Series 6: United Nations Country Files, 1935-1983

Cartwright created files or scrapbooks on each member country in the United Nations, which consist of correspondence with United Nations representatives and liaisons, publications, articles, newspaper clippings and UN materials that document the politics, culture, history, demographics and contemporary issues faced by each country—particularly in newly formed and newly independent nations, as well as information on various territories. The nation most represented in this section is Israel, which also contains materials related to the country’s relations with other newly independent nations, particularly in Africa. Of note within the files are materials about Israeli culture such as kibbutzim, collective communities around agriculture. Newspaper clippings related to Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, as well as articles and newspaper clippings about the Arab-Israeli and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, are included.

Nigeria is prominently represented within the files, as it is a country Cartwright visited often; she was personally close to many Nigerian leaders. The files contain invitations, clippings and guest lists, as well as correspondence between Cartwright and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Nigerian businessman and philanthropist Sir Mobalaji Bank-Anthony. These letters detail both personal and diplomatic issues. Of note is a 1969 letter from Azikiwe (under the name Zik) about his account of the Nigerian Civil War.

This series also contains materials related to Yugoslavia such as a run of the English version of the newsletter Yugoslavia Facts and Views, which was published by the Yugoslavia Information Center. These newsletters detail subjects such as the development of the country’s foreign trade, its stance on the United States’ bombing of Vietnam, economic reform and visits from foreign officials.

Notable items include a scrapbook about Jamaica containing greeting cards, invitations, press releases, photographs, notes and clippings that detail the country’s independence from Great Britain, withdrawal from the West Indies Federation and membership within the United Nations. Additionally materials documenting the election of labor leader Alexander Bustamente as prime minister, the return of Black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey’s remains from England, and Harlem Renaissance Jamaican poet Claude McKay can be found here. Other notable materials include reports and newspaper clippings about apartheid in South Africa and South Africa’s relations with other nations in southwest Africa.