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E. Ross Adair oral history

 Collection
Identifier: OH001

Scope and Contents

This collection contains 6 audio tapes of 5 interviews and a transcript of the first three interviews for an oral history with E. Ross Adair, conducted by Randall W. Jehs and F. Gerald Handfield on March 4, April 13, and June 2, 1971; September 25, 1974; and August 25, 1977. In the discussion, Adair describes his family, upbringing, World War II, his political career, life as a student, political campaigns, Vietnam, and many other topics as well as his career as a U.S. congressman and ambassador to Ethiopia. There area also related materials provided to the interviewers by Adair: a circular letter from Adair on August 10, 1971 from the embassy in Ethiopia and a copy of an oral history transcript of an interview with Adair on July 22, 1976. He was interviewed by Michael Bouton from Illinois State University on the topic of U.S> foreign policy toward Africa post-World War II.

Dates

  • 1971-1974; 1977

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Biographical Note

Edwin Ross Adair was born December 14, 1907 in Albion, Indiana, the son of Edwin and Alice Prickett Adair. He graduated from Albion High School in 1924. Adair received his bachelors degree from Hillsdale College and his law degree from George Washington University Law School in 1933. He returned to Indiana, where he began his own law practice. He served in World War II and fought in battles throughout Europe. In 1950, he began his political career by winning a seat as a U.S. Representative. Adair served in this position until he was defeated in 1971. President Nixon gave him a position as an ambassador to Ethiopia. He retired in 1975. Adair was married and had two children. He died May 7, 1983.

Extent

0.01 Cubic Feet (2 transcripts; 1 letter, 4 reel-to-reel audio tapes; 2 audio cassette tapes)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by date and format.

Custodial History

This collection was created by the Indiana State Library as part of its oral history project in the 1970s.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Processing Information

Collection processing completed during April 2005 by Jennifer Duplaga. EAD finding aid created 2015/07/29 by Bethany Fiechter. Collection reprocessing completed 2020/02/27 by Brittany Kropf. EAD finding aid revised 2020/02/27.

Creator

Title
E. Ross Adair oral history
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository

Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671