Civilian Agency Records RG 239

State Department and Foreign Affairs Records

Records of the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas (The Roberts Commission), 1943–1946 (RG 239)

The American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas, also known as the Roberts Commission, was established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 23, 1943, when he appointed Associate Justice Owen J. Roberts to chair the Commission. The Commission cooperated with the U.S. Army in protecting cultural treasures and gathered information about war damage to such treasurers, and compiled data on cultural property appropriated by the Axis Powers and encouraged is restitution. It was abolished on June 30, 1946 [Note 14]. Researchers interested in matters relating to art/cultural restitution matters will find many useful documents in this Record Group.

In 1942, various civilian groups began to make plans to protect Europe’s cultural monuments when the areas in which they were located should subject to Allied occupation. that fall, the President of the Archaeological Institute of America, the President of the College Art Association, and the Directors of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and Washington’s National Gallery of Art approached Harlan F. Stone, Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, with a proposal to establish a government commission to protect and salvage European artistic and historical monuments. These individuals also contacted the Chief of the War Department’s Civil Affairs Division, as well as the Army Air Intelligence Service, to enlist their support.

On December 8, 1942, Chief Justice Stone wrote President Roosevelt to ask his support for a plan to establish a government body that would protect and conserve artworks, historic monuments, and important papers in Europe, as well as making restitution of such works to their lawful owners. Stone also suggested that the British and Soviet governments be requested to consider the establishment of similar bodies. Roosevelt wrote Stone on December 28 th that he had referred the proposal to the appropriate agencies for study. In a second letter, dated April 23, 1943, Roosevelt informed Stone that the proposal had won the support of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and approaches were being made to the British and Soviet governments.

On June 21, 1943, Secretary of State Cordell Hull wrote to the President, reporting that a special section had been set up in the School of Military Government to train certain officer-specialist who could be assigned to army staffs to advise commanding officers regarding cultural monuments and historic artworks in war zones. Hell also suggested the appointment of “The American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in Europe” to advise and work with the School of Military Government, and included a list of prospective members. During the war, the Commission was to work with the Army to protect works of cultural value in Allied-occupied areas, and to compile lists of property appropriated by the Axis powers. After the war, the Commission was to urge that restitution in kind be made by the Axis powers for such works as might have been destroyed, to compile a list of equivalent works in Axis countries that could be used as compensation, and to urge that property appropriated by Axis powers be returned. The Commission would be quartered in the National Gallery of Art in order to facilitate contact with the Departments of War and State. Roosevelt approved the creation of the Commission on June 23, 1943.

On August 20, 1943, the Department of State announced the establishment of the Commission, with Owen J. Roberts, a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, as chairman; David E. Finley, Director of the National Gallery of Art and a member of the Commission of Fine Arts, as vice-chairman; and Huntington Cairns, Secretary-Treasurer of the National Gallery, as secretary-treasurer. The other original members of the Commission were Herbert H. Lehman, Director of the Foreign Relief and Rehabilitation Operations, which became the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA); Archibald MacLeish, Librarian of Congress; William Bell Dinsmoor, President of the Archaeological Institute of America; Dr. Francis Henry Taylor, Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and President of the Association of Art Museum Directors; Dr. Paul J. Sachs, Associate Director of Harvard University's Fogg Museum of Fine Arts; and the Honorable Alfred E. Smith of New York. Smith was succeeded upon his death by Archbishop (later Cardinal) Francis J. Spellman of New York. MacLeish resigned from the Commission upon his appointment as Assistant Secretary of State in January 1945.

As a result of Navy Department requests that the Commission prepare maps and lists of areas in the Far East containing cultural and historic monuments, the Commission officially changed its name to “The American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas.”

Special advisers and many volunteers assisted the Commission from the beginning. John Walker, chief Curator of the National gallery of Art, was named Special Adviser to the Commission upon its creation. Dr. Sumner McK. Crosby of Yale University served in that capacity from September 1944. Horace H.F. Jayne of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York was appointed Special Adviser on matters concerning the Far East in April 1945. Rensselaer W. Smith of Smith College and the Institute for Advance Study, Princeton, New Jersey, was appointed Consultant of the Commission in May 1945, and worked with it in Washington until July of that year. John A Gilmore served as the Commission’s Administrative Officer and Assistant Secretary-Treasurer from September 1943 to June 1945; Charles H. Sawyer from July to December 1945; Charles Seymour, Jr., from December 1945 to February 1946; and Lamont Moore from February to June 1946.

During the war, the Commission was instrumental in the establishment by the War Department of a Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives program to protect cultural materials in war areas, under the Civil Affairs Division. It recommended to the War Department men already in the armed forces who had the training and experience to carry out the formulated plans. Working through the American Defense-Harvard Group [Note 15] and the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Treasures in War Areas of the American Council of Learned Societies [Note 16] (two independent civilian groups established before its creation), the Commission supplied the armed forces with over 700 maps of the important cultural centers and regions of Allied and enemy countries, both in Europe and the Far East, on which artistic and historic monuments and cultural deposits had been located and described in accompanying lists. The Commission also prepared and distributed lists and handbooks to Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFA&A) officers in the field to aid them in preparing official lists of sites and monuments to be protected. Commission members gave lectures on the care and preservation of artworks, monuments, and records for Civil Affairs officers during the early days of Military Government schools. The Commission’s staff correlated all reports from Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives officers and made the information derived from them available to government agencies, scholars, and students. The Commission also gathered information on available qualified civilian personnel to replace military personnel when Military Governments was transferred to civilian hands.

The American Commission cooperated with Commissions established in the Allied countries for analogous purposes and with the Department of State in considering problems relating to the restitution of cultural materials. It was instrumental in effecting the restitution of identifiable looted public artworks found in the American Zone in Germany to the owner governments. The Commission cooperated in the formation of a special unit within the Office of Strategic Services specifically concerned with the investigation of enemy personnel suspected of participating in art looting activities. The Commission cooperated with several other federal agencies in investigating German assets abroad, insofar as these assets involved cultural materials, and enemy art looting activities in Europe and their relationship to enemy activities in the Western Hemisphere. the Commission recommended to the Treasury Department the establishment of a system of customs controls to prevent looted art from being imported into the United States, and examined the special licenses required for the importation of cultural material.

In April 1944, the Inter-Allied Commission for the Protection and Restitution of Cultural Material (Vaucher Commission) was established under the chairmanship of Prof. Paul Vaucher as a subcommission of the Conference of Allied Ministers of Education. Composed of representatives of the varied Allied governments, the Vaucher Commission had as its purpose the study of problems relating to protection, restitution, and reparations and the collection and organization of information relating to looting for the eventual use of SHAEF and particularly of its Civil Affairs Section. This was the agency with the Commission’s representatives abroad were at first chiefly concerned. The secretariat of the Vaucher Commission functioned as a central bureau for information on looted objects supplied by the different national commissions and issued lists of looted objects for the use of Monuments officers until its dissolution in November 1945.

The British Committee on Preservation and Restitution of Works of Art, Archives, and Other Material in Enemy Hands, generally known as the McMillan Committee after its chairman, Lord McMillan, was established in May 1944, as a counterpart to the American Commission. It differed from the latter chiefly in that its terms of reference limited its interest primarily to problems of restitution and reparation, leaving the question of protection solely to the military authorities. French, Belgian, and Dutch Commissions were formed in the wake of their countries liberation from German occupation.

The final meeting of the American Commission was held on June 20, 1946, in the Morris Building in Philadelphia. The Commission’s activities were brought to a close by providing for continuation of its work by the offices for Germany-Austria and for Japan-Korea of the Occupied Areas Division (ADO) of the Office of International and Cultural Affairs (OIC) of the Department of State.

GOVERNMENT PRINTED SOURCES

American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas. Report of the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas. Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.

Foreign Relations of the United States [a publication of the State Department that serves as a key finding aid because the documents selected for printing include the source file designation].

FRUS, 1944, Vol. II, pp. 1031–1068 “Interest of the United States in measures for the protection and salvage of artistic and historic monuments in war areas.”

FRUS, 1945, Vol. II, pp. 933–957 “Interest of the United States in measures for the protection and salvage of artistic and historic monuments in war areas.”

RECORDS

GENERAL RECORDS OF THE ROBERTS COMMISSION, 1942–1946 [M1944, Rolls 1–55]

Administrative Records, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 1) [M1944, Rolls 1–2]

Unarranged.

This series consists of correspondence, pay cards, budget reports, statements of balances, summaries of allotment ledgers, purchase orders, reports on the status of appropriations, time and attendance records, oaths of office, personnel action reports, job descriptions, and personnel folders.

Budget Records, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 2) [M1944, Rolls 2–4]

Arranged in roughly descending chronological order by year.

This series consists of budget estimates, budgets for the years 1944–1946, records of expenditures, budget circulars, copies of Public Law 375 (having to do with appropriations for 1944 and 1945), and supporting documents for appropriations requests.

Certifying Officers’ Bonds, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 3) [M1944, Roll 4]

Unarranged.

This series consists of bonds, which the U.S. Government requires for officials authorized to disburse government monies, for E. Roy Bergholz, Huntington Cairns, and John A. Gilmore, together with papers authorizing the issuance of the bonds and certifying the function of the individuals in question.

Correspondence Relating to Personnel, 1945–1946 (A1, Entry 4) [M1944, Rolls 4–5]

Arranged by subject (e.g., personnel available, personnel requests).

This series consists of letters requesting employment and information from the Commission, curricula vitae, notes on personnel available and not available, and requests for additional personnel. Included are personnel lists, as well as Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFA&A) organization charts.

Minutes of Meetings, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 5) [M1944, Rolls 5–6]

Arranged chronologically.

This series consists of copies of the minutes and verbatim transcripts of meetings held by the Commission and related reports, memoranda, and notices. The minutes contain recommendations for the selection of Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFA&A) officers; the definition of looted art objects; postwar restitution problems; and cooperation and exchange of information with the British Committee for the Preservation and Restitution of Works of Art, Archives, and Other Material in Enemy Hands (the Macmillan Committee) and the Inter-Allied Commission for the Protection and Restitution of Cultural Material (the Vaucher Commission).

Reports, 1944–1946 (A1, Entry 6) [M1944, Rolls 6–9]

Arranged in loose alphabetical order by subject (e.g., Liaison, Looting, OSS).

This series consists of reports, correspondence, mail intercepts, notes, telegrams, and photographs. Included are reports on Commission staff visits to Europe; material on art looting and restitution; and lists of German archives, library, and university personnel.

