Guide to the Francis J. McNamara papers, 1928-1997 C0024 Collection Number

Guide to the Francis J. McNamara papers, 1928-1997 C0024

Collection Number


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George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center

Fenwick Library, MS2FL
4400 University Dr.
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Business Number: 703-993-2220
Fax Number: 703-993-8911
speccoll@gmu.edu
URL: https://scrc.gmu.edu

Colva Weissenstein, Benjamin Ranta, Lucie Arabaszova, and Kelsey Willimgham

Repository
George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center
Identification
C0024
Title
Francis J. McNamara papers 1928-1997
Quantity
109.5 Linear Feet, 216 boxes
Creator
McNamara, Francis J., 1915-2007
Language
English .
Abstract
The Francis J. McNamara papers contains materials collected by Francis J. McNamara dating from 1928 to 1997 pertaining to American politics and culture during this period. The main concentration in this collection deals with national security with respect to the influence of Communism, the Civil Rights Movement, and the counterculture. It is comprised of newspaper and magazine articles, letters, memoranda and other personal documents, U.S. government documents, pamphlets, and other printed materials.

Administrative Information

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Preferred Citation

Francis J. McNamara papers, C0024, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University. George Mason University Libraries.

Acquisition Information

This collection was donated by Francis J. McNamara in four deposits during the period 1995 to 1998.

Processing Information

The Francis J. McNamara Papers were processed between 1995 and 2009 by Special Collections Research Center Staff. During this processing period, SCRC retained the donor's original filing scheme (alphabetical arrangement by subject/topic). A print finding aid (Francis J. McNamara collection: Finding Aid and Research Guide with Index) was initially published in 1997, which described the first 52 boxes. In 2007 the remaining portion of the collection was processed by Benjamin Ranta and Colva Weissenstein, and an EAD finding aid was prepared. Final processing was completed by David Arditi and Kelsey Willingham in 2008-2009. EAD revisions completed by David Arditi and Kelsey Willingham in 2008-2009.

Biographical Information

Francis John McNamara was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1915. After earning degrees at St. John's University in 1938 and Niagara University in 1939 (both in English), he joined the U.S. Army during World War II. He served in Asia in the China-Burma theater of operations as an intelligence officer and attained the rank of Major. After the war, married his wife of fifty-five years, Katherine Foley, and joined the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) assisting in the Jehol and Hupeh provinces of China.

When he returned to the United States in 1948, he went to work as a researcher for American Business Consultants, Inc., in New York City, a security firm and publisher of the anticommunist newsletter Counterattack. In January of 1950 he became editor of Counterattack where he remained until May of 1954. He then moved to Washington, D.C., to head the National Security Program of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). In 1958 he left the VFW to serve as a research analyst and consultant to the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC). In 1961 he became director of research at HUAC, and in 1962, its staff director. In 1970 he went to work for the Subversive Activities Control Board (SACB), where he served as executive secretary. In 1981 he became executive director of the Nathan Hale Foundation. He served as vice-chairman of the Security and Intelligence Foundation from 1987-90 and was a senior fellow at the Center for Intelligence Studies in Arlington, Virginia. McNamara died on February 27, 2007 at the age of 91.

Scope and Content

The Francis J. McNamara Papers represent his lifelong career and study in the field of anticommunism and national security. Materials which comprise this collection track both his employment and interests during the period 1947-1997, including his work at American Business Consultants (1948-1954), the VFW (1954-1958), HUAC(1958-1969), SACB (1970-1973), and later consulting and editing work.

Types of materials include magazine and news clippings regarding subjects of interest to McNamara; final versions of U.S. government reports pertaining to investigations of individuals and/or organizations suspected of subversive activity; manuscript notes; correspondence both to and from McNamara; and pamphlets, journals and newsletters from both the left and right sides of the political spectrum covering the period 1928 through 1997.

Main subject areas include but are not limited to: domestic and foreign communism; the Cold War (i.e. the Soviet Bloc, China, Korea, Vietnam, and Latin America); espionage and intelligence; political and cultural figures; entertainment and news media; the antiwar movement; assassinations; and domestic groups (i.e. the Black Panthers, KKK, SNCC, and the Weather Underground).

The first series covers the first half of Francis McNamara's career, with collected material roughly covering the years 1928-1975. This series contains material from McNamara's career with the House Un-American Activities Committee in Congress and later with the Subversive Activities Control Board. The second series covers the second half of Francis McNamara's career, corresponding roughly with the dates 1976-1997. This series contains material from McNamara's career at the Hale Foundation and later work. The third series, consisting of one box, contains regalia and various artifacts such as stamps, notecards, and notebooks used by McNamara.

Arrangement

Organized into three series.

Series Series 1: Anti-Communism and Subversive Activities, 1928-1975 (Boxes 1-154) Series 2: National Security, 1976-1997 (Boxes 155-214) Series 3: Realia, 1950s (Box 215)

Related Material

Special Collections Research Center also holds a small collection of books from McNamara's personal library (283 titles in total). These can be found in the University Libraries catalog Catalog with a keyword search on "Francis J. McNamara collection".

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

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Significant Places Associated With the Collection

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Container List

Series 1: Anti-Communism and Subversive Activities
1928-1975
(154 boxes)
Scope and Contents note

The first series covers the first half of Francis McNamara's career, with collected material roughly covering the years 1928-1975. This series contains material from McNamara's career with the House Un-American Activities Committee in Congress and later with the Subversive Activities Control Board. This series is arranged alphabetically by folder title.

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Series 2: National Security
1976-1997
(60 boxes)
Scope and Contents note

The second series covers the second half of Francis McNamara's career, corresponding roughly with the dates 1976-1997. This series contains material from McNamara's career at the Hale Foundation and later work. This series is arranged alphabetically by folder title.

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Series 3: Regalia
1950s
(1 box)
Scope and Contents note

The third series, consisting of one box, contains regalia and various artifacts such as stamps, notecards, and notebooks used by McNamara. Items are loose within the box (no folders).

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