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Record of Events: Baghdad, 1943., 03/21/1943-09/17/1943

 File — Box: 1, Folder: 7
Identifier: 35756

Collection-level Scope and Content Note

From the Collection:

The Thomas Murray Wilson Papers consist primarily of photographs and diaries by Wilson mainly during his travels around the world in the 1920's, 1930's and 1940's in the United States diplomatic corps. The collection is comprised of 5 linear feet of material, arranged in 40 folders in 4 boxes and 3 oversize containers.

Thomas Murray Wilson was an avid traveler during his service as a diplomat, visiting all over Southern Asia, Africa and Europe in addition to the countries where he was stationed. He was also an avid photographer and diarist. The collection is full of photographs taken by Wilson all over the world, and he probably developed many of them himself. Wilson was much more a fan of the nature and old ruins in the areas he traveled in than a documenter of the local cultures. Landscapes of all sorts dominate the collection: mountains, sea coasts, waterfalls, forests and deserts. But there are also many photos of cities, towns and popular tourist sites, such as the Taj Mahal and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Some of the most fascinating photographs are those taken by Wilson with a special panorama camera of the Great Wall of China and of the Yugoslavian coast. Thomas Murray Wilson's diaries kept during his years of service in Australia, India and Iraq (1937-1943) contain an interesting account of his daily experiences as well as of world events and American involvement in the countries where he was stationed. Of particular interest are the diaries kept during his service in Iraq (1942-1943), during which time the United States was negotiating with Iraq over its involvement in World War II and about oil interests in the region. There is also a great deal of discussion about Zionism and Jewish immigration to Palestine. Wilson had his manuscript diaries typed and bound and they are arranged chronologically.

Dates

  • 03/21/1943-09/17/1943

Collection-level Access Restrictions

Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.

Extent

From the Collection: 5 Linear Feet (7 boxes)

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Shelf Location

8/13/4B

Container Summary

1 TMs diary kept by Thomas Murray Wilson in Baghdad, Iraq from March, 1943 to September, 1943 during his service there. Much discussion of Zionism, Jewish immigratiion to the Middle East and Iraq's involvement in World War II. Contains references to King Faisal II and Regent Abdul Ilah. Includes references to prominent American and British diplomats and Iraqis such as: Prime Minister Nuri Pasha as-Said, Denis Knabenshue, Sir Kinahan Cornwallis, Sir Henry R. Pownall, General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, Abdul Kadir Rasheed, Sir Ronald Storrs, General Hurley, Sir Edwin Drower, Archbishop Spellman, Tewfiq Suwedi and General Sikorski. Discussion of the oil development of with references to the Basra Petroleum Company, the Iraq Petroleum Company, Mosul Petroleum Company and the Anglo-Persian Petroleum Company.

Subjects and Associated Physical Materials

IRAQ - DIARY - 1943: Diary

BAGHDAD - DIARY - 1943: Diary

WILSON, THOMAS MURRAY - DIARY: Diary

ZIONISM - REFERENCE: Diary

JEWISH IMMIGRATION TO THE MIDDLE EAST - REFERENCE: Diary

WORLD WAR II - REFERENCE: Diary

FAISAL II, KING OF IRAQ - REFERENCE: Diary

ABDUL ILAH, REGENT OF IRAQ - REFERENCE: Diary

AS-SAID, NURI PASHA - REFERENCE: Diary

KNABENSHUE, DENIS - REFERENCE: Diary

CORNWALLIS, SIR KINAHAN - REFERENCE: Diary

POWNALL, SIR HENRY R. - REFERENCE: Diary

WILSON, GENERAL SIR HENRY MAITLAND - REFERENCE: Diary

RASHEED, ABDUL KADIR - REFERENCE: Diary

STORRS, SIR RONALD - REFERENCE: Diary

HURLEY, GENERAL - REFERENCE: Diary

DROWER, SIR EDWIN - REFERENCE: Diary

SPELLMAN, ARCHBISHOP - REFERENCE: Diary

SUWEDI, TEWFIQ - REFERENCE: Diary

SIKORSKI, GENERAL - REFERENCE: Diary

BASRA PETROLEUM COMPANY - REFERENCE: Diary

IRAQ PETROLEUM COMPANY - REFERENCE: Diary

MOSUL PETROLEUM COMPANY - REFERENCE: Diary

ANGLO-PERSIAN PETROLEUM COMPANY - REFERENCE: Diary

Creator

Repository Details

Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository

Contact:
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