Roll # File Title 6 Allied V/48/0 Art Project Cases V/48/0 Art Project Cases M–Z Bunjes Note 17] 73.11c: Status of Collecting Point Munich: Transportation Lists France I 73.11c: Status of Collecting Point Munich: Transportation Lists France II 73.11c: Status of Collecting Point Munich: Transportation Lists France III 7 73.11c: Status of Collecting Point Munich: Transportation Lists France IV Office of Censorship (Confidential Reports) CI 1–CI 49 CI 50–CI 89 CI 90–CI 119 CI 120–CI 149 CI 150–CI 191 Customs Report of Sumner McK. Crosby: Special Advisor: Report of Documents Foreign Funds Control France Germany: Harvard List: File Copy: Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives; SHAEF Lists of Protected Monuments in Germany Germany: Harvard List: Copy 1: German Section Annotated: American Defense-Harvard Group, Committee on the Protection of Monuments: List of Monuments in Germany Germany: Harvard List: Copy 6: German County Unit: Unannotated: American Defense-Harvard Group, Committee on the Protection of Monuments: List of Monuments in Germany Material to be sent to J. Walker: Germany 8 [“Civil Affairs Guide: General List of Archives in Western Germany”] [“Civil Affairs Guide: General List of Archives in Berlin Area: 1945”] [“Civil Affairs Guide: Military Government Information Guide: Information on German Records, 3 February 1945”] Kajetan Muehlmann and The Dienststelle Muehlmann: D.I.R. (1) Disentstelle Muehlmann: D.I.R #1 (2) Liaison: British Liaison: Dutch Liaison: French Liaison: MFA&A (U.S.) Liaison: Roberts Commission Lists: T.S. 9 Looting: Miscellaneous Miscellaneous OSS: Reports of Direction Generale des Etudes et Recherches (39 Special) Reports Report File: Looted Art Restitution: Background Material Sachs, Paul J. Salvage SHAEF, G-5: MFA&A: I SHAEF, G-5: MFA&A: II Vaucher-Gros Commission

Correspondence, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 7) [M1944, Rolls 10–18]

Arranged alphabetically by name or subject.

This series consists of the Roberts Commission correspondence with Commission members and personnel, with other Government and Allied agencies and departments, and with private individuals. Subjects of interest include art looting activities in Europe and Russia’s intentions with respect to the exaction of reparations for war damages to cultural objects. The correspondence may include copies of records from other series such as Office of Strategic Services (OSS) reports.

Roll # File Title 10 American Arbitration Association (American Commission): Miss Hall [Ardelia Hall] American Commission: Memorandum to Members of the Commission American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic, etc.: Organization American Commission: Requests for Copies of Report American Council for Learned Societies American Institute of Architects Archives, Transfer of Army and Navy Personnel (Theaters in Which Serving and General Information) Art Commission: The American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in Europe Art Looting Activities in Europe (Western Hemisphere Implications) Art Exportation Control (Safehaven, State Department, Alien Property Custodian) Axis Victims League, Inc. “A” Miscellaneous British Commission Establishment British Embassy Brown, John Nicholas “B” Miscellaneous 11 Cairns, Huntington Civil Service Commission (United States): Regular Correspondence Claims for Recovery of Looted Art Objects: American Claims for Recovery of Looted Art Objects: Other Than American Comptroller General of the United States Constable, W.G. Cook, Professor Walter W. S. Cott, Lt. Perry B. Crosby, Sumner McK. Crosby, Sumner McK.: Appointment and Trip 1944: 1st Trip, 1944 Crosby, Sumner McK.: 2nd Trip, 1945 12 Sumner Crosby: Personal “C” Miscellaneous Decorations Dinsmoor, Dr. Wm. Bell Dinsmoor, Dr. William B. (London Trip) Dinsmoor, Dr. Wm. B. (Rome Travel) “D” Miscelleous Educational and Cultural Conference in London, November 1945 Exhibition: Life Magazine Exhibition (Requests to AC for Material, etc.) “E” Miscellaneous Far East: Chinese Commission Far East Maps and Lists Far East (Personnel) Far East: Restitution 13 Far East: Stout, George L. (Correspondence) Finley, David E. Foreign Economic Administration: Clearing Office for Foreign Accounts and Reports Foreign Economic Administration (Regular Correspondence) Foreign Funds Control Foreign Funds Control: Applications for Release of Shipments from Customs Custody 14 French Ministry of Information “F” Miscellaneous General Accounting Office Guide Books: German (Purchased for MFA&A Officers) “G” Miscellaneous Hammond, Mason, Lt. Col. Note 18] Harper’s Magazine Horan, Francis H. (Webster and Garside) “H” Miscellaneous Importation by Members of Armed Forces: Memorandum to Museums about Questionable Importations of Art Objects Importations by Members of the Armed Forces Inter-Office Memoranda “I” Miscellaneous Jayne, Mr. Horace: Special Advisor: Chungking Justification for Continuation of Funds “J” Miscellaneous Keller, Deane (Captain) Kuhn, Charles L., Lt. “K” Miscellaneous League of Nations: Draft of International Agreement to Protect Arts and Monuments in Time of War Lecture: Military Government School Lee, Rennselaer W. (c/o Frick Art Reference Library) Lehman, Herbert H. (Hon.) 15 Len-Art Varityping Service Libraries: Requests for Copies of Maps, Handbooks, Leaflets, etc. “L” Miscellaneous MacLeish, Archibald (Hon.) McCloy, John J. Metropolitan Museum of Art Military Government School Lectures Mongan, Agnes Mull, Jane A.: Employment and Trip Myers, Denys P. “M” Miscellaneous National Archives National Catholic Walfare Conference Navy Department: Bureau of Naval Personnel Navy Department: Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (Navy) Personnel Netherlands Embassy (Dr. H.N. Boon) Newton, Colonel Henry C. Newton, Colonel Henry C. (Personnel Letters to Cairns) “N” Miscellaneous 16 Office of War Information Office of War Information (Pamphlet) Office of War Information: Background Release Office of War Information: Security Regulations The American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in Europe: Personnel: General Photographic Equipment for AMG Officers Photostat Machine (Proposed Purchase) Post Office Department Posner, Ernst M. Press Releases Private Collections: Lists by Countries “P” Miscellaneous Ritchie, Andrew C. Ross, Marvin C. (Capt.: USMC) Russia’s Intentions with Respect to the Exaction of Reparations for War Damages to Cultural Objects: OSS: R&A [Research and Analysis] No. 2555 “R” Miscellaneous Sachs, Dr. Paul J. Sawyer, Charles H. 17 Scarff, John H. Scarff, John H. (London Trip) Shipman, Fred W. Shoemaker, Lt. Col. James H. Sizer, Major Theodore Smith, Alfred E., Governor Spellman, Archbishop Francis Joseph State Department State Department: Incoming and Outgoing Cables State Department: Organization as of 12-20-44 State Department: Letters Transmitting Outgoing Cables State Department: Extra Copies: Cables Via State Department “S” Miscellaneous 18 Taylor, Francis Henry Taylor, Francis H. (London Trip) Taylor-Cairns Cables Telephone Conversations Travel: Advance of Funds, Authorizations Typewriters, Procurement “T” Miscellaneous “U” Miscellaneous Vaucher Committee “V” Miscellaneous Walker, John Walker, John (London Trip) War Department: Adjutant General’s Office War Department: Air Staff Intelligence War Department: Civil Affairs Division War Department: Definitions of “Top Secret,” “Secret,”, “Confidential,” and “Restricted” War Department: Office of Chief of Transportation: International Division: Importation of Works of Art, Army Examination of Baggage War Department: Office of Provost Marshal General War Department (Miscellaneous Divisions) Wooley, Lt. Col. Sir L. “W” Miscellaneous Yiddish Scientific Institute: Yivo “Z” Miscellaneous

General Correspondence, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 8) [M1944, Rolls 18–19]

Unarranged.

This series consists of the correspondence of the Roberts Commission staff regarding personnel, status and protection of monuments and cultural institutions in Europe, artwork suspected to have been looted, and requests for copies of the Commission’s final report.

Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1942–1945 (A1, Entry 9) [M1944, Rolls 19–20]

Arranged alphabetically by name.

This series consists primarily of correspondence with applicants for Commission staff or Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFA&A) positions, some of which is contained in the miscellaneous correspondence. The miscellaneous correspondence also includes inquiries regarding the current status of private collections, artworks and monuments, in addition to the use of the Roberts Commission files for research and commission business.

Also included are two artifacts of salaries and expenses rubber hand stamps for the years 1945 and 1946.

General Records, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 10) [M1944, Rolls 21–24]

Unarranged.

This series consists of reports, memoranda, copies of correspondence and cables, as well as summaries of the situation in various countries and regions. These materials cover subjects such German-Swedish economic relations, enemy looting, and war damage.

Roll # File Title 21 Accredited Agencies ACLS [American Council of Learned Societies] Committee Attendance Report Baedekers British Information Services France: Private Collections War Office Report on Greece Crosby Transmission from London First Aid Protection for Art Treasures and Monuments Conditions of Monuments in France, November 1944 German Economic Penetration in Switzerland German-Swedish Creditor-Debtor Position Reports from England and France by Francis Henry Taylor List from OSS of 21 Enemy Personnel Connected with Looting Private Collections: Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Netherlands; Libraries in [Germany] London Embassy: Four Documents/Letters Relating to Commission for the Protection and Restitution of Cultural Material Protection, Restitution and Reparation of Objects d’Art and Other Cultural Objects: Richard A. Johnson Italian Reports Letters from [Maj. Ernest] DeWald to [Professor Rufus] Morey Regarding Conditions of Monuments in N. Italy [17 December 1944] OSS: German Report on Archives in the Military Government of France, 1940–1944 22 Goudstikker Firm: Dutch Museums: Looting by Germans OSS: Consolidated Interrogation Report No. 4: Linz: Hitler’s Museum and Library 17th Meeting of Commission for Protection and Restitution of Cultural Material: London, June 1945 Summary of Postal Intercepts Relating to Nicholas A. Karger by Mrs. Shapley and Others Major Mason Hammond’s Report on MFA&A in Italy: Lecture at Cincinnati Appreciation of Enemy Methods of Looting Works of Art in Occupied Territory, March 1945 Goudstikker Collection of Pictures: Standing Procedure No. #12: C.A. [Civil Affairs] First Press Conference: SHAEF on MFA&A in France by Miss Jane [Mull]: American Commission in London OSS: Art Looting Investigation Unit: Final Report OSS: Works of Art, etc., Stolen in France, Undated and Dated OSS: Personnel: Italian, German, Austrian Works of Art Ref. Göring, 1943–1944 OSS: Miscellaneous, Dated and Undated OWI [Office of War Information] 23 Reports: MFA&A: MTO, ETO: From Dr. Wm. B. Dinsmoor ETO Report: MFA&A for April 1945: Duplicate of AMG-15 Scarff: London Embassy, August 1945 Scarff: London Embassy, September 1945 War Office Summaries: Greece, Holland, Venetian Regions, Belgium, Luxembourg Letter from 1st Lieutenant Frederick Hartt to Professor Walter Cook Giving Account of War Damage in Tuscany State Department: Miscellaneous State Department Cable on Return of Isted Lion to Denmark Clearance of Van Hook Talk January 21, 1945; Telephone Conversation with Maj. Minard Telegram: Crosby to Cairns Re Inter-Allied Body Report on Visit to Strasbourg, December 10–17, 1944–January 4, 1945 Booklet: “Works of Art in Italy: Losses and Survivals in the War: Part I: South of Bologna” (The MacMillian Committee) Swedish-German Creditor-Debtor Positions Mr. Walker: Reports from Europe 24 Interview with Dr. Zipfel, Director of Reichsarchiv and Prussian State Archives Vaucher Miscellaneous Miscellaneous Material II

Handbooks on Cultural Institutions of European Countries, 1943–1945 (A1, Entry 11) [M1944, Rolls 25–31]

Arranged alphabetically by country or region.

