Collection Summary
Robert R. Nathan Associates Records 1950-1966
1950-1957
1950-1966
1950-1957
MSS49981
Robert R. Nathan Associates
7,600 items
36 containers
14.4 linear feet
English
Collection material in English
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
International economic consulting firm.
Correspondence, memoranda, journals, travel diaries, reports, statistical materials,
technical and legal documents, speeches, writings, printed matter, and miscellaneous
subject files documenting Robert R. Nathan Associates’s administration of an economic
development plan for the government of Burma from 1951 to 1957.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Mahā Chve, 1915-
Nathan, Robert R. (Robert Roy), 1908-2001. Robert R. Nathan travel diaries. 1952-1959.
Ne Vaṅʻʺ, Ūʺ, 1911-2002.
Nu, U, 1907-1995.
Singer, H. W. (Hans Wolfgang), 1910-2006.
Walinsky, Louis Joseph, 1908-2001.
Organizations
Robert R. Nathan Associates.
Subjects
Agriculture--Burma.
Communication and traffic--Burma.
Economic development--Burma.
Industries--Burma.
International economic relations.
Mines and mineral resources--Burma.
Taxation--Burma.
Technical assistance--Burma.
Transportation--Burma.
Places
Burma--Commerce.
Burma--Economic conditions--1948-
Burma--Economic policy--20th century.
Burma--Foreign relations--1948-
Burma--History--1948-
Burma--Politics and government--1948-
Burma--Social conditions--20th century.
Acquisition Information
The records of Robert R. Nathan Associates, international economic consulting firm, were
given to the Library of Congress by the organization in 1972.
Processing History
The records of Robert R. Nathan Associates were processed in 1972. The finding aid was
revised in 2014.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Robert R. Nathan Associates is
governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The records of Robert R. Nathan Associates are open to research. Researchers are advised
to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored
off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Container number, Robert R. Nathan Associates Records, Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Robert R. Nathan
Date
Event
1908, Dec. 25
Born, Dayton, Ohio
1931
Graduated, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.
1939
Joined Commerce Department
1942
Became chairman, War Production Board planning committee
1946
2000
Founder and chairman, Robert R. Nathan Associates, which conducted studies for
industry associations, federal agencies, and clients of foreign governments,
including Burma, El Salvador, Israel and Vietnam
1957
1959
Chairman, Americans for Democratic Action
1968
Advisor to presidential campaign of Hubert H. Humphrey
2001, Sept. 4
Died, Bethesda, Md.
Scope and Content Note
The records of Robert R. Nathan Associates span the years 1950-1966, with the bulk of
the material concentrated in the period 1950-1957 while the organization, first under
contract with the Agency for International Development and subsequently supported by the
government of Burma (now Myanmar), formulated an economic development plan for that
country. Centered in Rangoon, a team of Nathan Associates economists assisted the
Burmese government devise economic and social development plans, establish a tax system,
and institute efficient public services. The collection consists of correspondence,
memoranda, journals, reports, statistical materials, technical and legal documents,
speeches, writings, printed matter, and miscellaneous subject files documenting the work
of the organization. Also included are travel diaries of Robert R. Nathan, founder and
chairman of the organization, and materials relating to a book on Robert R. Nathan
Associates by Louis J. Walinksy, director of the project.
Among the main tropics treated are Burmese agricultural development, trade and industry,
transportation and communications, mineral development, political relations and social
services, technical assistance, and economic progress. Individuals represented as
correspondents or subjects include economist H. W. Singer and Burmese leaders Mahā Chve,
U Ne Van, and U Nu.
Arrangement of the Papers
The collection is organized by topic or type of material.
Catalog Record: [https://lccn.loc.gov/mm82049981]
Container List
Container
Contents
1
PFI foreign loans, etc.
1
Reparations
1
Agreement and mechanism
1
Gass reports
1
General
1
Japan
1
Utilization
1
Walinsky, Louis J., background matter
1
Chapter 10
1
Chapters 26-30
(5 folders)
2
Chapters 31-35
(4 folders)
2
Walinksy, Louis J.
2
Burma II, 1953-1955
1953-1955
2
Reports
2
1956
1956
3
1957-1959
1957-1959
(3 folders)
3
Agriculture
3
Aerial survey
3
Agriculture Rural Development Corp.
