Davies, John Paton, 1908-1999

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John Paton Davies was born on April 6, 1908, in Kiating, China. He attended the University of Wisconsin in 1928 and 1929, and Yenching University in 1930. He received a B.S. from Columbia University in 1931. He was a Foreign Service officer for the Department of State, 1932 to 1954, serving in Canada, China, Burma, India, U.S.S.R., Germany, and Peru. In the 1950s, Davies was discredited and driven from the Foreign Service by Senator Joseph McCarthy. He settled with his family in Peru, where he ran a furniture business, Estilo S.A., 1956 to 1964, and won awards for his innovative designs. In 1964, he returned to Washington for a brief period of writing, then moved to Spain in the 1970s and wrote newspaper articles and gave lectures. In 1972, David Halberstam covered Davies' struggle with the State Department in his book, The Best and the Brightest. Davies died on December 23, 1999 in Asheville, North Carolina.

From the description of Davies, John Paton, 1908-1999 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10573605

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn John Foster Dulles Papers. 1950 - 1959. Personnel Files Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Ruth Fischer papers, 1925-1961 (inclusive) 1940-1961 (bulk) Houghton Library
creatorOf John Paton Davies Jr. Papers. 1916 - 1997. Chronological Files Harry S. Truman Library
referencedIn Nitze, Paul H. Papers, 1932-1989 (bulk 1946-1989). Library of Congress
referencedIn John S. Service papers, 1925-1999 Bancroft Library
referencedIn John S. Service papers, 1925-1999 Bancroft Library
referencedIn John Foster Dulles Papers. 1950 - 1959. Subject Files Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf John Paton Davies Jr. Papers. 1916 - 1997. Subject Files Harry S. Truman Library
referencedIn Paul H. Nitze Papers, 1922-1998, (bulk 1946-1996) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Fischer, Ruth, 1895- person
associatedWith Nitze, Paul H. person
associatedWith Nitze, Paul H. person
associatedWith Service, John S. (John Stewart), 1909-1999. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
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Person

Birth 1908-04-06

Death 1999-12-23

Americans

English

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Ark ID: w6gn1952

SNAC ID: 53115965