This series consists of handbooks listing museums, monuments, libraries, archives, and other cultural institutions. Included are drafts, abstracts from reference works, and notes used in the preparation of the handbooks. General folders at the beginning of the series contain copies of weekly information bulletins published by the Office of Military Government for Germany (U.S) (OMGUS) in 1946, correspondence, wartime broadcast transcripts, reports, articles, and handwritten notes of some of the index cards that make up the Geographical Working Files, 1943–1945 (A1, Entry 83).

See also A1, Entries 24, 79, and 80 for more information concerning the handbooks and A1, Entries 82, 82A, and 92 for additional information about the geographical working files.

Roll # File Title 25 General Austria 26 Belgium Bulgaria China Denmark France 27 France [cont.] Germany Holland 28 Italy 29 Italy [cont.] 30 Italy [cont.] Japan Korea Luxembourg Norway 31 Philippines Poland Rumania Tunisia Yugoslavia

London Files, 1943–1945 (A1, Entry 12) [M1944, Rolls 32–3]

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

This series consists of cables, correspondence, memoranda, and reports received by the Commission through the American Embassy in London. The subjects include British Element, Control Council (Bunjes Papers, etc.); cables; Commission official communications; Sumner McK.Crosby correspondence; Economic Warfare Division, American Embassy; German personnel lists; German repositories of works of art; Macmillan Committee; MFA&A (Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives) military directives; MFA&A planning documents; Mull correspondence; OWI (Office of War Information); restitution background material; restitution in London EAC discussions, etc.; John Scarff and John Walker correspondence; U.S. Group CC (Control Council); and war damage. The correspondence reflects communication with the London office of a government agency or an Allied committee; in other cases they represent correspondence with or reports by Commission personnel in London.

Roll # File Title 32 British Element, CC: Bunjes Papers, etc. [December 1944–April 1945] Cables [September 1944–September 1945] Commission Official Communications [September 1944–January 1945] Crosby, S. McK.: Correspondence [October 1944–June 1945] Economic Warfare Division: American Embassy [October 1944–May 1945] [German Personnel Lists: December 12, 1944] Germany: Repositories of Works of Art [February 1945–April 1945] MacMillan Committee [November 1944] MFA&A: Military Directives MFA&A: Planning Documents [May 1944–December 1944] Mull Correspondence [October 1944–June 1945] OWI [Office of War Information] [August 1943–April 1945] 33 Restitution: Background Material [April 1943–February 1945] [Includes Records of the Axis Victims League, Inc.] Restitution: London, 1944–1945: EAC Discussion, etc. [November 1944–October 1945] Scarff and Walker: Correspondence (July–September 1945) U.S. Group CC [September 1944–May 1945] War Damage [July 1944–May 1945]

Reports from Advisors Overseas, 1944–1945 (A1, Entry 13) [M1944, Rolls 33–34]

Arranged roughly in chronological order.

This series consists of reports submitted to the Commission by advisers and Commission personnel who were or had been on assignment in Europe. There are reports from Sumner McK. Crosby, Jane A. Mull, John H. Scarff, and John Walker, as well as communications from Col. Henry C. Newton and Maj. Mason Hammond. The reports relate the activities of Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFA&A) officers and of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Art Looting Investigation Unit, and evaluate the work done in protecting and restoring cultural material in war areas.

Records Relating to Restitution of Cultural Materials, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 14) [M1944, Rolls 35–38][

Unarranged.

This series consists of various proposals and reports on matters relating to the restitution of cultural materials looted by Germany; correspondence between the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) personnel and Commission members, as well as OSS reports on problems connected with restitution of looted cultural materials; and miscellaneous correspondence, reports, and memoranda on various aspects of the restitution of cultural materials.

Roll # File Title 35 United Nations Declaration (Looting of Property by Axis), January 1943 United Nations Monetary Conference, Bretton Woods, N.H., July 1944: Final Act Dinsmoor Report: “Restitution of Art Objects and Other Cultural Materials”: (State) Vaucher Committee: Harvey Proposals (Spring 1944) Books and Archives: Restitution Plan of Committee on Libraries and Archives W.G. Constable’s Report on Restitution Mr. Taylor’s Report of September 6, 1944, with Annexes (Original) Restitution After the War of 1914–1918 Study on Restitution of Works of Art after World I (State Department) Formation of a Restitution Commission: Exchange of Letters Between State Department and American Commission (From July 1944 Forward) J.H Scarff’s Proposal and Chart of Organization for Inter-Allied Arts and Records Agency Preliminary Drafts of Conference of Allied Ministers of Education (Dr. Turner’s Material) “Allies Safeguard Europe’s Treasures” American Cultural Resources Protection Handbook “Art in the War Areas of Europe”: Article by Miss Katherine Fuguet Copies of Mr. Taylor’s Report of 9/6/44 Vaucher Committee Scheme (August 1944) International Cooperation in Educational and Cultural Reconstruction: Kefauver Report, October 1944 36 Harvey’s Explanatory Note, Dated November 1944 Report of Subcommittee on Axis-Appropriated Property: Mr. Walker Presented at January 18, 1945, AAC Meeting State Department Conferences: January 22 and 23, 25, 1945 Military Government: Germany: Law No. 52 on Blocking and Control of Property Statement by Foreign Office Representative Regarding Creation of Restitution Commission; Existence of French Commission Material for Preliminary Meeting (Mr. Walker) Conference in Lt. Col. Brown’s Office, January 26, 1945, Regarding Prisoner of War Interrogation AAC drafts and Working Papers; Lawyers Committee Meeting, September 20, 1944 State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee: Memorandum for Information #9: Looted Works of Art Material for Preliminary Meeting (Mr. Cairns) Ed Pauley Drafts of February 3, 1945, Letter to MacLeish Principles Documents, 1944–1945 Material for Preliminary Meeting (Mr. Gilmore) Removal of German Art by Russians Goudstikker Collection Secret: Loot and Damage Information: See Also the OSS File Restitution of Actual Objects Restitution of Cultural Objects: Military Directives OSS Press Clippings Office of Strategic Services: Special Reports: Art Unit 37 Office of Strategic Services (OSS): Special Reports: Art Unit Miscellaneous Reports 38 Miscellaneous Reports [cont.] Inquiries Crosby, Sumner McK. Congressional Directory Excerpts from AMG Reports Far East Lee, R.W.: Personal Memos to Commission Members Newspapers Order Blanks Office of War Information Princeton University Press Telegraph Blanks War Department: Air Forces K.S. [Kathryn Springer]: Personal

Galleys and Page Proofs, 1946 [Note 19] (A1, Entry 15) [M1944, Rolls 38–39]

Unarranged.

This series consists of proofs and printing corrections for the final published report of the Commission entitled “Report of The American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas.”

Press Releases, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 16) [M1944, Roll 39]

Arranged alphabetically by country.

This series consists of press releases and a few periodical publications regarding the status of artworks and cultural institutions in European and Asian countries. Includes drafts of a list of monuments for France regarding that country’s art, archaeology and monuments. Also see A1, Entries 79 and 80 for additional information.

Newspaper Clippings, 1943–1945 (A1, Entry 17) [M1944, Rolls 39–40]

Arranged chronologically.

This series consists of excerpts from newspapers concerning cultural treasures in enemy-held or Allied-occupied areas as well as other war news.

Miscellaneous Press Clippings, 1943–1945 (A1, Entry 18) [M1944, Roll 40]

Unarranged.

This series consists of a propaganda manual citing references for German admissions of war-guilt; clippings from American newspapers (provided by the Romeike clipping service) on Commission activities; and clippings on damaged European cultural monuments and on Monument, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFA&A) activities.

Published Works Relating to Cultural Materials in War Areas, 1943–1945 (A1, Entry 19) [M1944, Rolls 40–41]

Arranged alphabetically by title of article or book.

This series consists of articles, notes, reports, and publications devoted to the protection and restoration of cultural materials, particularly artworks and historic buildings, in European war areas. Many of these mention the Commission and the work of Monument, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFA&A) officers.

Roll # File Title 40 Art Exhibit in Rome: Publication Entitled Photo Review (Restricted) Art in War Areas Being Protected and Salvaged by the Allied Armies: Radio Broadcast by Theodore Sizer “Art Works from Florence Safe”: Article Released to the Press 9/8/44 by Metropolitan Museum of Art “Bombas Sôbre a Cultura Europeia” (Postives) “Bombas Sôbre a Cultura Europeia” (Negatives) Bordeaux Notes On Destruction and Losses of Cultural Objects in Europe (Prepared by Miss Jose Meyer) “The Effect of the War on Renaissance and Baroque Art in Italy”: Rensselaer Lee “The Esthetics of Bombing”: Article Published in Politics, October 1944, by Bernard Lemann “Europe’s Art Must be Saved”: Article by Prof. Morey for Dutch Edition of U.S.A Florentine Institute: Report on the Institute sent in by Ulrich Middledorf of the Department of Art: University of Chicago “France’s Great Cultural Monuments Largely Spared According to Survey” “French Art Treasures”: Article Appearing in Manchester Guardian German and Italian Attitude Towards Destruction of Art Treasures as Reported in Enemy Controlled and Neutral Broadcasts, January–March 1944 Italy: Destruction of Works of Art and Historic Buildings by the Germans Konst i Spillror Kunst dem Volk “Looted Treasure”: Book by George Mihan (“Germany’s Raid on Art”) “Mapping Europe’s Art”: Article Appearing in Newsweek Memo on the Organization and Functions of Staff to Administer the Reports from AMG and Other Sources Dealing with War Damage, Claims, Reparation, etc. “Museum Men in the Theaters of Operation,” by David E. Finley: Article Appearing in the Museum News, November 1, 1944 Museum News: Published by the American Association of Museums “Netherlands Art Treasures Since the German Occupation” Norway (Museums and Collections) 41 Parliamentary Debates: Discussion of Formation of British Commission Photo Review: “Historic Landmarks are Preserved” Article on Polish Art (In Magazine The Polish Review) Memo: “Protection and Salvage of Cultural Objects and Records in War Areas”: American Committee on Learned Societies “The Question We Asked”: Article on Information of Destruction in Sicily and South Italy by C.G. Paulding in The Commonweal, September 15, 1944 “The Rape of Europa”: Article by Francis Henry Taylor “Saving Europe’s Art” (Articles I and II), by Charles Rufus Morey in Journal of the American Institute of Architects “U.S. Commission Performs Vital Role in Safeguarding Europe’s Landmarks by Charting Precision Bombing”: Article by James Waldo Fawcett: Evening Star “The War and Classical Romans in Italy”: Article Appearing in Antiquity “War Damage to the Historic Monuments of South Italy” War Damage to Libraries and Archives in Europe and the Far East (Prepared by Crosby)

Questionnaires, 1943–1945 (A1, Entry 20) [M1944, Roll 41]

Unarranged.

This series consists of forms from the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) filled out by scholars indicating knowledge of cultural materials in various overseas areas, travels to these areas, and fields of expertise. These scholars were potential sources of information for the ACLS in the preparation of maps and handbooks.

See also A1, Entry 77.

List of Repositories of Works of Art and Archives in Germany and Austria, 1945 (A1, Entry 21) [M1944, Roll 41]

Arranged by region, thereunder alphabetically by town or city.

