of MEI’s Rules [Appendix I, not included]
• Fourth meeting (p.2): Establishment of Annual Report; MEI Annual Meeting held conjointly with Annaul Conference, to be held in February
• Administrative policy and procedure discussions
• Establishment of Life Members; Executive Committee
• Lists of member candidates or applicants
• Membership categories and pricing (Fourth meeting)
• Fellowships
• Eleventh meeting
  • MEI becomes first U.S. institution to negotiate cooperative arrangement with a state university in the Middle East; establishment of Advisory Council and MEI activities
• General Plan of Growth and Expansion [1948-1952 plan]
• Interrelationships of Full Program [organizational chart]
• Table of Organization [including Advisory Council and  Board of Governors] and list of positions/titles
• Programs and activities, including lists of personnel [titles] responsible for the activities/departments: MEJ Personnel and Program; Translation Program; Advanced Training Program; Membership Instruction [educational activities for members]; Newsletter [publication planning]; Lecture Series; Conference [Annual Conference personnel and planning]; Members Library Service; Research Program; Book Agent Service; Research and Information Program; Monograph Publication; Book Publication; Popular Publication [including high school and adult education materials; General Services; Social Program; Cultural Relations Program...
• Budgets and income sources
• June 27 discussion: purchase of property located at 2450 Massachusetts Ave., N.W. for MEI, location of Library
• Twelfth Meeting of BOG, November 8, 1948: establishment of subcommittees
• MEI Address: 1830 19th St. N.W.
• Questionnaire on Services of the Institute [for members]
• Report of the Director to FSEF (December 7, 1949)
• Lectures: “The Kurdish Question,” by. Kamuran ali Badr-Khan (10/12) - recorded in the Journal of the Royal Central Asian Society (July-Oct 1949, p.237-49)
• “Four Years in the Iranian Majlis,” by Reza Zadeh Shafaq (11/3)
• “Report on Social Welfare Seminar for Arab States (Aug 15-Sept 18)”, by W. Wendall Cleland (11/18)
• “The Life and Times of Husni Zaim,” by Alford Carleton (11/28) - recorded in MEJ

Some names (member applicants listed with job title/location) and organizations: Diplomatic Affairs Foundation; School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS); Christian A. Herter; Harvey P. Hall; Dr. Hoskins; Foreign Service Educational Foundation; Ali Aghassi (U.N.); Mrs. Alice C. Bischoff; Eliahu Epstein (Jewish Agency for Palestine); Dorothea S. Franck (Cultural Rel., DOS); Anne H. Fuller; Lawrence A. Hoffman (Geographer, DOS); Harold Ingholt; John D. Jernegan (NEA, DOS); Kermit Roosevelt; Edward P. Lawton (Ret’d DOS); D.W. Lockard; James McPherson (Arabian-Am. Oil); Ruth C. Sloan (former NEC Research); John A. Wilson; Joseph C. Grew; Ray L. Thurston (ME&I, DOS); Charles R. Watson (Pres. Em., AUC); Gordon P. Merriam (NEA Chief, DOS); Garry Owen (Arabian-Am. Oil); C. Grove Haines (SAIS); Aramco; Mr. Sykes (MEI PR Officer); Dr. Hoskins; Dr. Haines; George Camp Keiser (BOG Chairman); Mr. G.A. Delhomme, Jr. and John E. Marsh (BOG Executive Secretaries); Madame von Weiner; James Heyworth-Dunne; Fuad I University; George M. Barakat (American Middle East Relief); Woodfin L. Butte (Standard Oil Co. of NJ); L.P. Elwell-Sutton; D.J. Hanna (Bahrain Petroleum Co.); Uriel Heyd; Mohammed A.K. Mutasib (Saudi Arabian Legation); C. Stribling Snodgrass (Bechtel Corp., VP); Dr. Loftus (MEI BOG); Charles W. Lewis, Jr. (U.S. Foreign Service, Pakistan); Moore Gates (DOS); Jamil Safady; Albert G. Edwards (Missionary, Lebanon); Mray F. Coury (Research Analyst); George A. Doodle (Pan American Airways regional director); Deane R. Hinton (U.S. Foreign Service, Syria); Florence E. Green (U.S. Gov.); Charles Robert Moore (U.S. Foreign Service); Lucile Dudgeon (librarian); Lila Andeeasen[sic] (librarian, ARAMCO Dhahran); C. Vernon Johnson (U.S. Gov.) Ellen V. McGuire (U.S. Gov.); Rashid Ahmad (Pakistan, “presumably merchant”); Albert Einstein (memorandum to the BOG dated May 26, 1949, subject: Holy Land Emergency Liaison Program - HELP); Edwin M. Wright (MEI Director); Zuhair Jwaideh (MEI Arabic instructor); Philip H. Watts (MEI Treasurer, appointed October 27, 1949) Elvin V. Johnson (MEI Assistant Treasurer); Dr. Tannous; Mr. Bechtel [likely Stephen Bechtel, Jr.]; Shah In Shah Mohammed Riza Pahlavi (U.S.-visit recorded on last page by Moore Gates).

