Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1935 - 1986 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
4.40 linear feet of textual records; 60 photographs; 8 audio recordings
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Robert W. Oliver (1922-1998) was an economist who specialized in World Bank issues. A native of Los Angeles, California, he earned undergraduate and master's degrees from the University of Southern California and a Ph.D. from Princeton University. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Oliver taught at Pomona College in California, then in 1959 he joined the California Institute of Technology, where he remained for the rest of his career. In 1961 Oliver conducted a series of oral histories under contract to the World Bank, the first time that oral history had been used by the Bank; in the late 1980s he also conducted oral history interviews under contract to the Bank. During 1970-1971, while on leave from Caltech, he worked for the World Bank in the urban development sector and participated in Bank missions to Indonesia and Taiwan. He wrote four books on the World Bank and one on Indonesia that was informed by his work at the Bank.
After George D. Woods died, Louise Woods wanted a biography of him written. According to the Preface in Oliver's biography of Woods, George Woods and the World Bank, a mutual friend introduced her to Oliver, and they subsequently agreed that Oliver would undertake the biography.
Repository
Archival history
As the authorized biographer, Oliver was given some of Woods' photographs and memorabilia and was permitted to select and take to California a part of the George D. Woods papers that were destined for Columbia University. He also conducted interviews with family, friends and business associates of Woods.
In 1995 Oliver sent his Woods materials (interviews, clippings, memorabilia, photographs) to the Bank. The original George D. Woods papers that Oliver had had in California were also sent to the Bank, where copies were made. For further information on the copying of the papers, see the description in the series Copies of George D. Woods used for the biography (WB IBRD/IDA WOODS-03).
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated by Robert W. Oliver
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The collection includes copies of the oral interviews Oliver conducted in preparing his biography and copies of a portion of the Woods papers that he had at his disposal when writing the biography. It also contains the clippings files that George Woods maintained during his failed attempt to become the head of the Agency for International Development in 1961 and his successful appointment as head of the World Bank in 1962. Original photographs of George and Louise Woods and copies of photographs from various sources, including the World Bank, are included. The copy photographs were made for reproduction in Oliver's biography of George Woods, and many are annotated by Oliver. A small quantity of memorabilia and published materials relating to both George D. and Louise Woods is included.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Interviews are subject to the conditions in the donor's instrument of gift for each interview and to the World Bank Policy on Access to Information.
Conditions governing reproduction
Records are subject to the Copyright Policy of the World Bank Group.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Oliver, Robert W., George Woods and the World Bank. Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner, 1995.
Publication note
Oliver, Robert W., George Woods and the World Bank. Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner, 1995.
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
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Subject access points
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Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Internal World Bank Group Archives rules based on ISAD(G).
Disclosure status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
11 August 2003, 24 August 2007