This series consists of a list of the names of towns and cities, each accompanied by an identifying code number, and a description of the cultural material known to be deposited there. The regions include Tyrol and Czecho-Slovakia.

List of Carillons in Europe in 1939, 1943–1945 (A1, Entry 22) [M1944, Roll 41]

Unarranged.

This series consists of a list of carillons on the continent of Europe in 1939 as prepared by Percival Price. Information contained in this list includes the location of the carillons such as the country, city, and building; details about the carillons such as the number of bells, weight, and founder; references to the carillons in photographs, correspondence, and printed matter; and remarks about the carillons as well as a bibliography. Also included is a map of Belgium and two maps of the Netherlands showing the locations of carillons in those countries.

Miscellaneous Records, 1943–1945 (A1, Entry 23) [M1944, Rolls 41–42]

Unarranged.

This series consists of reports, drafts, copies of published parliamentary debates, pamphlets, correspondence, and background data on the protection of artworks and monuments in war areas. Included is information obtained from prisoners of war and pertains to the cooperation between the Commission and the War Crimes Branch of the Army Judge Advocate General’s Office. There is also material on the Commission’s involvement with the Safehaven Project which was an Allied effort to frustrate enemy transfers of economic assets to neutral countries. Other records include an Allied Military Government (AMG) report on its Cultural Works Committee, drafts of an Office of War Information (OWI) booklet on art and culture prepared for Allied soldiers, and a list of paintings belonging to Dutch art dealer J. Goudstikker.

Roll # File Title 41 A32 DRDR Cultural Works Committee 42 Java Lists Prisoner of War Interrogation War Crimes Office Safehaven Project: Basic Description Information on Pictures in the Goudstikker Collection Full Draft Text for OWI Booklet by William Burke, 5-26-45 Philippines: Facts and Figures About Guy Jones Report [Includes Additional Reports] “The Libraries of Poland”; “The Situation of Education and Culture in Poland”

Miscellaneous Geographical Records, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 24) [M1944, Roll 42]

Arranged alphabetically by country.

This series consists of lists of churches, cultural institutions, monuments, palaces, and houses with accompanying regional and city maps showing their locations, as well as personnel. Contained in some files are accounts of looting or wartime devastation. Italy material includes architectural drawings of the Santa Trinità bridge in Florence.

See also A1, Entries 11, 79, and 80.

Roll # File Title 42 Balkans Belgium China Czechoslovakia Denmark Dutch East Indies France Greece Italy (Greece) Japan Netherlands Poland

Personnel Cards, 1943–1945 (A1, Entry 25) [M1944, Roll 43]

Arranged alphabetically by name.

This series consists of a card file that includes the names, addresses, present activities, professions, and political affiliations of various specialists that advised members of the Roberts Commission about cultural materials and the whereabouts of looted materials; the names of those who looted, plundered, and destroyed cultural and scientific materials in German-occupied countries; those who worked to historically “prove” German origins and/or influence in other cultures and countries (Germanization); and those who aided the Germans in locating Jewish collections.

Card File on Art-Looting Suspects, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 26) [M1944, Rolls 44–49]

Arranged alphabetically by name.

This series consists of a card file in which each card may contain some or all of the following information regarding art-looting suspects and those who aided them: name, address, date of birth or age, occupation, and summary of activities. Included in this series are cards for government and private organizations and private businesses which looted, confiscated, transported, sold, or stored collections. Also included are the names of private collections and businesses which were looted or seized and, in some cases, information on the suspected looters. Finally, there are cards containing the names of individuals supplying information on art-looting suspects and at least one organization, Artists Executive (Bildendo Kunstneres Styre), which attempted to prevent the auctioning of confiscated artwork.

Geographical Card File on Possible Art-Looting Subjects, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 27) [M1944, Rolls 50–51]

Arranged alphabetically by geographical region or country and thereunder alphabetically by name.

This series consists of a card file in which each card may contain some or all of the following information: name, address, date of birth, education, occupation, summary or direct quotation regarding activities, and sources. Organizations and cultural institutions are also included and are inter-filed with the other cards.

Card File on Looted Art Objects, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 28) [M1944, Roll 51]

Arranged alphabetically by artist’s name.

This series consists of a card file in which each card may contain the artist’s name and the title and/or description of the artwork. Included is information on the removal and disposition of the artwork and, in some instances, sources for this information.

Card File on Repositories, Collections, and Collectors Suspected of Receiving or Storing Looted Art Objects, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 29) [M1944, Roll 51]

Arranged alphabetically by name, owner, or location of repository (country or city).

This series consists of a card file in which each card may contain some or all of the following information: repositories where collections were deposited, repositories or cities from which collections were removed, address or location of repositories, brief description of art objects, and dates regarding the movement of collections. At the end of the series are two cards labeled “Personnel”, one of which lists museum officials with knowledge of the removal of their museum’s collections.

Card File on Prisoners of War Suspected of Art Looting, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 30) [M1944, Roll 51]

Arranged alphabetically by name.

This series consists of a card file in which each card may contain some or all of the following information: name, address, occupation or military assignment, and brief account of activities regarding art objects.

Card File on Deceased Art-Looting Suspects, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 31) [M1944, Roll 52]

Arranged alphabetically by name.

This series consists of a card file in which each card may contain some or all of the following information: name, address, occupation, and synopsis of activities in the art world.

Guide to Goering Papers, 1945 (A1, Entry 32) [M1944, Roll 52]

Arranged alphabetically by name.

This series consists of a card file that serves as a reference guide to art objects in the Göring Papers, Nos. 1–475. These references include lists of artworks Göring purchased, exchanged, or wished to acquire. Also included are references to communications Göring had with Haberstock, Hofer, Kornatzki, Limberger, Muehlmann, Pannwitz, Zantop, and others, regarding these artworks.

Card File of European Specialists in Fine Arts, Books, and Manuscripts, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 33) [M1944, Roll 52]

Arranged alphabetically by name.

This series consists of a card file in which each card may contain some or all of the following information: name, address, date of birth, education, occupation, employer, information on political and/or ideological views, and wartime activities.

Card File on Art-Looting Suspects in France and Germany, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 34) [M1944, Rolls 52–54]

Arranged by country (France and Germany) and thereunder alphabetically by name.

This series consists of a card file in which each card may contain some or all of the following information: name, address, education, wartime employment or activities, employer, photograph, and sources. Included in this card file are repositories and organizations such as Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg (ERR) and Kunstschutz.

Card File on European Artists and Art Specialists, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 35) [M1944, Roll 54]

Arranged by nationality and thereunder alphabetically by name.

This series consists of card file in which each card may contain some or all of the following information: name, address, education, wartime employment or activities, employer, and sources.

Card File on Firms Involved in Art Looting, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 36) [M1944, Roll 54]

Arranged alphabetically by name of firm.

This series consists of card file in which each card may contain some or all of the following information: owner, address, brief history, wartime activities, and sources.

Card File on Looted Cultural Materials, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 37) [M1944, Rolls 54]

Arranged alphabetically by category such as archives, objets d’art, paintings, repositories, scientific material, and sculpture.

This series consists of a card file in which each card may contain some or all of the following information: description and/or photograph, facts regarding removal of object, and sources. Books and manuscripts are includes under the archives category.

Card File on Historic Buildings and Structures, 1944–1945 (A1, Entry 38) [M1944, Roll 54]

Arranged by country and thereunder alphabetically by city or town.

This series consists of a card file in which each card may contain some or all of the following information: name of city or town, owner, notes on contents, condition, history of military occupation, and sources. The countries represented are Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

Card File on Links with Neutral Countries, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 39) [M1944, Rolls 54–55]

Arranged alphabetically by name of individual, name of firm, or name of institution.

This series consists of a card file in which each card contains the name of an individual, firm, or institution and a cross-reference. Many of the cross-references appear to refer to cards contained in Card File On Art-Looting Suspects, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 26), Geographical Card File on Possible Art-Looting Subjects, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 27), Card File on Prisoners of War Suspected of Art Looting, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 30), and Card File on Art-Looting Suspects in France and Germany, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 34). Other cross-references are to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Allied Military Government (AMG) reports. Included at the beginning of file are American liaisons for departments such as G-2, G-5, Naval Censorship, and Office of Strategic Services.

Code Identification File, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 40) [M1944, Roll 55]

Arranged by an alphabetical or alphanumeric code designation (JRX, JZX, LSX, RX, X, XL, XX, XX-001, XX1) and thereunder numerically. Four cards are arranged numerically (132234–134935).

This series consists of a card file in which each card may contain some or all of the following information: alphabetical, alphanumeric, or numeric code designator; how and date the material arrived such as “London Pouch XX 005-622 – 22 June 1945”; file where material may be found; and disposal of the material.

Miscellaneous Personnel Cards, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 41) [M1944, Roll 55]

Arranged in two parts. The first part is arranged alphabetically (G–K only) and second part is arranged by date of incoming and outgoing messages.

This series consists of a card file that is divided into two parts. The first part contains some or all of the following information: name, address, category to which the name belongs (e.g., individual, collection, or repository, in addition to the country), and cross-references. Many of the names may also be found in Card File On Art-Looting Suspects, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 26), Geographical Card File on Possible Art-Looting Subjects, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 27), Card File on Prisoners of War Suspected of Art Looting, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 30), and Card File on Art-Looting Suspects in France and Germany, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 34).

The second part of the card file includes sender and recipient by name or code name, date, and a brief message. The messages were received and sent by Monument, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFA&A) officers in the field.

RECORDS OF THE ROBERTS COMMISSION’S SUBCOMMITTEES, 1942–1946 [M1944, Rolls 56–62]

At the Commission’s first meeting on August 25, 1943, it was resolved to appoint seven subcommittees with specific duties and membership. The Committee on Definition of Works of Cultural Value and Property, under David E. Finley, undertook to define more concretely those general terms which had appeared in the letter from the Secretary of State outlining the Commission’s functions. The Committee on Administration, composed of Mr. Finley and Huntington Cairns, considered and reported to the Commission on its administrative organization. The Committee on Books, Manuscripts, and Other Printed and Written material of Cultural Value was appointed to consider and report on the classes of these specific items with which the Commission should concern itself. Chaired by Archibald MacLeish, its Advisors were Solon J. Buck, Waldo G. Leland, Henry M. Lydenberg, A.S.W. Rosenbach, and Lewis Hanke.

The Commission requested the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Committee on the Protection of Cultural Treasures in War Areas and the American Defense-Harvard Group to channel their work through the Commission for distribution to the appropriate government agencies. The Committee on Collection of Maps, Information, and Description of Art Objects was established to implement this policy under the co-chairmanship of William B. Dinsmoor and Paul J. Sachs, with Charles R. Morey, Sumner McK. Crosby, and William L.M. Burke as Advisers.

The Committee on Personnel, headed by Paul J. Sachs with W.G. Constable as Adviser, submitted to the War Department names of personnel serving in the armed forces who were qualified for appointment to the Civil Affairs Division for service in its Museum, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFA&A) Section. After the war, it submitted the names of qualified civilians willing to carry on the work begun by the military and civilian employees of the War Department. Closely connected with this committee was the Committee on Art Instruction in Military Government schools, under David E. Finley, appointed to confer with the officials of the Provost Marshal general’s Office and to supply the names of qualified volunteers to instruct on the subject of protection and salvage of cultural and historic monuments.