Bylaws (undated); Min. of Meeting of Incorporators, Feb.1 1949; BOG Minutes Feb. - June 20, 1949

• By-Laws
  • Board Minutes include some overlap of topics but not necessarily duplication of documents
• Nomination of members to serve as officers: Chairman of the Board of Governors, Director, Secretary, Treasurer
• Establishment of 4 MEI departments: Training and Research, Information and Membership, Publications, Administration
• Acknowledgements of donation to M.E.I General Fund, M.E.I Library Fund,
• M.E.I Training Fund, and Middle East Journal
• Position of Advisory Editor abolished
• Reorganization of Advisory Committee as follows: Editor of Middle East Journal, Treasurer of the MEI, Executive Secretary of MEI, Business Secretary of MEI, Member at Large
• Acceptance of offer from Foreing Service Educational Foundation to sponsor activities of MEI
• Discussion to utilize Fulbright Act and collaboration with United Nations Club and National Geographic Society on public affairs, dinners, lectures, and other activities
• Holy Land Emergency Liaison Program (HELP) granted permission to use on room in building for office purposes and use MEI address for mailing purposes
• Discussions stimulating Middle East curricula at West Coast institutions
• Program for training economists acquainted with the Middle East
• Memoranda
  • January 2, 1949: Dissolution of Diplomatic Affairs Foundation
  • March 31, 1949: Justification for reprinting of 500 copies of January 1947 issue of The Middle East Journal
  • May 26, 1949: Establishment and Discussion of HELP
•  Letters
  • January 2, 1949: Dissolution of Diplomatic Affairs Foundation
  • January 15, 1949: Proposal by Foreign Service Educational Foundation to sponsor activities of MEI
  • April 8, 1949: Rental of Safe Deposit Box
  • March 23, 1949: Matthew G. Jones accepts position as Treasurer of Institute
• Budget, 7/1/49 to 6/30/50
• Estimates Expenses

Some personal names: George C. Keiser; Edwin M. Wright; Philip H. Watts (quorum of board); Malcolm S. Langford (attorney); Christian A. Herter (president elect of Foreign Service Educational Foundation); John Edward Marsh (Secretary); Matthew G. Jones (treasurer); Elsa W. Mason (Board of Trustees); Dr. Majid Khadduri; Jane Wetmore; Harold W. Glidden (Advisory Editor, Board of Special Advisory Editors); Harvey P. Hall (Editor of MEJ); Anne Woodward (Business Secretary); M.B. Schnapper (Public Affairs Press); Moore Gates; Albert Einstein; Dr. Walter Livingston Wright, Jr. (advisor and member of Board of Advisory Editors to MEJ) death announcement--May 26,1949; Elvin V. Johnson (Assistant Treasurer); C. Grove Hanes (SAIS); John Upton; Philip W. Thayer; Edwin Milton Wright; Wallace Murray; Mortimer Graves; Dr. Walter Livingstin Wright; Lynda Blake; Edith Rose Gardner; Maryann Shelley; John Unumb; Lila Andreasen; Lucile Dudgeon; C. Vernon Johnson; Ellen V. McGuire; Charles Robert Moore; A.T. Sharaf; Rashid Ahmad; Malcolm S. Langford; Mortimer Graves (elected to BOG); Wallace Murray (elected to BOG); ;
Names of organizations: Foreign Service Educational Foundation; Diplomatic Affairs Foundation; School of Advanced International Studies; Diplomatic Affairs Foundation; Public Affairs Press; Holy Land Emergency Liaison Program (HELP); Princeton.

