Kathleen Bell papers

Collection

Identifier: SSC-MS-00263

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Kathleen Bell Papers include material related to her work for the United Nations and the U.S. government. It also contains writings, memorabilia, professional and personal correspondence that includes letters from college in 1945-46, and material related to trustee work at Smith College, Madeira School, and Washington Theological Consortium.

Dates of Materials

Creation: 1941 - 1991

Creator

Bell, M. Kathleen, 1922-2007 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research use without restriction beyond the standard terms and conditions of Smith College Special Collections.

Conditions Governing Use

To the extent that she owns copyright, Bell has assigned the copyright in her works to Smith College; however, copyright in other items in this collection may be held by their respective creators. For reproductions of materials that are governed by fair use as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission to cite or publish is required. For instances which may regard materials in the collection not created by Bell, researchers are responsible for determining who may hold materials' copyrights and obtaining approval from them. Researchers do not need anything further from Smith College Special Collections to move forward with their use.

Biographical Note

M. Kathleen Bell was born in Washington, D.C. in 1922. She received an A.B (1944) and a honorary M.A. (1959) from Smith College. She worked for the Department of State, 1944-73, as a foreign affairs officer in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs. She was an organizer and officer of International Economic and Social Affairs (ECOSOC) from 1950-66. She served as a U.S. advisor for United Nations Economic and Social Council and General Assembly affairs from 1944-66. Bell served as a trustee of Smith College, 1976-82, and chair of the Board 1979-82. She was also a trustee of the Madeira School (VA), and Washington Theological Consortium. She worked with a number of international organizations, including the International Labor Organization and International Atomic Energy Agency.

Extent

8.667 linear feet (8 containers)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The collection contains the professional and personal papers of M. Kathleen Bell, a foreign affairs officer in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs, an organizer and officer of International Economic and Social Affairs (ECOSOC), and a U.S. advisor for United Nations Economic and Social Council and General Assembly affairs from 1944-66. Also included is material related to her work as a trustee of Smith College, the Madeira School, and Washington Theological Consortium.

Arrangement

This collection has been added to over time in multiple "accessions." An accession is a group of materials received from the same source at approximately the same time.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was gifted to Smith College Special Collections between 1978 and 1994 by Kathleen Bell. This collection is comprised of the following accessions, none of which have accession records. Accession numbers: no accession number (8+ accessions), 83-39, 91S-37, 94S-30. Accessions were received on the following dates: 1978-1983, 1994.

Processing Information

Between September 2022 and February 2023, Smith College Special Collections renumbered many boxes to eliminate duplicate numbers within collections in order to improve researcher experience. The following changes were made in this collection: Accession 1991-S-0037, Box 1 renumbered as Box 8