The Committee on Axis-Appropriated Property was established to compile from all available sources a record of enemy looting. Francis Henry Taylor served as chairman, John Walker as Special Adviser. The other committee members were Daniel C. Rich and Robert Woods Bliss. This committee held a special meeting on April 15, 1944, at the National Gallery of Art, in order to primarily to consider steps to be recommended for the customs control of looted art objects entering this country, and to review the Commission’s policy with regard to receiving claims from private individuals for looted art objects.

General Records, 1943–1944 (A1, Entry 42) [M1944, Roll 56]

Unarranged.

This series consists correspondence, memoranda, lists, resolutions, proposals, recommendations, reports, and notes from various subcommittees.

Records of David E. Finley

David E. Finley, Director of the National Gallery of Art and a member of the Commission of Fine Arts, was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Roberts Commission on August 20, 1943. He had been intimately involved in the Commission’s establishment, and his files contain correspondence of this process. He served as chairman of the Subcommittee on Definition of Works of Cultural Value and Property and of the Subcommittee on Art Instruction in Military Government Schools, and with Huntington Cairns composed the Subcommittee on Administration. Finley took part in the day-to-day functioning of the Commission staff throughout its existence, but the records preserved here relate primarily to the Commission’s establishment and the appointment of personnel.

Correspondence and Memoranda, 1943–1944 (A1, Entry 43) [M1944, Roll 56]

Unarranged.

This series consists of correspondence, memoranda, telegrams, and notes.

Correspondence with Henry C. Newton, 1944 (A1, Entry 44) [M1944, Roll 56]

Arranged chronologically.

This series consists of correspondence, memoranda, telegrams, and notes with, or regarding, Brigadier General Henry C. Newton, who was appointed by the War Department at the Commission’s recommendation to take charge of and coordinate the activities of Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFA&A) officers in the field with the Commission’s program.

Applications, 1943–1944 (A1, Entry 45) [M1944, Roll 56]

Arranged alphabetically by name.

This series consists of applications for positions with the Commission and includes David E. Finley’s letters in response to those applications.

Records of Paul J. Sachs

Paul J. Sachs, the Associate Director Harvard University’s Fogg Museum of Fine Arts, was a member of the Roberts Commission throughout its existence. He served as chairman of the Subcommittee on Personnel, which submitted to the War Department the names of personnel serving in the armed forces who were qualified for appointment to its Civil Affairs Division to serve in its Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Section. After the war, the subcommittee submitted the names of qualified civilians who were willing to carry on the wok begun by the military as civilian employees of the War Department. Sachs and William B. Dinsmoor were co-chairmen of the Subcommittee on Collection of Maps, Information, and Description of Art Objects, which was established to channel the work of the ACLS Committee on the Protection of Cultural Treasures in War Areas and the American Defense-Harvard Group to the appropriate government agencies.

General Correspondence, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 46) [M1944, Rolls 57–58]

Arranged roughly alphabetically by name.

This series consists of correspondence, telegrams, and notes to and from government officials, military officers, and private individuals interested in Commission affairs. Topics include employment prospects of applicants for work with the Commission or one of the related Government and military offices, evaluations of Commission work, and publicity for the Commission.

Correspondence with Commission Members and Personnel, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 47) [M1944, Rolls 57–58]

Arranged roughly alphabetically by name.

This series consists of correspondence and telegrams to and from Charles Butler, Huntington Cairns, W.G. Constable, William B. Dinsmoor, William Emerson, David Finley, John Gilmore, John H. Scarff, Henry C. Newton, Charles Sawyer, and Francis Henry Taylor. Other individuals are also referenced throughout the correspondence.

Correspondence with Related Committees and Institutions, 1942–1943 (A1, Entry 48) [M1944, Roll 58]

Arranged in roughly chronological order.

This series consists of correspondence, memoranda, reports, and telegrams to and from government officials, military officers, and members of groups such as the American Defense-Harvard Group and the Committee of the American Council of Learned Societies on the Protection of Cultural Treasures in War Areas.

Personnel Correspondence, 1943–1944 (A1, Entry 49) [M1944, Roll 59]

Arranged alphabetically by name.

This series consists of correspondence regarding applications from military personnel and private individuals seeking employment with the Commission or as Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFA&A) officers. Included are curricula vitae and letters of reference.

Minutes of Commission Meetings, 1943–1945 (A1, Entry 50) [M1944, Roll 60]

Arranged chronologically by date.

This series consists of the minutes of meetings of the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas. Included are meeting agendas and handwritten notes.

Memoranda, 1943–1945 (A1, Entry 51) [M1944, Roll 60]

Unarranged.

This series consists of memoranda, correspondence, reports, news releases, and notes by Commission members and personnel; Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFA&A) officers; and concerned individuals on matters related to Commission work. Topics include personnel assignments, identification of looted art objects, restoration and/or preservation work, the decision to bring some German art objects to the United States for restoration and/or safekeeping, and the work of the American Defense-Harvard Group. The final report of the American Defense-Harvard Group, dated June 1940 to June 1945, is also included.

Personnel Data, 1943 (A1, Entry 52) [M1944, Roll 60]

Arranged alphabetically by name.

This series consists of brief curricula vitae of individuals under consideration for work with the Commission due to their education and experience in areas such as art, architecture, and languages. Almost all of them were in the armed services. A few work for the United States government or in the private sector.

Personnel Lists, 1943–1945 (A1, Entry 53) [M1944, Roll 60]

Unarranged.

This series consists of lists and correspondence regarding military personnel and civilians under consideration for work with the Commission due to their education and experience in areas such as architecture, library science, and archives. Included are lists of Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFA&A) officers working abroad and correspondence regarding recommendations for an overseas Director.

Personnel Cards, 1943–1945 (A1, Entry 54) [M1944, Roll 61]

Arranged alphabetically by name.

This series consists of a card file in which each card contains some or all of the following information: name, present employment, education/experience, languages, travel, address, and remarks about military personnel and a small number of civilians under consideration for work with the Commission. Included are various brief lists of names sent to the secretary of the Commission.

Commission Accounts, 1943–1944 (A1, Entry 55) [M1944, Roll 61]

Unarranged.

This series consists of purchase requisitions, invoices, handwritten account entries, and notes regarding travel expenses and office supplies.

General Lists and Master Lists, 1943–1945 (A1, Entry 56) [M1944, Roll 61]

Unarranged.

This series consists of lists of Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFA&A) personnel, armed forces personnel, civilians with assimilated rank, civilians for assistant positions, and women under consideration for work with the Commission.

Materials Concerning the Subcommission for Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (Italy), 1944 (A1, Entry 57) [M1944, Roll 61]

Unarranged.

This series consists of reports, memoranda, and newspaper articles regarding the condition of monuments and works of art in Italy. Includes lists of monuments, general orders, and instructions to United States military personnel regarding the protection of monuments and works of art. Under the direction of the Sub-commission, the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFA&A) officers surveyed damage to cultural monuments in war areas and directed efforts to restore and protect them.

Scheme for the Restitution of Objects d’Art, Scientific Equipment, Books, and Archives, 1944 (A1, Entry 58) [M1944, Roll 61]

Unarranged.

This series consists of a draft scheme by the Books and Periodicals Commission of the Conference of Allied Ministers of Education with related memoranda; reports and memoranda on the activities of Monument, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFA&A) officers in Italy; revised schemes as of August 1944; transcriptions of radio talks regarding the condition of churches and monuments in Sicily; and documents such as draft policy directives and ordinances regarding post-hostility planning.

Miscellaneous Material, 1943–1945 (A1, Entry 59) [M1944, Roll 62]

Unarranged.

This series consists of reports, lists, handbooks, and memoranda regarding monuments and works of art in Italy. Includes a soldier’s guide to Naples, transcripts of a hearing for an appropriations bill on Commission funding for fiscal year 1945, transcripts of Parliamentary debates in the House of Lords regarding bombing policy and preservation of historical and art treasures, and draft minutes of the first through fifth meetings of the Vaucher Committee.

RECORDS RELATING TO THE MONUMENTS, FINE ARTS, AND ARCHIVES SECTION OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT’S CIVIL AFFAIRS DIVISION, 1943–1946 [M1944, Rolls 62–84]

The Roberts Commission’s original terms of reference included providing advice to the War Department regarding the appointment of specialists for services with the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Section. Accordingly, a regular liaison was maintained between the Commission and the Civil Affairs Division of the War Department. As part of this cooperation, the Commission received MFA&A field reports from the War Department.

Records Concerning Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Offices (MFA&A), 1945 (A1, Entry 60) [M1944, Roll 62]

Arranged by subject.

This series consists of reports, lists, and memoranda presented by Major Mason Hammond, an army officer who frequently acted as liaison between the Commission and the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFA&A) Section of the Civil Affairs Division of the War Department’s Military Government Branch. Much of this material concerns personnel issues and reparation, restitution, and disposition policies, mainly regarding Germany. Also includes an official list of protected monuments in France, a report on monuments and works of art in Greece, memoranda regarding military government planning in the Far East, and assignment of United States and British MFA&A officers in Europe.

Roll # File Title 62 Documents Brought to ACC by MFA&A Major Hammond on 17 February 1945 Hammond Proposal Hammond Report (Washington), Dated 27 February 1945 Hammond Report (Field), Dated 16 March 1945 Organization for Far East: Plan Personnel in ETO

(A1, Entry 61) [ M1944, Roll 62

Unarranged.

This series consists of two Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFA&A) tables of organization for the United States Zone in Germany. The first table is for November 21, 1945, through March 1, 1946, and includes personnel distribution; the second table is a proposed table of organization for March 1, 1946, through June 30, 1946, and includes personnel requirements.

MFA&A Field Reports, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 62) [M1944, Roll 62–81]

Arranged numerically by field report number (1–389).

This series consists of field reports and memoranda relating primarily to war damage to cultural and historic monuments in the European Theater of Operations, and to measures taken for their immediate protection and eventual restoration. Includes material on the Central Collecting Points, as well as correspondence, newspaper articles, publications, posters, maps, photographs, and policies and directives from the Civil Affairs Division for Operation Overlord. These reports are labeled AMG-1 through AMG-389.

