Robert L. Fisher papers, 1951-1989

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Fisher, Robert L. (Robert Light), 1910-1989
Title
Robert L. Fisher papers
Dates
1951-1989 (inclusive)
Quantity
3.04 cubic feet (5 boxes)
Collection Number
4249 (Accession No. 4249-001)
Summary
Papers of an American official of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency primarily concerning his work in Jordan and Gaza during the late 1950s to early 1970s.
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

The papers are open to all users.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Robert Light Fisher was born in York, Pennsylvania, in 1910. He received his teaching credential from Western Washington Normal School, Bellingham, Washington, where his father, Charles Henry Fisher, had been president, and went on to receive degrees from Stanford and Columbia in political science. Fisher joined the State Department in 1940 and worked in the U.S. Army's Intelligence Section during World War II. After the war, he served as the Army's liaison for displaced persons in Europe. Fisher joined the United Nations' Commission for Displaced Arabs in the Middle East in the late 1940s and in 1950 was appointed its chair. In 1953 he became assistant director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Jordan, and in 1958 he was appointed director of the UNRWA in Gaza. In 1961 Fisher became director of UNRWA affairs in Jordon. He supervised the establishment of refugee camps and the building of schools and health centers. Fisher obtained a senior post at UNRWA headquarters in Beirut in 1968 and returned to the State Department in 1970. Upon his retirement in 1980, Fisher returned to the state of Washington, where he died in 1989.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Diaries, photographs, reports, newsletters, correspondence, cables, memos, clippings, publications, and news releases, 1951-1989 (bulk 1956-1971), concerning Fisher's work on behalf of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

The papers consist almost exclusively of materials relating to Fisher's work in Gaza and Jordan during the late 1950s to early 1970s, with some material from later years. The largest series is the subject series, which is organized according to Fisher's original topical scheme. Photocopies of deteriorating thermofaxes are filed with the original copies. A substantial number of photographs of UNRWA projects and events are included in the papers.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The creator's literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Preferred Citation

Robert L. Fisher Papers. Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries, Seattle, Washington.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Gift of Helen S. Fisher (Robert L. Fisher's wife) of Lacey, Washington, 1991.

Processing Note

Processing of the papers was completed in 1993.

Separated Materials

Official United Nations documents have been transferred to the Government Publications division of the University of Washington Libraries. Publications from the Institute for Palestine Studies have been transferred to the main collection of the UW Libraries.

Related Materials

Researchers interested in Robert L. Fisher's personal life may wish to consult the Charles Henry Fisher papers, Accession No. 1987-14, which consists of 49 letters from Robert Fisher's father during the time when he was field director of the UNRWA (1962-1964).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Diaries and calendars, 1956-1958, 1964-1971Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1-2

Biographical information, 1964-1990Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 3/1

Biographical information - condolences, 1989Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 3/2

Incoming letters, 1978Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 3/3

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/4
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
1969-1970
3/5
Miscellaneous
1986

Speeches and writings, 1957-1968Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 3/6

PhotographsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/7-8
"Official"
1967-1969
3/9-13
Jordan
1965-1968
3/14-18
Miscellaneous
1964-1976
Box
5
Photo albums
1954-1974

Organizational directives, 1959-1962Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 3/19

Memo, 1964Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 3/20

Subject seriesReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/21
Conciliation Commission for Palestine
1962-1964
3/22
Confidential draft paper of 1958
1958
3/23
Development Bank of Jordan, Ltd.
1951-1979
3/24
Gaza basic papers
1960-1962
3/25
Humor
1956-1960
3/26
Ideas, etc.
1959
3/27
Ideas for publications
1969
3/28
Materials for articles
1963
3/29
Middle East crisis
1967
3/30
Problems facing UNRWA as it changes directors
1958-1959
3/31
"The Refugee Problem"
1969
3/32
Refugee resettlement through the medium of individual grants in Jordan
1960
3/33
Relations between UNRWA and UAR government
1960-1961
3/34
Solution to the Palestine (refugee) problem
1953-1967
3/35
Statistics
1950-1973
3/36
Status of the Gaza mission, UNRWA
1959
3/37
Transfer from Jordan to Beirut
1968
3/38
United Nations Emergency Force - miscellaneous items
1960-1961
3/39
West Bank data base project
1984
3/40
Women's Auxiliary of UNRWA
1958-1965

Proceedings, 1978Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 3/41

Hearings transcript - U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs Committee, 1976Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 3/42

Ephemera, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 3/43

PublicationsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/44
UNRWA
undated
4/1
American Friends Service Committee
1958
4/2
Middle East Institute
1974
4/3
Miscellaneous
1956-1989

Financial records, 1974-1978Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 4/4

NewslettersReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4/5
UNRWA
1962-1986
4/6
Miscellaneous
1974-1986

News releasesReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4/7
UNRWA
1968-1978
4/8
Miscellaneous
1977

Maps, 1955-1957Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 4/9

Clippings, 1963-1978Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 4/10

Miscellany, 1968Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 4/11

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • International relief
  • Palestinian Arabs--Services for
  • Political refugees--Services for--Middle East
  • Refugees, Palestinian Arab--Education
  • Refugees, Palestinian Arab--Jordan
  • Refugees, Palestinian Arab--Services for
  • United Nations--Officials and employees--Archives

Personal Names

  • Fisher, Robert L. (Robert Light), 1910-1989--Archives

Corporate Names

  • United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

Form or Genre Terms

  • Calendars
  • Diaries
  • Newsletters
  • Photograph albums
  • Photographs
  • Press releases
  • Publications
  • correspondence
  • reports

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)