Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1919 - 1977 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
Size/Number of Items/Parts: 3600 linear ft. of textual records and photographs, No. of Boxes: 7201
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
UNRRA was established by agreement of 44 nations on 9 November 1943; operations came to an end in the latter part of 1946, with the last staff appointment terminating 31 March 1949. The purpose of UNRRA was to "plan, co-ordinate, administer or arrange for the administration of measures for the relief of victims of war in any area under the control of any of the United Nations through the provision of food, fuel, clothing, shelter and other basic necessities, medical and other essential services" (Agreement, Articles 1 and 2).
Among predecessor organizations was the Office of Foreign Relief and Rehabilitation Operations of the United States Department of State (established 21 November 1942) and the Inter-Allied Committee on Post-War Requirements (the Leith-Ross Committee) established in London in September 1941.
The Agreement provided for (1) a Council on which each member government was represented (which met in six sessions from November 1943 to December 1946); (2) a central committee consisting of China, the USSR, the UK, and the US (initially), to make policy decisions between Council Sessions; (3) a Director-General to serve as chief executive and administrative officer who was responsible for approximately 25,000 staff worldwide.
UNRRA headquarters was in Washington, D.C., and the European Regional Office was set up in London. Individuals who served as Director-General were: Herbert H. Lehmann (1 January 1944 to 31 March 1946); Fiorello H. LaGuardia (1 April to 31 December 1946); and Major-General Lowell P. Rooks (1 January 1947 to 30 September 1948).
The Administration of UNRRA at the peak of operations in mid-1946 included five types of offices and missions with a staff totalling nearly 25,000: The Headquarters Office in Washington, The European Regional Office (London), the Twenty-nine servicing offices and missions (2 area offices in Cairo and Sydney; 10 liaison offices and missions in Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Trieste; 12 procurement offices in Argentina, Brazil, Chile –later Peru, Cuba, India, Mexico, South Africa, Southern Rhodesia, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela; 6 offices for procurement of surplus military supplies in Caserta –later Rome, Honolulu, Manila, New Delhi, Paris, Shanghai), the sixteen missions to receiving countries (Albania, Austria, Byelorussia, China, Czechoslovakia, the Dodecanese Islands, Ethiopia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Korea, the Philippines, Poland, Ukraine, Yugoslavia), and the Displaced Persons Operations in Germany.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Fonds consists of UNRRA Headquarters records and the records of UNRRA administration in Europe and Asia, and contains the following sub-fonds:
AG-018-001: China Office - Subject Files
AG-018-002: Controller and Public Information
AG-018-003: Bureau of Supply
AG-018-004: Bureau of Areas
AG-018-005: Bureau of Administration
AG-018-006: Balkan Mission and Middle East Office
AG-018-007: International Refugee Organization (IRO)
AG-018-008: European Regional Office (ERO) - Registry Files
AG-018-009: Italy Mission
AG-018-010: Austria Mission
AG-018-011: European Regional Office (ERO) - Subject Files
AG-018-012: Washington DC Headquarters
AG-018-013: Bureau of Services
AG-018-014: Belgium Mission
AG-018-015: Byelorussia Mission
AG-018-016: Czechoslovakia Mission
AG-018-017: Denmark Mission
AG-018-018: Dodecanese Islands Mission
AG-018-019: Ethiopia Mission
AG-018-020: Finland Mission
AG-018-021: Offices in France
AG-018-022: Greece Mission
AG-018-023: Hungary Mission
AG-018-024: Luxembourg Mission
AG-018-025: Norway Mission
AG-018-026: Poland Mission
AG-018-027: Sweden Mission
AG-018-028: Switzerland Mission
AG-018-029: Trieste Port Office
AG-018-030: Turkey Mission
AG-018-031: Ukraine Mission
AG-018-032: Yugoslavia Mission
AG-018-033: India Mission - Procurement and Recruiting Office
AG-018-034: Korea Mission
AG-018-035: Philippine Mission
AG-018-036: Latin America - Procurement Offices
AG-018-037: South West Pacific Area Office (SWPAO)
AG-018-038: Hawaii Procurement Office
AG-018-039: Germany Mission
AG-018-040: Office of the Historian
AG-018-041: UNRRA Photographs
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
-0
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Most of the records have no access limitations, however, files containing personal information cannot be released unredacted. UNRRA personnel have files must be formally accessed by the person or authorized heirs.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Some file lists available