Roll # File Title 62 AMG-1: Eastern Sicily AMG-2: Report on Trip 30 September–3 October, 1943, by Capt. M. Hammond in Sicily AMG-3: Reports from AMG on Arts and Monuments Work Submitted with General Hilldring’s Letter of 1-22-44 AMG-4: Reports from AMG on Arts and Monuments Work Submitted with General Hilldring’s Letter of 12-6-43 AMG-5: First Monthly Report: Sicily AMG-6: Letter from General Hilldring, Dated 1-10-44, Submitting General Orders No.68 and Eisenhower Statement AMG-7: Elboli, Italy: Soldiers Monument AMG-8: AMG Annex: Administrative Instruction No. 10 AMG-9 : Third Monthly Report: Complete File Report by AMG Offices in the Italian Theater, Submitted by General Hilldring as of 3-13-44 AMG-10 : Fifth Monthly Report: Regions AMG-11: Collier Report: Damage Alleged to Have Been Caused to Real and Personal Property of Historical and Educational Importance in Italy 63 AMG-11a: “Preservation of Works of Art in Italy”: Pamphlet for Distribution to Troops AMG-12: Colonel H.C. Newton AMG-13: Sixth and Seventh Monthly Reports AMG-14: Report by Lt. Col. G.F. Webb (Br.) Submitted with General Hilldring Letter of July 28, 1944 AMG-15 AMG-16: Letter from Headquarters 5th Army on Conduct of 5th Army Troops in Rome AMG-17: Pamphlet: “Preservation of Works of Art in Italy” AMG-18: Colonel Henry C. Newton (Report on Status on Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives in the European Theater) 6-13-44 AMG-19: Letter from Hilldring Quoting from Newton of June 19 AMG-20: “Soldiers Guide to Rome,” Submitted with a Letter Dated 12 July 1944 from General Hilldring AMG-21: Report from France: Bayeux, Caen, Chateau de Benouville AMG-22: “Monuments of Central Italy”, from British War Office AMG-23: Eighth Monthly Report AMG-24: Ninth Monthly: Report July 1944 AMG-25: Two Letters from Colonel Henry C. Newton: 1) Exhibition in Rome; 2) Situation in Florence with Depositories 64 AMG-26: Italy: Lists of Protected Monuments, Royal Palace of Naples, etc., and “Soldier’s Guide to Italy” AMG-27: Report from France and Works of Art in Florence AMG-28: Report of Bombing of Benevento AMG-29: Report on Status of MFA&A in MTO by Col. H.C. Newton AMG-30: Order to CinC MTO; Damage to Vire; Report on Bombing of San Lorenzo AMG-31: Report on Deposits of Art in Tuscany AMG-32: Various Letter re Protection of Monuments; Memo on Protection of Italian Archives; Map of Environs of Florence Showing Depositories AMG-33: Report from AMG-Italy on Arts and Monument Works in Florence with Hilldring Letter of 8-26-44 AMG-34: Report on Rehabilitation of Neapolitan Churches AMG-35: Tenth Monthly Report, August 1944 AMG-35(a): Report: MFA&A: Damages to Rennes; Louvre Collections at Chateau Brissac; Glass from Beauvais at Chateau Carrouges AMG-36: Memo on Archives in Rome; Report of Archives Officer in Rome; List of Places in Northern Italy Containing Ministerial Roman Archives 65 AMG-37: Report of Visit of MFA&A Advisor to France, August 1944 AMG-37(a): Monuments of Rouen AMG-38: Report of Conditions in Small Cities South and Southeast of Rome by Col. Newton AMG-39: Report on Exhibition of Masterpieces of European Paintings in Rome by Col. Newton AMG-40: Report on Damage to Pisa; Report on Cases of Sculpture Deposited in Florence AMG-41: Report on Collections in Paris, Versailles and Rouen AMG-42: Three Documents Dealing with German Transactions in Art Objects; Lists of German Personnel AMG-43: Report of Damages to Fiesole and Pisa AMG-44: Report on Conditions in Cities North of Rome by Col. Newton AMG-45: Report on Damages to Marseilles AMG-46: Report of Damages to Arles, Avignon, Chalons-sur-Marne, Marseilles; Archives of Moselle AMG-47: Miscellaneous Documents: MFA&A: French, German, Norwegian Lists; French Museums, Archives, etc. [Miscellaneous Enclosures] AMG-48: Report on Damages to Pistoia AMG-49: Report on German and Italian Activities in Italy Prior to Occupation of Rome; Report on MFA&A Officers in Normandy 321.6: General Mark W. Clark: Bombing of Cassino AMG-50: Condition of Monuments of Troyes, Bruges, Brussels, St. Petersburg AMG-51: Works of Art Stolen by Germans in Italy from Naples, Florence, and Venice AMG-52: German Loot and Vandalism: Compilation of Data in AMG Reports AMG-53: Report of Areas West of the Seine; Also Verdun, Florence, Nimes, Montpellier, Carcassonne, Toulouse, Albi, etc. AMG-54: Interview with Mr. Ernst von Mohnen on German Art Collecting in France 66 AMG-55: List of Protected Monuments in Germany; Works of Art in Greece; List of Photographs of Loreto, Palestrina, Pisa, Tarquinia, Viterbo; Report on Marseilles, Italy, and France AMG-56: Eleventh Monthly Report: Campania, Lazio, Umbria, Abruzzi, Marche, Toscana, Emilia, Villas near Florence AMG-57: Report: MFA&A: Condition in Southern France AMG-58: German Loot from Italy; Destruction in France; Brussels; Dutch Paintings AMG-59: Special Report: MFA&A: Arles, Avignon and Vicinity; Departments: Vaucluse, Herault, Ardeche, Lozere, Tarn, Cantal AMG-60: Florentine Works of Art Stolen by the Germans AMG-61: Removal of German Libraries from Rome AMG-62: Works of Art Transported to Germany [from Italy]; MFA&A: Conditions in France, Belgium, Germany; German Policy re F.A.: Works of Art Transported 1936–1937 AMG-63: Letter from Col. Newton re MFA&A Officers in AFHQ of the MTO; MFA&A: British Personnel: Present Distribution AMG-64: Report on MFA&A to October 1944; Belgium, Germany, Eastern France, Paris; Lists for Germany; Technical Notes; Archives AMG-65: Twelfth Monthly Report: Sicilia, Southern Region, Lazio-Umbria, Abruzzzi, Marche, Toscana, Emilia; Vatican Publications; Articles 67 AMG-66: First through Fifth Monthly Reports AMG-67: Reports on Deposits of Art Treasures in Tuscany AMG-68: Deposits of Art in N. Italy: Indications of Movement; Cesare Fasola AMG-69: Preliminary Reports on Damage to Monuments in Ravenna AMG-70: Excerpts from MFA&A Reports: Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Italy AMG-71: Progress Reports from Military Liaison Headquarters (Greece) AMG-72: 13 Photographs of Organized Deposits of Art Around Florence; Report on Deposits of Art in Lazio AMG-73: Reports, Memo, Gatherings, MFA&A (Lists), 22 August–25 November 1944 by Major Mason Hammond AMG-74: 48 Photos of Restorations in Naples, Benevento, Pompeii, etc.; Miscellaneous Reports of Conditions in Greece, Italy, and Belgium AMG-75: C.A. Summary: SHAEF, MFA&A Conditions in Luxembourg and Germany AMG-76: Conditions in Greece; Colonial Exhibit in Naples, 1940; Italy (Recovery of Loot) AMG-77: Building Terms in Germany; Heimat Museums in Germany; Present State of Monuments in Germany; Two Lists of German MFA&A Personnel 68 AMG-78: C.A. Summary: Strasboury, Domremy, Luxemboug AMG-78 [sic]: Major Scammell Paper on the Duties of MFA&A Officers AMG-80: Thirteenth Monthly Report: MTO AMG-81: Capt. Marvin C. Ross visit to Strasbourg, 10–17 December 1944 AMG-82: Minutes of the 25th Meeting of the Executive Bureau of the Conference of the Allied Ministers of Education; Greek Museums AMG-83: Report: MFA&A: Section G-5, SHAEF, to December 1944 AMG-84: 7 Lists: German MFA&A Personnel; Posters: Metz, Antwerp, Aachen AMG-85: Lists of Monuments of French Indo-China: 26 Maps; Removal of Art from Netherlands During Occupation AMG-86: AMG Lists 9 to 85 Inclusive AMG-87: Status Report of MFA&A in N. ETO by Col. H.C.Newton, 12 October–20 December 1944 AMG-88: Status Report of MFA&A in Metz by Capt. Posey AMG-89: Report on MFA&A in Greece, January 4–11, 1945 AMG-90: Fourteenth Monthly Report; German Guidebook to Bordeaux; C.A. Public Safety Manual on Procedures in Liberated Territories re MFA&A 69 AMG-91: Reports on MFA&A ETO, December 1944; German Archivists in France; Relief and Rehabilitation in Greece AMG-92: Isenheim Altarpiece; Castle of Haut-Koeningsburg; Cathedral at Thann AMG-93: Progress Report from Military Liaison, Greece; C.A. Excerpts for Thann and Masevaux AMG-94: 27 photos: Rimini, Ravenna, Rome, Florence; Repositories in Germany; Documents from Strasbourg; Available MFA&A Information in Germany AMG-95: 5 Posters Used in Protection of Historic Monuments AMG-96: Relief and Rehabilitation of Greece; Excerpts on the Acropolis, Church of Kaisarlani, and the Theater of Dionysos AMG-97: Directives, Handbooks, Lists, MFA&A, for Belguim, Luxembourg and Netherlands AMG-98: Works of Art Acquired and Seized by the Germans in France AMG-99: Fifteenth Monthly Report AMG-100: Some Cases of Wanton Destruction Caused by the Germans in Italy. AMG-101: List of Important Sites in French Indochina with 17 Maps AMG-102: Captured German Documents and POW Material AMG-103: Monthly Report for December 1944: HQCC; Weekly Civil Affairs Summary #37 AMG-104: Various Reports: Greece, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany AMG-105: SHAEF Monthly Report for January 1944: Belgium, Netherlands, France AMG-106: Progress of Reconstruction: Luxembourg, Germany, Boeotia, Florence, Arezzo, Siena, Pisa, Livorno, Lucca, Ravenna AMG-107: Bunjes Paper: Kunstschutz for Strasbourg AMG-108: Kolmar; Athens; Boeotia AMG-109: German Methods of Looting Works of Art in Occupied Territories AMG-110: MFA&A in Bonn, Köln, etc. AMG-111: MFA&A in Greece AMG-112: Documents Issued by G-5, SHAEF AMG-113: Appreciation of Enemy Methods of Looting Works of Art in Occupied Territory AMG-114: White List of German Personnel; Movable Works of Art in N.W. Rheinprovinz; the Einsatzstab Rosenberg AMG-115: War Office Documents AMG-116: War Office Documents 70 AMG-117: First Report from MFA&A Office, 15th U.S. Army (Belgium) AMG-119: Report on Tour of Temporary Duty by Major Mason Hammond AMG-120: Exhibition at Palazzo Venezia; Ambleve; Aachen AMG-121: Sixteenth Monthly Report AMG-122: “Third Edition of Repositories of Works of Art and Archives in Germany” AMG-123: Report on MFA&A Section G-5, SHAEF, February 1945 AMG-124: Two Press Releases: Four Florence Towers; Ancona Treasury AMG-125: MFA&A in Germany: Aachen, Köln, Schloss Brühl AMG-126: Schloss Augustusburg: Brühl, Germany AMG-127: Addendum I to the “Third Edition of Repositories of Works of Art and Archives in Germany” AMG-128: 72 Photos: Series F: The Marche and Emilia AMG-129: CA-MG Weekly Report April 7–11, 1945, G-5, SHAEF; First Report J.N Brown March–April 1945 AMG-130: Displaced Works of Art: Italy; Montecassino Deposit AMG-131: Thailand (Siam) and Indo-China: Official Lists of Protected Monuments Prepared by War Office AMG-132: CA-MG Weekly Field Report: G-5, SHAEF: Archives of Luxemburg and German Cities; Rembrandt Etchings at Hoya AMG-133: Addendum II to the “Third Edition of Repositories of Works of Art and Archives in Germany” AMG-134: [Seventeenth Monthly Report] AMG-135: Addendum III to the “Third Edition of Repositories of Works of Art and Archives in Germany” AMG-136: CA-MG Weekly Field Reports: G-5, SHAEF: Depositories in Western Germany AMG-137: Genoa, Turin, Pavia AMG-138: MFA&A: Conditions in Aachen, Arnhem, Berlin, and Dortmund AMG-139: MFA&A Florence, Arezzo, Ancona, Faenza; Contents of the Salt Mine at Graslebe AMG-140: 88 Photographs of Emilia, Lazio, Toscana, Umbria AMG-141: Looted Art in Occupied Territories, Neutral Countries and Latin America AMG-142: Deposit Found at Schloss Freudenberg; Check-list: Displaced Art in Italy; Museum in Ostia 71 AMG-143: Eighteenth Monthly Report