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BOG Minutes July 1, 1949 - June 30, 1950

Board Minutes

• Suggestions for educational activities of Institute, appointment of Simon Menache for employment at Institute, furthering of lecture series
• Resignation of Edwin M. Wright as Acting Director
• Appointment of Zuhair Jwaideh as Instructor in Arabic
• Resignation of Matthew G. Jones as treasurer
• Appointment of Moore Gates as director
• Tax exempt status of MEI
• Treasurer’s report, 6 February 1950
• Project Program for Promotion, 1949-1950
• Budget planning and documentation
• Sketch for The Middle East Journal
• 1950-51 “Austerity Budget”
• MEI Fellowship candidates

Letters

• July 26, 1949: Request for resignation as Acting Director by Edwin M. Wright
• August 1, 1949: Expenses regarding MEI Address at 1830 19th Street
• August 15, 1949: Resignation letter from Matthew G. Jones
• August 23, 1949: Continuation of John Marsh’s appointment as Executive Secretary
• Memoranda
• July 22, 1949: By Mortimer Graves - proposals for training and education of Middle East specialists in the U.S.
• August 3, 1949: Appointment of Zuhair Jwaideh as to teaching staff
• July 20, 1949: General Memorandum to Board of Governors

Listing of potential activities and development of activities currently underway

• September 24, 1948: Preliminary planning for internal structure of MEI
• October 13, 1949: Action of the Board of Governors of the Middle East Institute in Meeting of 25 August 1949
• October 27, 1949: Memoranda on equipment purchase
• December 19, 1949: Insurance policies

Some personal names: Philip H. Watts (Treasurer, 1950); Dr. Khadduri (1950); George Camp Keiser (Chairman); Christian A. Herter; Wallace Murray; Edwin M. Wright; Matthew G. Jones (Treasurer); Philip H. Watts (Treasurer, 6 Feb., 1950); John E. Marsh (Secretary); Simon Menache; Moore Gates; Harvey P. Hall; Philip H. Watts; Zuhair Jwaideh; Malcolm S. Langford; Elvin V. Johnson; Kerim Attar; Mr. Tannous; Mortimer Graves; Mr. Bechtel; Curtis S. Strong; Sheikh Amned A. Jabbar; Costi Manuelian; Mary Lee Smith; Douglas Rugh; J.M. Karagulla; Marie Puhr; Prancis Bloodgood; Philip L. Hynes; Abraha B. Shoulson; Jerzy Gutkowski; R. Goodman; Francis H. Sleeper; Maj. Gen. Victor W. Odlum; Charles B. Raynor; Clarice Wade; J.C. Gallagher; Mario J. Rice; WIlliam Grant Parr; Nuri Eren; Huston Gregory; Major James F. Hill; J. Rives Childs; Bruce R. Crooks; Ismail R. Khalidi; Denis Greenhill; Dorothy Deutsch; Sabra Follett Meservey; William Yale; Harold Nelson; M. Yuval; Peter Josten; Laurens Seelye; Kate Seelye; Niilo Nieminen; Armin H. Meyer; L.D. Seymour; Mrs. Irving Seymour; Mrs. Irving Anches; Eugene C. Buskirk; Catherine W. Crigler; Harold D. Gresham; R.H. Hamill; George Hoffman; Milton Carl Walstorm; Ruth L. Riley; Elia Ben-Horin; Musa Alami; Kenneth Armstrong; (Dean) Philip W. Thayer (March 1950); Howard E. Stone; Miles Prescott; Leonard Hoar; George Makdisi; Duane Rames; Donald Snook; Elvin V. Johnson (Assistant Treasurer, 1950);
Some names of organizations: Cox, Langford, Stoddard, and Cutler; Foreign Service
Educational Foundation (FSEF); Voice of America; American Council of Learned Societies; Social Science Research Council; John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation; Institute of Current World Affairs (Crane Foundation); Price Waterhouse & Company; ARAMCO; George C. Keiser Foundation; University of Indiana; School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS); Princeton University;

Executive Committee Minutes Oct. 18, 1950 - April 10, 1959
Text on spine of binding says 1950-57 however the end date is incorrect.

