Series consists primarily of records related to Theodores's role as Resident Representative for Afghanistan between 1977 and 1980. Many of the records in this series appear to have been compiled by Theodores as either research or memory aids; they have been placed in plastic sleeves and, in many cases, given annotations in the form of sticky notes affixed to the front page of a document or group of documents that describe the document(s) or, in some cases, provide commentary. As part of these compilations,records relating to Afghanistan that were received or collected by Theodores previous or subsequent to his time as Resident Representative have also been included.
Series consists of records relating to the role and mission of the Resident Representative and its relationship with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) representative in Afghanistan. These records date back to the opening of the World Bank country office in Kabul, Afghanistan in 1969. Specifically, records relate to: the establishment of the Afghanistan Resident Mission in 1969; briefings on the country's military and political situation (including after the 1973 coup d'etat); the World Bank's role in Afghanistan; Theodores's assignment to Kabul, Afghanistan; the role and objectives of the Resident Mission in Afghanistan; the Mission's relationship and communications with the UNDP representatives regarding operations and security policy; and the diplomatic status of the Resident Representative.
Records related to Theodores's activities as Afghanistan Resident Representative are contained in a chronological file divided into sections according to topic (credentials/identification, receiving guests, health, insurance, taxes, and shipping) and correspondent (World Bank headquarters, family, and personal). Correspondence with World Bank colleagues relates to administration, staffing, travel, housing logistics, and expressions of congratulations or gratitude. Substantive discussion of ongoing or prospective lending operations or economic and sector work is minimal.
Series also consists of four maps of Afghanistan. These include two maps showing political regions (1976), a navigational map (1966), and a general map (1975).
Records compiled by Theodores that appear to be research or memory aids relate to a variety of topics, including: the origins and early days of the Soviet/Afghan war; World Bank security policy and updates; encryption of correspondence; evacuation guidelines; Afghan office budgeting; Bank and resident mission staffing;Theodores's emergency evacuation from Afghanistan in January 1980 for health reasons; assistance of Afghan nationals in communication with the American embassy; transfer of confidential records upon closure of the Kabul office; the Theodores family's final departure from Afghanistan in June, 1980; the closure of the World Bank's Kabul office; and updates on local office staff subsequent to Theodores's departure from Afghanistan. The majority of the records are from Theodores's time in Afghanistan, but somerecords date subsequent to his departure. Records are in the form of correspondence (typed, handwritten, telexes), reports, newspaper clippings, and Afghan government issuances.
Theodores compiled records related to the 1973 and 1978 coups and subsequent Soviet invasion in 1979 as well as the murder of United States Ambassador Adolph "Spike" Dubs in February 1979. These records primarily consist of correspondence between Theodores and Bank colleagues. Records also contain lengthy handwritten letters fromTheodores to his family. Speeches, decrees, and reports made by the various Afghan leadership regimes in 1978 and 1979 are also included.
In addition to correspondence, newspaper clippings from Afghanistan and from other international publications reporting on events in Afghanistan as well as editorials and speeches by external experts commenting on the events and future of Afghanistan are included. Included is a collection of materials related to the nearly decade-long conflict between Afghanistan and the Soviet Union and is primarily newspaper clippings and magazine articles.
Series also consists of three sets of photograph prints. The first consists of fifteen black and white prints depicting Afghani citizens and landscapes. The images appear to be shot by John Siceloff of the American Peace Corps and are not dated. The other two sets of photographs consist of ten color prints and three black and white prints depicting Afghani citizens, landscapes, and towns. Prints appear to have been sold and acquired by Theodores commercially.
A small amount of records related to a talk that Theodores gave at the Newport Public Library in 2002 on the past and future of Afghanistan are also included. Records include presentation notes, articles, and correspondence.
