Eliot S. Berkley (1924-     ) Papers (KC0103)

Jewish Community Archives (JCA)


Eliot S. Berkley, the son of Walter J. and Erni (Stulz) Berkowitz, was born on October 12, 1924, in Kansas City, Missouri.  He attended Pembroke Country Day School and went on to study at Harvard University where he received his B.A. in 1947.  He earned an M.A. (1949) and doctorate (1952) from Princeton University.

Dr. Berkley taught History and Government at the University of Kansas City and Social Science at the Kansas City Art Institute and School of Design.  Also at the Art Institute, he served as Vice-President for Development from 1960 to 1961 and Dean of the College from 1961 to 1965.  He has been an active member of numerous educational and social action organizations in the Kansas City area.

Dr. Berkley was Executive Director of the International Relations Council in Kansas City from 1955 until his retirement in 1994.  He lectures extensively on his field of expertiseUnited States foreign policy.  He also serves as a liaison between the general community and foreign consulates and other well-known international and national public figures.

The collection consists of copies of letters received by Eliot S. Berkley as personal correspondence or as communications received in his capacity as Executive Director of the International Relations Council.  The subject of many of the letters is related to United States foreign policy issues.  The papers also include published and printed material such as pamphlets, programs and organizational brochures.  One folder contains photographs with individuals such as Harry Truman, Henry Kissinger, Walter Mondale, Stuart Symington, Alexander Haig and Eleanor Roosevelt.  The final part of the collection consists of summaries of Berkley’s interviews with German and Dutch subjects in 1949.  These interview were the basis for his doctoral dissertation on German foreign relations after WWII. 1935-1999.

10 cubic feet.

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