Leo P. Crespi Papers 1938-1999 (mostly 1940-1985)

Summary

---

Overview

---

Abstract

Leo Paul Crespi was a leading public opinion researcher best known for his studies of U.S. prestige abroad. The collection consists primarily of Crespi's public opinion research files and his early research files on gambling addiction.

Description

---

Description

This collection consists primarily of Crespi's public opinion research files and his early research files on gambling addiction. The papers document three periods in his career: Crespi's Princeton years, his public opinion research in Germany, and his career at the United States Information Agency as head of research. Document types include reports, correspondence, notes, and photographs.

Collection Creator Biography

Leo Paul Crespi was a leading public opinion researcher best known for his studies of U.S. prestige abroad. During his early career, Crespie wrote his Ph.D thesis at Princeton on gambling and addiction, describing what is now known as the Crespi Effect. Crespi graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1937 and received a doctorate in comparative psychology from Princeton University in 1942. He taught at Princeton for eight years following his graduation. From 1947-1953, Crespi conducted a U.S. government survey of public opinion in post-war Germany, and served as the President of the World Association for Public Opinion Research (WAPOR) from 1955-1956. He joined the U.S. Information Agency (USIA) in 1954, and for the following 32 years he directed USIA's program of opinion surveys, focusing especially on Western Europe. A classified report of Crespi's on French and British public opinion of the U.S. received wide attention in 1960 when it was leaked to the New York Times. The report supported statements made by John F. Kennedy about the United States' declining prestige abroad and was subsequently seen as a favorable influence on Kennedy's presidential bid.

Collection History

---

Acquisition

Gift of Jeffrey Crespi in 2008 [ML.2008.025].

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Kate Dundon in 2011. Finding aid revised by Kate Dundon in June 2011.

Sponsorship

These papers were processed with the generous support of the John Foster and Janet Avery Dulles Fund.

Access and Use

---

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Curator of the Public Policy Papers. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Box 16 contains magnetic tapes and photographic slides. Access to this material follows the Mudd Manuscript Library policy for preservation and access to audiovisual materials. Please see our Audio Visual Policy for more information.

Preferred Citation

Leo P. Crespi Papers; 1938-1999 (mostly circa 1940-1985), Public Policy Papers, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.

Find More

---

Topics

• Economic history

Subject Terms

• American Association for Public Opinion Research
• Foreign public opinion
• Gambling
• Public opinion
• Public opinion polls
• Tipping
• United States Information Agency
• World Association for Public Opinion Research

Genre Terms

• Color slides
• Magnetic tapes
• Photographs
• Records (documents)

Contents and Arrangement

---

Arrangement

Organized into the following sereis:

Series 1: Princeton Years, 1938-1999

Series 2: USIA Years, 1944-1999