Ronald Stuart Kain Papers, 1925-1974

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Kain, Ronald Stuart, 1899-1991
Title
Ronald Stuart Kain Papers
Dates
1925-1974 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.5 linear feet
Collection Number
Mss 208 (collection)
Summary
Ronald Stuart Kain was a University of Montana journalism graduate who became an international writer. This collection includes portions of Kain's published and unpublished articles, biographical information, correspondence typed and handwritten research notes, and a copy of Kain's book Europe: Versailles to Warsaw.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana--Missoula.

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

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Ronald Stuart Kain was born in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, on March 5, 1899. After graduating from the University of Montana with a journalism degree in 1922, he attended Harvard University for the 1925-1926 academic year, and received a Master's degree from Columbia University in 1936.

From the time of his graduation until World War II, Kain was editor of international affairs for Funk and Wagnalls' New International Encyclopedia. In the latter part of the war, he was editor of the foreign press section of the Office of War Information in the Netherlands, which took him to Paris and London. After World War II, Kain became very interested in the East Indies, and wrote many articles on the Indonesian Revolution and the development of the newly independent Malaysia. He lived for many years in New York and Washington, D.C., and wrote many articles for foreign affairs magazines. He tried to form a citizen's safety corporation in the late 1960's, and also became interested in furthering military action in the Vietnam War. He died in 1991.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection includes both published and unpublished articles of R.S. Kain, biographical information and correspondence to numerous parties. It also includes typed and handwritten research notes that Kain used in writing his articles. Kain was published in journals like Foreign Affairs, Current History, and National Geographic. The collection also includes a copy of Kain's book Europe: Versailles to Warsaw.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana.

Preferred Citation

[Name of document or photograph number], Ronald Stuart Kain Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is divided into six series:

Series I: Biographical, 9 folders, 1925-1974

Series II: Correspondence, 13 folders, 1932-1971

Series III: Research Notes, 3 folders, undated

Series IV: Manuscripts, 7 folders, 1948

Series V: Journals, 8 inches, 1930-1949

Series VI: Certificates, 1 folder, 1952, 1971

Custodial History

This collection remained in the possession of Ronald S. Kain until his death, at which time the materials were donated to the K. Ross Toole Archives.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Nancy Kain and the Ronald S. Kain estate, 1991

Processing Note

The actions of the original processor are unknown. In 1998 the collection was extensively re-arranged and re-described. Materials were divided into six series and correspondence was grouped into subject areas. The photographs and postcards included in the original donation were transferred to the Archives general photograph collection during original processing; however, processing records for these materials could not be located at the time of re-processing.

Separated Materials

Photographs and postcards were transferred to the Archives photo and postcard collections during original processing. Records of the processing numbers assigned to these materials during original processing could not be located.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I:  Biographical , 1925-1974Return to Top

9 folders

The biographical information includes invitations that Kain received while writing in Holland. He was invited to attend such events hosted by General Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Ambassador to Holland. Kain's university marks and courses selected are also included. Kain's financial records are included as well as a check drawn by the Treasurer of the United States. The series also contains a list of Kain's published manuscripts.

The series is arranged alphabetically.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Checks drawn by Treasurer of the United States
1967
1/2
Congressional Notes
1945
1/3
Financial Records
1930-1966
1/4
Haiti
1937
1/5
Invitations
1945
1/6
List of Publications
1930-1948
1/7
Peace with Freedom Pamphlet
1967
1/8
Personal Identification
1943-1974
1/9
University marks and courses
1925-1935

Series II:  Correspondence , 1932-1971Return to Top

13 folders

The series includes professional and personal correspondence. Many of the professional correspondences include topics and suggestions on future manuscript ideas or on recently published ones. The series also includes many restricted letters from the Office of War Information in which Kain worked during World War II. In Kain's personal correspondences is a letter to his wife in which he described the Victory in Europe Celebration in London where he was staying at the time.

The series is arranged alphabetically.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/10
Book about the Dutch West Indies
1947-1948
1/11
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
1939
1/12
Citizens Public Safety Corps
1967-1969
1/13
Columbia University
1936
1/14
Contributions
1967-1971
1/15
Delta Lodge, Great Falls, MT
1934
1/16
Europe: Versailles to Warsaw
1939-1940
1/17
Office of War Information Appointments
1944-1946
1/18
Personal
1938, 1945, 1971
1/19
Political Science Quarterly
1935
1/20
University of Montana Alumni Association
1970
1/21
Volunteerism in New York
1941-1942
1/22
The Year Book
1932-1948

Series III:  Research Notes , undatedReturn to Top

3 folders

This series consists of Kain's research notes for various articles that he wrote. The notes are both typewritten and manuscript. There are also two pamphlets on Indonesia. The notes are arranged by persons interviewed, topics, and day-to-day happenings. They also include Kain's notes on bibliographic materials that he used in his research.

This series is arranged alphabetically.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/23
Indonesia
undated
1/24
Research Notes
undated
1/25
Research Notes
undated

Series IV:  Manuscripts , 1948 Return to Top

7 folders

This series consists of 22 unpublished and two published Kain article manuscripts. Those two published articles were "Holland Rises Again," published in Travel, and "The Netherlands Indies: Crossroads of the Orient" published in Marine Corps Gazette, both in August, 1948. The various topics Kain wrote about included Holland, Indonesia, Italy, New York, and the Public Safety Corps.

The series is arranged alphabetically.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/26
America
undated
1/27
Holland
1948 and undated
1/28
Indonesia, #1
1948 and undated
2/1
Indonesia, #2
undated
2/2
Italy
undated
2/3
New York
undated
2/4
Public Safety Corps
undated

Series V:  Journals , 1930-1949Return to Top

8 inches

This series includes Kain's published articles as they appear in the professional publication. Kain was published in National Geographic, Current History, and Foreign Affairs, as well as many lesser known publications. A copy of Kain's book Europe: Versailles to Warsaw, copyright 1939, is also included in the series.

The series is divided alphabetically by article.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/5
"A Visit to Haiti's Historic Ruins," Pan American Union
1937
2/6
"Behind the Chaco War," Current History
1935
2/7
"Bolivia's Claustrophobia," Foreign Affairs
1938
2/8
"Britain's New Colonial Policy," The Yale Review
1944
2/9
"The Chaco Dispute and the Peace System," Political Science Quarterly
1935
3/1
The Chaco Dispute and the Peace System
1935
3/2
"Communist Movement in the U.S.," Current History
1930
3/3
Europe: Versailles to Warsaw
1939
3/4
"La Claustrofobia de Bolivia," Revista Juridica (Spanish text)
1938
3/5
"Moscow in Indonesia," Current History
1949
3/6
"Peace and the Americas," Current History
1936
3/7
"Postwar Journey Through Java," National Geographic
1948
3/8
"A Second Chaco War," The Independent Journal
1936
3/9
"The Southwestern Review," Banking
1938
3/10
"Victory's Handmaids," Asia and the Americas
1944

Series VI:  Certificates , 1952, 1971Return to Top

1 folder

This series consists of certificates that Kain received through his life. There is a certificate from the Department of State for his service, and one from the Red Cross. The other certificate is from the University of Montana Alumni Association for his donation to the development fund.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/11
Certificates
1952, 1971

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • International relations
  • V-E Day, 1945--England--London
  • World War, 1939-1945--Propaganda

Corporate Names

  • United States. Office of War Information--Officials and employees.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Articles

Occupations

  • International relations specialists
  • United States foreign relations specialists

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Kain, Ronald Stuart, 1899-1991. Europe: Versailles to Warsaw.