AMG-144: “Fourth Edition of Repositories of Works of Art and Archives in Germany” AMG-145: Special Report on German Repositories; Report of MFA&A to March 1945; ETO Interrogations of Göring on French Art AMG-146: Austria: Klagenfurt, Villach, Tanzenberg, Karlsberg, Lussnitz; Italy: Ravenna, Rimini, Ancona, Rome, Siena, and Bari AMG-147: Italy: Interim Reports on Repairs, Recovery, etc; Austria: Klagenfurt, Gurk, Linz, St. Paul, St. Vith, and Villach Repositories AMG-148: Four German Libraries in Italy: Preliminary Report on Legal Position AMG-149: Addendum I to “Fourth Edition of Repositories of Works of Art and Archives in Germany” AMG-150: MFA&A: ETO: April 1945: Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Holland, Norway AMG-151: MFA&A for May–June 1945 AMG-152: MFA&A: Report on the German Kunstschutz in Italy 1943–1945 72 AMG-153: 19th Monthly Report: MTO: Lazio, Umbria, Marche, Toscana, Emilia, Piemonte, Liguria, Lambardia, Venezia AMG-154: 53 Photographs of Towns in Emilia, Veneto, and Venezia Tridentina AMG-155: “Record of War Damage to Monuments in Italy”, Prepared by the Directorate General of the Fine Arts of the Fascist Republican Government (69 cities) and Supplement AMG-156: Displaced Works of Art: Italy: Works Missing from Montagnana, Poppi, Contini-Bonacossi Collection, Villa Von Marle, and Villa Tocchi AMG-157: ETO: Report on Reichsarchiv, Preussiches Geheimes Staatsarchiv, Reichsgerichtsarchiv AMG-158: “Record on War Damage to Monuments in Italy,” Prepared by the Directorate General of Fine Arts of the Fascist Republican Government, Supplement to March 1945 AMG-159: ETO: Monthly Reports for May and June AMG-160: MTO HQ Letter on Works of Art Stolen from Monte Cassino; MTO Report on German Activities in Adriatic Coastal Zone AMG-161: ETO Military Government: Weekly Information Bulletin #2, August 4, 1945 73 AMG-162: MFA&A: MTO Report for June 1945 AMG-163: MTO: Reports on Repositories at S. Leonardo and Campo Tures; Interrogations of Kunstschutz Personnel AMG-164: Memo on Tranzenberg, Klagenfurt AMG-165: 12 Photos of Ponte Scaligero and Ponte della Pietra at Verona; Letter of Kesselring AMG-166: Looted Art in Occupied Territories, Neutral Countries and Latin America: Revised AMG-167: Official Belgian Receipt of Transfer of Ghent Altarpiece of the Lamb by Van Eyck AMG-168: 50 Photos of Repositiories at Dicomano, Campo Tures and S. Leonardo in Passiria 74 AMG-169: MTO: 21st Monthly Report AMG-170: German Seizure of Works of Art: Collection Ilona Caterina Tocchi Van Marle AMG-171: MTO Interim Reports on ZARA, Missing Paintings from Vipiteno (Sterzing), and MTO 21st Monthly Report AMG-172: Monthly Report of Military Governor, U.S. Zone, Germany: MFA&A, 20 September 1945, No. 2 AMG-173: U.S. Group CC (Germany) on Recent Status of Four German Libraries in Italy AMG-174: MTO: Report on Missing Works of Art from Italy: 1) Deposit from Forli at San Giorgio; 2) Collection Loeser; 3) Villa Reich at Barberino di Mugello AMG-175: MTO: 22nd Monthly Report, August 1945 AMG-176: Monthly Report of Military Governor, U.S. Zone Germany: MFA&A, 20 August 1945, No. 1 AMG-177: MTO: Final Reports for Apulia, Calabria, Abruzzi, Molise, Tuscany, Emilia, and Lombardia AMG-178: MTO: 23rd Monthly Report, September 1945 AMG-179: ETO: Weekly Information Bulletin, 3 November 1945 75 AMG-180: MTO: Final Reports for Sicily, Campania, Umbria, Le Marche, Liguria, Piemonte AMG-181: ETO: Extract: Regalia Returned to Vienna AMG-182: MTO: Final Reports: 14 Regions, General, and Archives AMG-183: MTO: Final Reports: O General; 4 Lazio; 13 Veneto and Venezia Tridentina; 14 Sardinia and Venezia Giulia AMG-184: Report of the General Board, United States Forces, European Theater 76 AMG-184A: ETO: MFA&A Field Reports, July–September 1945 AMG-184B: U.S. Forces, European Theater, Office of Military Government (U.S. Zone) [Field Reports for October 1945] AMG-184C: U.S. Forces, European Theater, Office of Military Government (U.S.Zone) [Field Reports for November 1945] AMG-184D: ETO: MFA&A: Field Reports for December 1945 AMG-185: 14 Photographs: Hoogstraeten Church (Pre-War), Kalkar, Nikolaikirche (Georgsalter, Hochalter) AMG-185A: ETO: 26 Photographic Prints by J.N.Brown, Germany (June–July 1945) AMG-186: ETO: Negative Films (and Index): Series I-G to I-R (January 28–June 1): Captain Hancock (Belgium and Luxembourg) AMG-187: ETO: Photographic Prints of Series I-G through I-N by Captain Hancock and S/C Photos of Stavelot, La Gleize, Malmedy AMG-188: ETO: 84 Photographic Prints (Germany) AMG-189: ETO: 114 Photographic Prints: Series III-C–III-J (December 1944–February 1945) (France, Belgium, Luxembourg) AMG-190: ETO: 321 Negative Film Strip Frames (Huchthausen); 222 Negative Frames of Various Monuments: Belgian, German, Luxembourgeois, French AMG-191: ETO: 84 Photographic Prints: Luxembourg, and Belgium (November 1944–January 1945), Series I-D–I-F AMG-192: ETO: 177 Negative Film Frames on 5 Rolls, Called A through E, with Identification Lists [Germany, Holland] AMG-193: ETO: 114 Negative Film Frames (Unidentified) Called, Rolls 1–4 AMG-194: ETO: 39 Photos, Chateau Chamerolles, Wewelsberg Castle/Gut Boddegen, Osnabruck Museum, Bernterode Resository AMG-195: ETO: 230 Photographic Prints from SHAEF Files: France A–C AMG-196: ETO: 235 Photographic Prints from SHAEF Files: France D–M AMG-197: ETO: 426 Photographic Prints from SHAEF Files: France N–V AMG-198: ETO: 130 Photographic Prints from SHAEF Files: Belgium A–W AMG-199: ETO: 116 Photographic Prints from SHAEF Files: Luxembourg and Holland AMG-200: ETO: 69 Photographic Prints from SHAEF Files: Germany AMG-201: ETO: 139 Photographic Prints from SHAEF Files: France, Germany and Austria: J.J. Rorimer AMG-202: ETO: 107 Photographic Prints of Pre-War Condition of Certain Monuments in Germany AMG-203: ETO: SHAEF Office Files through January 30, 1945 [Index of SHAEF Files] AMG-325: 222.01: Official P.I.D List [Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg] AMG-326: 233.19: Denmark, Copenhagen 77 AMG-329B: Policies and Directives for “Overlord” AMG-330: Official Civil Affairs List of Monuments for France AMG-331: 400.03 AMG-332: 501.01: 21 Army Group HQ AMG-334: FA&M [Fine Arts and Monuments]: Correspondence File; First Army Old Files AMG-335: Special Reports AMG-336: Repositories of German-Owned Works of Art at Ambleve and Waismes, Belgium: First U.S. Army AMG-337: First U.S. Army: [Semi-]Monthly Report [Includes Final Report, 15 May 1945] 78 AMG-338: German-English Dictionary of German Administrative Terms AMG-339: ABC of German Administration and Public Service AMG-340: Interpretation Report (Air Photographs of Bomb Damage) AMG-341: Target List of German Personnel; White List of German Personnel AMG-342: Führer Museum, Linz AMG-343: List of Belgian Chateaux Furnished by Ministre de l’Instruction Publique; List of Netherlands Chateaux Furnished by Netherlands Authorities AMG-344: Report on Collection of Fine Art at Wewelsburg, Westphalia AMG-345: Sample [Inventory] Cards from Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Branch AMG-346: Repositories AMG-347 AMG-348: Lewis: Personal File [MFA&A Reports, Personnel, etc.] AMG-349: Bunjes Report, 1940 AMG-350: MTO 24th and 25th Monthly Reports, October–November 1945: 14 December 1945 AMG-351: MTO: Missing Works of Art: Italy, 19 January, 1946; Works of Art Exported to Germany by Fascists; Collection Van Marle, S. Marco di Perugia AMG-352: ETO: Military Government Weekly Information Bulletin #25, January 19, 1946 AMG-353: ETO: Arrangements: NSDAP and Rooms in Neuschwanstein; Lease [by] NSDAP for Schloss Kogl: 26 March, 1946 AMG-354: ETO: Final Report of J.N, Brown; Report of Lt. Colonel Mason Hammond: 7 September, 1945 AMG-355: ETO: Negative Microfilm Strips (4) of Report on Damaged Monuments in Cologne, May 1945: 25 September 1945 AMG-356: “Jagdschloss Grunewald”, March 1946 AMG-357: “Military Government: Austria” (No. 1, November 1945) [Report of the United States Commissioner] 79 AMG-358: “Military Government: Austria” (No. 2, December 1945) [Report of the United States Commissioner] AMG-359: “Military Government: Austria” (No. 4, February 1946) [Report of the United States Commissioner] AMG-360: Military Government: Weekly Information Bulletin (No.34, 23 March 1946) AMG-361: Military Government: Weekly Information Bulletin (No.35, 1 April 1946) AMG-362: ETO: Raczynski Botticelli Tondo, “Madonna with Child and Singing Angels” AMG-363: ETO: Andriesse Collection AMG-364: ETO: U.S. Group CC Germany: Report (M. Hammond) for Period November 25, 1944–October 4, 1945 AMG-365: ETO: Monthly Reports of Military Governor on Reparations and Restitutions, No. 3 (20 October), No. 4 (20 November), No. 5 (20 December) AMG-366: Goudstikker Firm; MFA&A Supplemental Report on Western Holland AMG-367: ETO: Photographs AMG-368: OMG (Berlin District) Report: MFA&A for November AMG-369: ETO: Photographs [Offenbach Collecting Point] AMG-370: Photographs: Wiesbaden Collecting Point AMG-371: Der Bogen, Vol. I, No. 6 AMG-372: “Sichergestellte Kunstwerke im Generalgouvernement” [Catalog of Artwork Seized in Poland] AMG-373: “TheDevelopment of the Picture Gallery of the Wallraf-Richartz Museum from 1933–1944,” by Otto H. Foerster 80 AMG-374: Castle Seisenegg, Frankfurt am Main AGM-375: Reports on the Munich Central Collecting Point by [Craig Hugh] Smyth, July 1945–February 1946 AMG-376: ETO: 1st U.S. Army Reports, 16 April 1945 and 15 May 1945 AMG-377: ETO: Photographs [Includes Photographs of Einsatzstab Rosenberg Loot] AMG-377 [sic]: ETO: Photographs [Includes War Damage in Baden: A Selection of Photographs] AMG-378: ETO: Photographs [War Damage in Württemberg] SHAEF, G-5: “Functional Manual Containing Technical Instructions for the Use of Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Specialist Officers in Germany,” August 1944 [“Aus Württemberg”] Netherlands and Luxembourg AMG-379: Organization Charts for Wiesbaden Central Collecting Point; Kassel Gallery and Exhibition AMG-380: List of Photographs of Objects at Wiesbaden Central Collecting Point, October 1945–February 1946 AMG-381: Frankfurt am Main Reports on Cultural Objects, the Archival Depot, Collecting Points, and Consolidated Field Reports AMG-382: ETO: Marburg Central Collecting Point Reports, 3 May 1946 and 3 March 1946 AMG-383: Office of Military Government: Württemberg-Baden, February [1946]: Archival Monthly Reports and Monthly Consolidated Field Reports for February, March and April [1946] [Miscellaneous: Restitution; Personnel] AMG-384: ETO: Office of Military Government: Land Greater Hesse: Offenbach Archival Depot: Monthly Reports for March and April 1946 AMG-385: ETO: Wiesbaden Reports: Status of Collecting Point and Consolidated Field Reports for March [1946] 81 AMG-386: ETO: Bavaria: Reports for December 1945 [Includes Reports for January, March, and April 1946] AMG-387: ETO: Bavaria: Monthly District Summary Report, January 1946 [Through April 1946] [Reports for Germany Prepared by American Defense-Harvard Group: Committee on the Protection of Monuments] AMG-388: ETO: Bavaria: Monthly Reports, March–April 1946 AMG Reports [Draft Correspondence] AMG-389: ETO: Nuremberg: Survey of Monuments White List of German Personnel Italian Report for November 1944: Tuscany, 1944 AMG Reports: Miscellaneous

Index to Allied Military Government (AMG) Reports, 1943–1946 (A1, Entry 63) [M1944, Roll 81]

Arranged numerically 1–389.

This series consists of a card file that contains the AMG report number, date of the report, and a description or listing of the report contents.

Captions to Photographs in AMG Reports, 1944–1945 (A1, Entry 64) [M1944, Rolls 81–82]

Arranged alphabetically by country; thereunder by city, town or building; thereunder by Allied Military Government (AMG) report number.

This series consists of a card file that contains an Allied Military Government (AMG) report number and captions for photographs submitted with the report.

See also A1, Entries 64A and 69.

Control Card File for Borrowed Photographs of Cultural Institutions and Artwork in Europe and Other War Areas, 1944–1946 (A1, Entry 64A) [M1944, Rolls 82–83]

Arranged alphabetically by country, and thereunder by region, city, town, or building.

This series consists of a card file in which each card contains some or all of the following information: country name, name of region/city/town/building, photograph caption or description, sources, ETO (European Theater of Operations) or SC (Signal Corps) number, borrower, and date of loan. Includes a miscellaneous section at the end of the series regarding borrowers and lists of SC numbers.

See also A1, Entries 64 and 69.

Special Files, 1944–1945 (A1, Entry 65) [M1944, Roll 84]

Arranged numerically 1–50.

This series consists of a card file containing information such as reports, correspondence, meeting minutes, publications, interviews, telegrams, and summaries relating to Monument, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFA&A) work, most of which are drawn from sources other than the Allied Military Government (AMG) reports.

Summary cards Relating to Allied Millitary Government (AMG) Reports, 1943–1945 (A1, Entry 65A) [M1944, Roll 84]

Arranged numerically.

This series consists of a card file containing an AMG (Allied Military Government) report number along with the dates and subject matter of items in that report. There are cards for selected reports numbered 4 through 134, and for number 305.

See also A1, Entry 63.

Card File of Japanese Works, Collections, Sites, and Installations Requiring Protection, 1946 (A1, Entry 72) [A3383, Rolls 1–9]

Arranged in two parts. The first is arranged alphabetically by region, thereunder alphabetically by prefecture, and thereunder by city or village, except for the Chugoku Region, which was placed at the end of the second roll. The second part is arranged by prefecture and thereunder by city or village.

This series consists of records microfilmed by the Education Ministry of the Imperial Japanese Government in 1946 and contain information on cultural and historic works and sites in Japan requiring protection. The first part consists of two rolls of card files. Each card lists the location, name, ownership, and current physical condition of the work or site, plus a short description or history. The second part consists of seven rolls that originally were duplicated on eight rolls of 35 mm microfilm. Two rolls are combined for economy of space. The records consist of booklets that are unbound, and the handwritten or typed pages are adhered to card stock. Each “card” lists the location, name, ownership, and current physical condition of the work or site, plus a short description or history. The records originally were filmed in reverse order. Therefore, in order for the “cards” or pages to be viewed in ascending order, the microfilm should be fast-forwarded to the end of the roll and read from right to left. The lists of prefectures reflect the order of the records from the end to the beginning of the roll. The original records filmed are not now part of RG 239.

RECORDS RELATING TO THE ART LOOTING INVESTIGATION UNIT OF THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES, 1940–1946 [M1944, Rolls 84–94]

Art Looting Investigation Unit

The formation of an art looting investigation unit under the Office of Strategic Services was authorized by an inter-branch directive dated November 21, 1944. The primary mission of unit was “to collect and disseminate such information bearing on the looting, confiscation and transfer by the enemy of art properties in Europe, and on individuals or organizations involved in such operations or transactions, as will be of direct aid to the United States agencies empowered to effect restitution of such properties and prosecution of war criminals.” The unit maintained an active liaison with the Roberts Commission throughout the war and in the immediate postwar period.

The Washington headquarters had primary responsibility for the administration of the Unit, maintenance of its permanent records, procurement and training of personnel, and integration of field activities. In addition, it maintained direct liaison with The American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas (Roberts Commission); the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives Branch of the Civil Affairs Division, G-5, War Department; the Economic Security Controls Division of the State Department; The Foreign Economic Administration; the Captured Materials and Personnel Branch, G-2, War Department; and, the Foreign Funds Control, Treasury Department.

The Unit was composed of 10 field representatives and analysts. Field headquarters was established in London in January 1945. The London office assumed responsibility for the planning of all field operations, the reception and collation of material submitted by field representatives and the transmission of such material, as well as maintenance of the operational files of the project. It maintained direct liaison with the following allied agencies: The Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives Branches of G-5, SHAEF, USFET, US Group Control Commission (Germany), G-5 AFHQ, Allied Control Commission (Italy), G-5 US Forces (Austria), and the British Element (Control Commission, Germany); the US Chief of Counsel (Nurnberg); the Economic Warfare Division (US Embassy, London); the Ministry of Economic Warfare; the Commission de Recuperation Artistique (France); the Netherlands Ryjksbureau voor de Monumentenzord; the British Committee on Preservation and Restitution of Works of Art, Archives, and Other Material in Enemy Hands (McMillan Committee); and the Inter-Allied Commission for Protection and Restitution of Cultural Material (Vaucher-Gros Commission).

Field Operations of Art Looting Investigation Unit

Spain and Portugal

An investigation of aspects of German art looting activities in the Iberian peninsula in the form of German-owned property present in Spain and Portugal was initiated by the Operations Officer of the Unit late in January 1945. This operation was continued intermittently through May 8, 1945. One case of major importance was developed by the Operations Officer during this period: namely, that of the art holdings of Alois Miedl, a German banker, speculator, and financial agent of Hermann Göring. The Operations Officer interrogated Miedl over an extended period of time and in great detail, and, with the intervention of the U.S. and Dutch diplomatic missions in Madrid, secured the permission of the Spanish Government to examine personally the 22 works of art placed in Miedl’s name in the Free Port of Bilbao. Not only did the Miedl case become the keystone in subsequent investigations by the Unit of German art looting in Holland, but the Miedl-owned paintings were sequestered by the Spanish Government and placed at the disposition of the Dutch Minister as a result of information presented by the Operations Officer to the Spanish Government.

Italy

The Director of the Unit proceeded to Italy on March 10, 1945, to conduct a survey of art looting problems in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, and to supervise the interrogation, at Rome, of Wilhelm Mohnen, German espionage agent and minor participant in German official art looting activities in France. The Italian operation continued through May 1, 1945. Such German looting as had been conducted in Italy was investigated thoroughly by the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives (MFA&A) Branch of Allied Forces Headquarters and of the Allied Control Commission. Continuing liaison was established with these agencies, and the Director of the Unit was able to advise MFA&A officers on outstanding problems. The detailed interrogation of Mohnen revealed little new information concerning German art looting, and was chiefly productive for broad intelligence purposes.

Subsequent to V-E Day, the Unit was requested by AFHQ to dispatch one of its members to Italy to conduct interrogations of leading members of the German Kunstschutz [Note 20] organization who had been captured in the fighting in the North. Because of the Unit’s operation impending in Germany, a member of the parallel British unit undertook this mission at the suggestion of the Director.

England

From January 15, 1945, through V-E Day, the Unit was active in London compiling a master file comprising information on over 2,000 individuals believed to have been active in some degree in German art looting. Close liaison was established and maintained with British, Dutch, and French officials working on the same problem, and the London offices of the Unit became the central repository and clearing house for all information in Allied hands on this subject. Immediately after V-E Day, the Unit issued to all Allied intelligence teams on the Continent, a “high priority” personnel target list carrying the names of 21 individuals considered to be the most prominent figures involved in the German operations and wanted urgently for interrogation and subsequent prosecution.

France

Contact with the French authorities was made initially in Paris early in June 1945. The Unit made available to the French Government all information gained during the German operation, and from other sources, bearing on German art looting in France and affecting French interests. The Operations Officer maintained close liaison from September 1945 through February 1946, with representatives of the Commission de Recuperation Artistique, the Ministry of Justice, and the French intelligence agencies, and acted as informal technical advisor to the French Government in art looting problems. Apart from the material amount of information given to the French agencies, the Unit was directly responsible for the return to France of a number of individual works of art and for the delivery into French custody of several of the Germans most conspicuously involved in the French depredations.

Switzerland

The Unit conducted investigations in Switzerland from November 20, 1945 through January 10, 1946, under the aegis of the Economic Counselor to the American Legation at Bern. The chief problem under consideration was the flow to Switzerland, and the concealment there, of works of art looted by the Germans in the occupied countries. The Director and the Operations Officer conducted interrogations of German and Swiss nationals who had been active in the official German interest, and collaborated with U.S. diplomatic representatives in endeavoring to persuade the Swiss F