Jan Hasbrouck Papers (1911-1979)

Finding Aid Completed by Dr. Neil A. Tevebaugh-Kenwryck, December 2004
Volume: 2 cu. ft.
Acquisition: Most of the papers were donated to the Huguenot Historical Society by Bette Clemens on July 16, 2004, although some of the materials were originally transferred to the Huguenot Historical Society in two installments in December 2003 and March 2004. Along with this donation came the papers of Jan Hasbrouck's father, Raymond Delancey Hasbrouck (1871-1926), a U.S. Naval officer during the Boxer Rebellion and the U.S. Atlantic Fleet World Tour (1907-1909). These papers are found in the collection, theRaymond Delancey Hasbrouck Papers (1885-1926) which are also stored in the Society's archives.
Access: Unrestricted.
Copyright: Request for permission to publish materials from these records should be discussed with the Archivist and Director of the Huguenot Historical Society.

Biographical Note
 

Jan Hasbrouck, international journalist, was born on February 20, 1911, the first son of Raymond DeLancey Hasbrouck and Olive Halladay. As the son of a Naval officer frequently away from home, Jan spent much of his youth with his mother at their home in Chestnut Hills, near Boston, Massachusetts. Although there are some gaps in the knowledge of his educational career, it is known that he attended school at St. Cyrians from 1921 to 1925. By his own account, he began his career as a journalist with the Boston Herald newspaper in 1936 and later wrote for the New York Herald Tribune, European Edition beginning in 1945. He also contributed articles to such publications as "The New Republic" and "Foreign Policy Bulletin." As a journalist, he reported primarily on economic affairs of Europe and colonial Africa, with an emphasis on the European Common Market (the forerunner of the European Union).

On June 10, 1939, he married Virginia Field, born at Montpelier, Vermont, August 5, 1912, the daughter of Edward Davenport Field and Ethel DeBoer. Jan Hasbrouck and Virginia Field had no children. [1] Following the end of World War II, Hasbrouck and his wife moved to Paris, where he continued to work as a journalist, although at the time of this writing no information concerning his professional life is available after 1962. Hasbrouck was also an avid pleasure sailor and wrote articles for the sailing publication, "The Rendevous," based out of Annapolis, Maryland. Along with his wife, he wrote a handbook for Americans living in France, but it is unknown whether this book was every published. Jan Hasbrouck died in Arlington, Virginia in November 1983. [2]

Collection Description
 

The collection documents both the professional and personal aspects of Jan Hasbrouck's life from his birth in 1911 to the early 1960s. The core of the collection lies in the reprints and clippings of articles on economics and international politics that Hasbrouck published in various magazines and newspapers, including Foreign Policy Review, The New Republic, the Boston Herald, the Paris Post, and the New York Herald Tribune. Spending his working life as a journalist, Jan Hasbrouck primarily wrote about the economic and political affairs of Europe following the end of World War II, the economic development of then colonial Africa and the subsequent founding of the European Common Market, which later became the European Union. Writing from the end of World War II in 1945 to the 1960s from his home base in Paris, France, he reported on the initial issues which led to the foundation of the European Common Market, and follows its growth with the addition of new members, including the steps which Great Britain went through to join. In terms of history, the papers are an important source on this subject. In addition to these professional writings, the collection also includes personal letters written to his wife during his many travels; unpublished articles about pleasure sailing, a handbook titled ãHow to Live in France,ä and a brief narrative of his own family and personal academic and early professional career. The remainder of the collection consists of photographs of his childhood, schooling, family members, office, and vacations.

The physical condition of the papers varies, with the newspapers and occasional other papers showing severe damage from yellowing and fading, while others are in much better shape. The photographs are generally in good condition, although some are severely curled. The large majority of the texts are printed, and the handwriting, which is only found infrequently, is legible.

Series Description

Series 1: Writings (1916-1962)

This series includes both the professional and personal writings of Jan Hasbrouck. Among these papers are letters written to his wife Virginia during his professional travels, bound copies of newspapers in which Jan published columns and articles, reprints of articles published in professional journals, a hand book titled ãHow to Live in France,ä and newsletters and unpublished articles on sailing, and a narrative about the history of his immediate family and his own academic and professional career. The series is organized into two subseries: Filed Papers, and Bound Volumes.

Series 2: Photographs and Photograph Albums (ca. 1911-1979)

Photographs, both loose and in albums of spanning the life of Jan Hasbrouck from his infancy to the early 1960s, including family vacations, individual portraits, school scenes, office and scenes, and while aboard his yacht. There are also several portraits of Jan's wife, Virginia Field dating from from ca. 1925, the 1940s, and 1979. Other items of interest include a photographic essay of travel in Europe (1949-1950), two humorous photographs of Jan Hasbrouck and others taken at a site of German military wreckage (1945), and a yearbook from Deerfield Academy (1928).

Box and Folder List
 

Box 1
Subseries 1: Filed Papers (1916-1962)

Correspondence (1945-1958 scattered)
Economics articles (ca. 1940s -ca. 1950s)
Family narrative (1935
Foreign Policy Bulletin reprints (1958-1960)
"How to Live in France" handbook text (1952)
Miscellaneous newspaper and magazine articles (1944-1962)
Miscellaneous papers (1916-1945)
New Republic magazine reprints (1948)
Sailing articles (ca. 1945 -ca. 1950s)
Ship Sailing Log (1949)

Box 2
Series 1: Writings (1916-1962)
Subseries 2: Bound Volumes (1936-1962)

Scrapbook, news clippings on international politics (1936)
Toward One Europe newspaper column clippings (1960-1962)

Box 3
Series 1: Writings (1916-1962)
Subseries 2: Bound Volumes

New York Herald Tribune, European Edition reprints (1949-1953)
Paris Post reprints (1945-1946) - two volumes

Box 4
Series 2: Photographs and Photograph Albums (1911-1979)

Photograph Albums:
Deerfield Academy Yearbook (1928)
Family, travel, school, friends (1922-1933)
Jan Hasbrouck's childhood (1911- ca. 1918)
School scenes (ca.1920)

Folders of loose photographs:
Jan Hasbrouck and his mother Olive Hasbrouck (ca. 1920)
Jan Hasbrouck, Kieth Jennison, etc. (among German military wreckage, 1945)
Marrakech and Rabat , Morrocco (ca. 1950s)
Virginia Field (Hasbrouck) (ca. 1930)

Miscellaneous Photographs (ca. 1920 -1979)

Photographic Essay, travel to Europe (1949-1950)

Notes
 

[1] Hasbrouck, Kenneth E. The Hasbrouck Family in America with European Background, 3rd Edition. Huguenot Historical Society, New Paltz, N.Y. (1986), p. 480.

[2] Information on Jan Hasbrouck's death was found at the internet web site of the Church of the Latter Day Saints. http://www.familysearch.org.