3
Contour
3
Credit
3
Coops general
3
Department budget
4
Exchange earnings and outlook
4
Extension activities
4
Fertilizers
4
Field trips
4
File cabinet indexes
4
Fish
4
General
4
Ground nuts
4
Irrigation
4
Joint ventures with Israel
4
Labor
4
Land nationalization
4
Machinery and mechanization
4
Marketing
4
Miscellaneous correspondence
4
Opium
4
Planning and organization
4
Projects
4
Research
4
Rice
4
Cargill
4
Export outlook and program
4
1951-1956
1951-1956
(3 folders)
5
1957-1960
1957-1960
5
FAO reports and meeting
5
Long-term improvement program
5
Miscellaneous
5
State agricultural bank
5
Statistics and census
5
Sugar
5
Taxation
6
Cabinet and sub-cabinet agencies
6
Construction and housing
6
Materials
6
National Housing Board
6
Neutral policies
6
Statistics
6
Corporation of Rangoon
6
Development institutions
6
Film board
6
Forestry and timber
6
Bamboo strips
6
Export marketing
6
General
6
Marketing
6
Reports
(2 vols.)
6
State Timber Board
6
Teak
6
Hotels and tourism
(2 folders)
6
Burma II office correspondence
6
Contracts
6
1951-1953
1951-1953
7
1957-1961
1957-1961
(2 folders)
7
Wholesale and retail trade
7
Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture
7
Burma II office diary copies
7
Contract termination
7
General
7
International Cooperation Administration
7
Report, integrated forests and industries
7
Transportation communications
7
Aviation
7
Telecommunications
7
Water
(4 folders)
8
Burma contract IV
8
Walinsky, Louis J., reports and correspondence,
1961
1961
8
Reports
8
Bound (2 groups of material)
8
General, 1955-1959 (5 items)
8
Standing Committee for Supervision and
Coordination
9
Government studies
9
Kalewa Coal Project, Nathan Associates report
9
Transportation-communication
9
Aviation
9
Highways
(3 folders)
9
Motor vehicles
9
Ports and wharves
9
General
9
Port of Rangoon
9
Postal development
9
Rail
9
Burma Railway
9
Refrigerated service
9
Rate structure
9
General
9
Laughlin report
9
Shipping
9
Technical assistance
9
Mahā Chve (Burmese prime minister)
9
United Nations
10
U Nu (Burmese prime minister)
10
Mission to U.S.
10
Visit to U.S.
10
U.S. private
10
Washington to Rangoon correspondence
10
Chronological file, 1957
1957
11
“Economic Survey of Burma,” 1951-1966 (10 items)
11
Burma office correspondence, 1954
1954
12
Burma general
12
Burmese officials correspondence
12
Tax research and administration
12
Technical assistance
12
U Hla Maung (Burmese diplomat and lawyer)
12
Stanford Research Institute
12
Tun Thin (Burmese government official)
12
Frank Trager
12
Industry
12
Advisory commissions
12
Asbestos cement sheeting
12
Brick and tile
12
Cement
12
Cottage and small scale
12
Development and plans
12
Distillery and brewery
12
Domestic miscellaneous
12
Electric motors and fans
12
Fertilizers
12
Glass
12
Domestic development corporations
13
Joint ventures
13
Jute
13
Industrial Development Corp
13
Massachusetts Institute of Technology studies
13
Miscellaneous
13
Pharmaceuticals
13
Plants, projects, proposals
13
Plywood
13
Projects, general
13
Pulp and paper
13
General
13
Mill project
13
Other proposals
13
Parsons and Whittemore proposal
13
Projects, other countries
13
World peace outlook
13
Rice
13
Byproducts
(3 folders)
13
Milling
13
Rubber
13
Salt
13
Saw milling
14
Sericulture
14
State enterprises
14
State Industrial Research Institute
14
Statistics
14
Steel
14
Sugar
14
Byproducts
14
General
14
Task forces
14
Cotton factory
14
General
14
Jute
14
Pharmaceutical factor
14
Textiles
14
Truck assembly
14
Union of Burma Applied Research Institute
14
Wheat flour milling
14
Information
14
Bibliographies
14
Book reviews
14
Burma trips, Walinsky
14
Burmese press
15
Business associations
15
Clippings
15
1954-1961
1954-1961
(2 folders)
15
Extraordinaire
15
Constitution
15
Correspondence
15
Creshkoff trip to Burma
15
General
15
Government
15
U Ne Van (Burmese general and prime
minister)
15
Officials
15
Singer, H. W.
15
U Nu, 1960
1960
15
Economic programs and outlook
15
Magazine articles
15
Miscellaneous
16
Orientation overseas staff
16
Prime minister, U Nu
16
General
16
Speech, 1957
1957
16
Speeches
16
Problems of technical assistance
16
Technical personnel in Burma
16
Insurance
16
General
16
Union of Burma Insurance Board
16
International trade
16
Balance of payments
16
Barter trade and credit agreements
16
Commerce Development Corp.
