3. United Nations/Southern Africa/South Africa

The John W. Blaney collection consists of the papers, photographs, digital files, and artifacts produced and collected by Ambassador John W. Blaney over the course of his career. These items include official memoranda, performance evaluations, photographs, notebooks and calendars, speaking notes, newspaper clippings, honors, and memorabilia. The collection spans the 1970s to 2024, covering subjects that include: Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, the US/USSR arms control and disarmament negotiations in Moscow and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the beginning through the end of the second Liberian Civil War, and United Nations Economic and Social Council and Southern Africa through the United States Foreign Service. Featured individuals include Nelson Mandela, Charles Taylor, Les Aspin, Sen. Paul Simon, and Madeleine Albright.

Series 1: Building a Career Series 1: Building a career (1970-1984) contains information about John W. Blaney’s early career, including his military experience, time at Georgetown University in the School of Foreign Service, and early foreign service experiences. This series includes school transcripts, performance evaluations, photographs, and memoranda.

Series 2: Cold War Series 2: Cold War (1978-1996) encompasses Blaney’s time in the foreign service as a congressional aide and economic counselor at the United States Embassy in Moscow, Russia where he was involved with US/USSR arms control and disarmament negotiations. Materials in this series include memoranda, performance evaluations, memorabilia, correspondence, photographs, and articles.

Series 3: United Nations/South Africa Series 3: United Nations/South Africa (1983-2001) contains information from Blaney’s work in the United Nations as Deputy United States Representative to the Economic and Social Council, and his continued career in the foreign service as Director of Southern African Affairs and in Charge d’Affaires for South Africa. This series includes correspondence, photographs, award diplomas, notebooks, and performance evaluations.

Series 4: Liberia Series 4: Liberia (1995-2005, 2015) contains information about Blaney’s experience as Ambassador to Liberia. Prominent in this series are documents and memorabilia related to Blaney’s negotiation of the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the Second Liberian civil war. Materials in this series include academic and news articles, photographs, correspondence, speaking notes and speeches, performance evaluations, and memorabilia.

Series 5: Post-State Department Career Series 5: Post-State Department career (1975, 1991- 2023) spans Blaney’s career after leaving the foreign service. It features self-curated folders on his career, speaking engagements, and authorship up to 2023. Materials include speaking notes, speeches and presentations, articles, conference materials, and performance evaluations.

Series 6: Kudos Series 6: Kudos (1977-2004) is a self-curated series created by Blaney that features correspondence and notes from individuals commending him and his career. It contains correspondence.