Executive Committee meeting minutes

• Budgets
• Space concerns/allocation at 1830 19th St. N.W.
• MEI Suggested Lectures & Programs, Autumn 1954
• MEJ circulation and printing

Memoranda

• Annual Conference planning
• “Arabian Highlands” by H. St. John Philby (1952 book publication mentioned in 1951-52)
• Arabian Peninsula bibliography
• Corporate membership (value and details)
• By-laws amendments
• Fulbright (scholarship) exchange group
• Egyptian art exhibition
• Publicity and fundraising efforts
• Separation of SAIS Library from MEI Library

Arabian Nights bazaar
Fifth Annual Conference of MEI, “Islam in the Modern World,” Friday-Saturday, March 9-10, 1951 [Brochure/Agenda]
    
    Some personal names: Carleton Coon (1956); Kathryn Heinlein (MEI Asst. Secretary); Edwin M. Wright (Exec. Committee/E.C. Vice Chairman, 1956); Majid Khadduri (1950-end); Sidney Sherwood; Harvey P. Hall; John E. Marsh (E.C. Secretary); Mr. Robinson; Miss Mason; Raja Rao (visit); Anne Woodward (Publications Secretary) Harvey P. Hall; Hamilton Robinson (Treasurer); Edward Locke; (Mrs.) Gerry J. Fort; Mr. Sidney Sherwood; Hal Lehrmann; Mr. Crandall (MEI P.R. Secretary candidate/hiree?); Mr. Sanborn; Dean (Philip W.) Thayer; Mrs. Clubwala (lecturer); Henry Field (lecturer); Edwin Samuel (Israeli lecturer); Akdes N. Kurat (lecturer from Turkey); Dorothy Goodwin (MEJ Editorial Assistant); Mr. Hourani - likely Albert Hourani; Musa Bey Alami; David M. Keiser; Christian A. Herter; Mr. Foye; Mr. Barker; Mr. Bechtel - likely Stephen Bechtel, Jr.; Mrs. Garrison (MEI Librarian?); Kanji Dwarkadas; Dr. El-Zayyat; Edwin Locke; E.C. Miller; Harvey Hall (MEI Publications Director); Anne Dillon (MEI Business Secretary); Frances Mattison (MEI Research Assistant); Sherif Mardin; Luther Evans (1952); Hans Kohn; George Makdisi.
Some organizations: Foreign Service Educational Foundation (FSEF); Holy Land Emergency Liaison Program (HELP); Price, Waterhouse & Co. (auditors); University of Chicago; Social Science Research Committee; Washington Hotel (Annual Conference); United Nations Club (E.C. meeting location); Export-Import Bank; SAIS; ARAMCO; Oriental Club; Near East Foundation; Chase National Bank; Institute for the establishment of an African Federation; United Nations Club (E.C. meeting location); Robert College; AUC; Ford Foundation.

BOG Minutes Aug. 3, 1950 - Dec. 7, 1953
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BOG Minutes Jan. 13, 1954 - March 18, 1957
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BOG Minutes May 14, 1957 - June 18, 1958
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BOG Minutes Oct. 7, 1958 - Sept. 29, 1961
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BOG Minutes Dec. 15, 1961 - Jan. 4, 1965
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BOG Minutes March 22, 1965 - Oct. 3, 1968
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BOG Minutes Sept. 19, 1968 - March 12, 1971
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BOG Minutes March 12, 1971 - Dec. 7, 1971
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BOG Minutes March 9, 1972 - Dec. 7, 1972
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BOG Minutes March 8, 1973 - Oct. 16, 1973
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BOG Minutes March 7, 1974 - Nov. 27, 1974
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BOG Minutes March 6, 1975 - Dec. 4, 1975
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BOG Minutes March 11, 1976 - Dec. 3, 1976
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BOG Minutes March 3, 1977 - Dec. 2, 1977
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BOG Minutes March 2, 1978 - Dec. 7, 1978
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BOG Minutes March 22, 1979 - Dec. 6, 1979
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BOG Minutes March 6, 1980 - Dec. 1, 1980
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BOG Minutes Jan. 27, 1981 - Sept. 24, 1981
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BOG Minutes March 4, 1982 - Dec. 1, 1983
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BOG Minutes May 3, 1984 - Sept. 18, 1985
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BOG Minutes Jan. 16, 1986 - Oct. 15, 1987
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BOG Minutes Feb. 4, 1988 - Oct. 1989
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BOG Minutes Jan. 4, 1990 - Oct. 3, 1991
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Executive Committee: Papers, Minutes, and Memoranda (date - date)

Stored in the black binders, fourth shelf of the second bookcase.

Binder 1
Specific dates:
Link to page/section?

Binder 2
Specific dates:
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Binder 3
Specific dates:
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Binder 4
Specific dates:
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This research guide is maintained by the Oman Library at the Middle East Institute.