Francis X. (Frank) Sutton papers, 1922-2012
Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Sutton, Francis X. (Francis Xavier), Rockefeller Foundation, Social Science Research Council, and Ford Foundation
- Extent:
- 56.52 Cubic Feet 114 boxes: 111 legal document boxes, 3 record storage boxes.
- Language:
- English .
Background
- Scope and content:
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The Francis X. (Frank) Sutton papers primarily consist of material related to Sutton's time at the Ford Foundation, spanning his tenure as Assistant to the Vice President, Deputy Vice President, and his work writing the history of the Ford Foundation as a consultant. This collection documents Sutton's involvement beyond the Ford Foundation as well; it contains a substantial amount of information on the Aga Khan University in Pakistan, the Rockefeller Foundation and Bellagio Conference, and the Social Science Research Council (SSRC). Additionally, there is a small amount of material on the American Foundation for Intellectual Cooperation with Europe (AFICE) which documents its foundation and eventually, its termination. Personal files can be found at the end of the collection (Series 6) which consist of family correspondence, awards, publications, datebooks, and notebooks – most of which document Sutton's cross-organization involvement, travels, and projects.
- Biographical / historical:
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Francis X. Sutton was born on July 7, 1917 in Oneida, Pennsylvania. In 1938, he graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. Following his graduation, Dr. Sutton pursued graduate studies in mathematics at Princeton University, where he taught math and earned a Masters degree in 1940. He received a second Masters in Sociology from Harvard University in 1941. While studying in Cambridge, Dr. Sutton taught sociology at Suffolk University. From 1941 through 1945 he served as an aerial navigator and captain in the United States Army Air Force. Dr. Sutton returned to Harvard following the war and earned a PhD in Sociology in 1950. While pursuing his PhD, he was selected as a Junior Fellow of the Society of Fellows of Harvard University. From 1949 through 1954, Dr. Sutton lectured on Social Relations and served as an Assistant Professor in Sociology and General Education at Harvard. He also taught summer courses at Columbia University and the Salzburg Seminar in American Studies.
In July 1954, Dr. Sutton left academia for a position as Executive Associate in the Ford Foundation's Behavioral Sciences Program. He served in this capacity for three years until October 1957 when he became the Program Associate for the Overseas Development program's Near East and Africa division. In July 1963, Dr. Sutton transferred to the East and Central Africa office in Nairobi to serve as the Overseas Development Representative for the region. In February 1967, following the creation of the International Division the previous year, Dr. Sutton became the Assistant to the Vice President and by October 1968 was promoted to Deputy Vice President. Dr. Sutton served as Deputy Vice President throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. In 1977, he was also named Officer in Charge of the European and International Affairs program which formed part of the International Division. Dr. Sutton officially retired from his posts at the Ford Foundation in June 1983 but stayed on as a consultant for several years to compile a history of the Foundation's international work. Dr. Sutton served as Acting Director of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) for one year, commencing on October 1, 1985. From 1985 through 1992 Dr. Sutton served as both a member and chairman of the SSRC board and a consultant to several organizations and foundations including the Aga Khan and Aga Khan University, the Ford Foundation, World Bank, the Rockefeller Foundation, and USAID.
- Acquisition information:
- Collection donated by the Sutton family on September 12, 2013.
- Arrangement:
-
The Francis X. Sutton papers are arranged into six series:
1. Aga Khan University, 1972-2010
2. Ford Foundation, 1936-2012
2.1: Ford Foundation History Project, 1953-2010
3. Rockefeller Foundation, 1975-1997
3.1: Bellagio, 1975-1997
4. Social Science Research Council (SSRC), 1922-2009
5. American Foundation for Intellectual Cooperation with Europe (AFICE), 1983-1995
6. Personal Files, 1948-2010
6.1: Correspondence 1960-2010
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
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Open for research with select materials restricted as noted. Brittle or damaged items are available at the discretion of RAC. Researchers interested in accessing digital media (floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, etc.) or audiovisual material (audio cassettes, VHS, etc.) in this collection must use an access surrogate. The original items may not be accessed because of preservation concerns. To request an access surrogate be made, or if you are unsure if there is an access surrogate, please contact an archivist.
- Terms of access:
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RAC has title, copyright and literary rights to the papers in so far as it holds them.
- Location of this collection:
- Contact: