Contents and Arrangement Expanded View
Online

Collection Overview

Creator:
Krock, Arthur, 1886-1974
Title:
Arthur Krock Papers
Repository:
Public Policy Papers
Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/7p88cg543
Dates:
1909-1974 (mostly 1930-1974)
Size:
96 boxes
Storage Note:
  • Mudd Manuscript Library (scamudd): Box 1-96
Language:
English

Abstract

Arthur Krock (1886-1974) had a long and distinguished career as a journalist, working for much of his career as Washington correspondent and columnist for The New York Times. His column "In the Nation" was noted for its depth of information and analysis, especially on American politics. The Krock papers document his journalism career, especially with The New York Times, and include his correspondence, his writings, and biographical materials.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

The Krock papers document his journalism career, especially with The New York Times, and include his correspondence, his writings, and biographical materials. Krock's correspondence is with political figures, businessmen, academics, and his readers about American politics and government, journalism, and Krock's career. The papers also include memoranda by Krock recording his interactions with public figures as Washington correspondent for The New York Times. Other papers include photographs, biographical material, and memorabilia related to awards and other recognition Krock received for his journalism.

Please see the series descriptions in the contents list for additional information about individual series.

Collection Creator Biography:

Krock, Arthur, 1886-1974

Arthur Krock (1886-1974) had a long and distinguished career as a journalist, working for much of his career as Washington correspondent and columnist for The New York Times. His column "In the Nation" was noted for its depth of information and analysis, especially on American politics. Krock also worked as a reporter and editor at several Louisville newspapers and the New York World.

Arthur Krock was born on November 16, 1886 in Glasgow, Kentucky to Joseph and Caroline (Morris) Krock. He began study at Princeton University in 1904, but was forced to leave after his first semester due to the financial difficulties of his family. He then attended college at the Lewis Institute in Chicago for two years, earning an Associate in Arts degree in 1906, and returned to Louisville with the intention of securing a newspaper job. He was hired as a reporter at the Louisville Herald, where he covered the national political conventions at Chicago and Denver, his first experience reporting on national politics, after which he was assigned to cover Kentucky politics. Krock had to leave the Herald in 1908 when the newspaper reorganized and worked briefly as a deputy sheriff in Jefferson Country, Kentucky before becoming night editor for the Associated Press in Louisville.

In 1910, Krock went to Washington, D.C. for the first time as Washington correspondent for the Louisville Times. In 1911, he became Washington correspondent for the Louisville Courier-Journal as well, both papers being edited and partly owned by the same man. In 1915, Krock returned to Louisville to serve as editorial manager on both papers, working for Colonel Henry Watterson. Krock traveled to France for the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, where he wrote syndicated articles for several newspapers and was one of the journalists who convinced the Peace Conference to open its sessions to the public. Krock was made an officer in the French Legion of Honor for his coverage of the conference.

Krock became editor in chief of the Louisville Times in 1919, which was purchased by Judge Robert W. Bingham. He took time off to assist the chairman of the Democratic National Committee of New York in 1920, the only time in his career that he participated directly in politics. Krock remained at the Louisville Times until the fall of 1923, when he left for New York after differing with Bingham over editorial policy. He first took a job outside of journalism, working in public relations as assistant for Will H. Hays, head of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America. While in this position, he was asked to write a few editorials by Frank I. Cobb, editor of the New York World, which lead to his appointment in 1923 as assistant to Ralph Pulitzer, president of the World. Krock remained there until 1927, when he left to join the editorial staff of The New York Times.

In 1932, Krock became the Times' Washington correspondent and head of the Washington bureau. Much of his subsequent writing was for his column "In the Nation," which is published on the Times' editorial page from 1933 until he retired in 1966, as well as writing on important events for the Times. His views on political, social, and economic issues were generally conservative, and "In the Nation" became widely regarded as a major voice of conservative America, while still maintaining independence from any political agenda. The column provided detailed information on current issues, along with critical analysis. In his writings, Krock supported the State Department's international policies, but beginning in 1936 became a critic of and authority on the economic policies of the Roosevelt Administration, the New Deal. Krock covered many fields, including foreign policy, but predominantly wrote about American politics. He wrote the "lead" story for the Times for every biennial election from 1932 to 1952. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1935 for his excellence as Washington correspondent for his coverage of the beginning of the New Deal, and won again in 1938 for his exclusive interview with President Roosevelt. He also received a special commendation from the Pulitzer awards board for his interview of President Harry S. Truman in 1950 and a special citation in 1955 for distinguished correspondence from Washington. Krock retired from The New York Times in 1966, but continued to go to his office at the bureau, working on several books. In 1968, he published Memoirs: 60 Years on the Firing Line. He also wrote The Consent of the Governed and Other Deceits (1971) and Myself When Young: Growing Up in the 1890s (1974).

Arthur Krock married Marguerite Polleys on April 22, 1911 and they had one son, Thomas Polleys Krock. Marguerite Krock died in 1938. Krock married Martha Granger Blair on June 14, 1939. She had two sons, William Granger Blair and Robert H. Blair, from a previous marriage. Krock died on April 12, 1974 at the age of 87.

Collection History

Acquisition:

This collection was donated by Arthur Krock in December 1968 and October 1969 , with an addition from Lucian Pera in June 1982 .

Appraisal

No appraisal information is available.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, any copyright vested in the donor has passed to The Trustees of Princeton University and researchers do not need to obtain permission, complete any forms, or receive a letter to move forward with use of donor-created materials within the collection. For materials in the collection not created by the donor, or where the material is not an original, the copyright is likely not held by the University. In these instances, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have a question about who owns the copyright for an item, you may request clarification by contacting us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Credit this material:

Arthur Krock Papers; Public Policy Papers, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/7p88cg543
Location:
Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library
65 Olden Street
Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
(609) 258-6345
Storage Note:
  • Mudd Manuscript Library (scamudd): Box 1-96

Find More

Related Materials

Collections at the Mudd Manuscript Library of particular relevance to the Arthur Krock Papers include the papers of several individuals who corresponded with Krock, including John Foster Dulles, Ferdinand Eberstadt, and James V. Forrestal, and the papers of several journalists, including David Lawrence, Joseph Howard, and Charles W. Thompson.

Bibliography

The following sources were consulted during the preparation of the biographical note: Belair, Felix, Jr. "60 Years a Journalist." The New York Times, April 13, 1974. "Krock, Arthur" from Current Biography. New York: H. W. Wilson Company, 1943.

Subject Terms:
Journalism -- Awards -- United States.
Journalists -- United States.
Journalists -- Washington (D.C.)
New Deal, 1933-1939.
Newspaper publishing -- New York (N.Y.)
Political conventions -- United States.
Presidents -- United States -- Correspondence.
Press and politics -- United States.
Pulitzer prizes.
Genre Terms:
Correspondence
Writings.
Names:
Paris Peace Conference 1919-1920
Krock, Arthur, 1886-1974
Places:
United States -- Economic policy -- 20th century.
United States -- Foreign relations -- 20th century.
United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century.