16
Exports
16
General
16
Market research, intelligence promotion
16
Imports
16
Czechoslovakia
16
General, 1955-1958
1955-1958
17
Joint venture trading companies
17
Open general license
17
Policies and procedures
17
Programs and implementation
17
Special programs
17
Statistics
17
General
17
Pl 480 type products
17
Textiles
17
Yugoslavia
17
India-Burma
17
Port traffic
17
Tariff policies
17
Trade agreements
17
Trends
17
Joint ventures
17
Columbia university study
17
Japan
17
Legislation, Special Company Act, 1950
17
Management
17
Audits
17
Contracts
17
Government economic services
17
Pricing policy
17
Public administration and management
17
Public service
17
Civil Supplies Management Board
17
General
17
State enterprises
18
Mineral development
18
Burma Corp.
18
Burma mines
18
Coal
18
Field trips
18
General
18
Government policy
18
Iron
18
Joint ventures
18
General
18
Standard Ore and Alloys Corp.
18
Lead
18
Mineral Resources Development Corp.
18
Minerals
18
General
18
Prices
18
Opportunities
18
Petroleum
18
Burma Oil Corp.
18
General
18
Precious and semiprecious stones
18
Production and exports
18
Tin
18
Tungsten
18
United States
18
Department of Commerce
18
Firms
18
Study missions
18
Wax
19
Private Industry
19
Foreign proposals
19
General
19
Government of Burma policies
19
International treaties
19
Minerals development policies
19
General
19
Joint venture proposals
19
U.S. minerals conference, 1957
1957
19
Opportunities
19
Procurement agencies
19
Procurement policies
19
State Central Stores Board
19
Union of Burma Purchase Board
19
Production, income, consumption
19
Consumer expenditures
19
General
19
Surveys
19
Gross national product and national income
19
Projected capital-output ratios
19
Savings and investments
19
Public and political relations
19
External
19
Burmese embassy
19
Speech material
19
Washington, D.C.
19
Formosa
20
General
20
Government of Burma speeches
20
Missions to the U.S.
20
Relations with
20
Ghana
20
India
20
Israel
20
Thailand
20
United States
20
General
20
Organizations, Far East American
Council
20
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
20
Yugoslavia
20
See It Now
broadcast, Feb. 1951
Feb. 1951
20
Speech material
20
United Nations
20
Internal
20
Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom Party
20
Articles, newspaper
20
Business community
20
Cabinet
20
Corruption
20
General
20
Insurgency
20
KMT, Chinese Nationalist Soldiers, fighting
in Wu state
20
Opposition-criticism
20
Speeches
20
Pyidawtha grants
20
Reports
20
Central Statistics and Economic Department
20
Economic indicators
20
Economic survey
20
General
20
Industrial production index
20
National income
20
Quarterly report on economic progress
20
House, Phillip N.
20
Labor statistics
20
Progress reporting
20
Procedures
20
Reports
21
Reports, evaluations
21
Research
21
Social service
21
Education
21
General
21
Health
21
General
21
Training program
21
Housing
21
Special Projects Implementation Board
21
States (Burmese political divisions, similar to
provinces)
21
Finances
21
General
21
Technical assistance
21
Activity reports
21
Rangoon
21
Rangoon staff
21
B-H
(6 folders)
22
L-T
(9 folders)
22
Armour Research Foundation
22
Asia Foundation
23
Burmese embassy, Washington, D.C.,
1952-1958
1952-1958
(3 folders)
23
Contract termination
23
Contracts, foreign technicians
23
Correspondence with Burmese
23
Economic Development Institute
23
Ford Foundation
23
General
23
Management accounting
23
Foreign experts
23
Hagen, Everett
23
Israel
23
Knappen Tippetts Abbett Engineering Co.
(2 folders)
23
Maxwell Graduate School
23
Medical
23
Public relations
23
Rice for technicians agreement
23
Robert R. Nathan Associates activities
23
Burma miscellaneous
23
Miscellaneous
24
Political parties
24
Press conference, etc.
24
Rangoon
24
Washington, D.C.
24
Staff recruitment
24
Agricultural economist
24
Chief economist
24
Fiscal economic
24
Industrial economist
24
Miscellaneous
24
Statistical economist
24
Trips to Burma\
25
Walinsky, Louis J.
25
Special reports
25
Trip diaries
25
1952-1955
1952-1955
26
1955-1959
1955-1959
26
United States State Department
26
Washington, D.C., Burmese embassy
27
Printed matter
(42 items)
28
(11 items)
29
(6 items)
30
(36 items)
31
(11 items)
32
(7 items)
33
(38 items)
34
(27 items)
35
(5 items)
36
(24 items)