Writings, 1950s-2016

Scope and content:

The Writings Series includes notes, outlines, drafts, and published versions of the Matlocks' writings. Materials are grouped into subseries by type of work and author.

The bulk of the Writings Series consists of Jack Matlock's numerous articles, essays, and short works of non-fiction, some of which overlaps with his Foreign Service career and some of which he wrote in response to world events following his retirement. The Articles subseries has been arranged by title. It contains book reviews, op-eds, speech drafts, letters to the editor, researched essays, and reflective or memoir-style prose. Topics tend to be the Soviet Union or Russia, U.S. foreign policy in Europe, NATO, the United Nations, and other commentary.

There are two subseries for Jack Matlock's books: Autopsy on an Empire (Random House, 1995) and Reagan and Gorbachev (Random House, 2005). Materials in these subseries include research, outlines, drafts, and correspondence. Most drafts are dated but are not necesarily arranged in chronological order.

The remainder of Jack Matlock's writings are grouped as Other Works, and include some preliminary outlines and drafts for Superpower Illusions, as well as some translations and unfinished short stories.

Rebecca Matlock's Spaso House subseries contains drafts and outlines for this book, published in Russia in 2004. There are additional subject files on Spaso House in the Subject Files series.

The subseries for RM's Other Writings contains drafts and projects dating from the 1950s through 2017. Most pieces are anecdotal or reflective on the Matlocks' travels and experiences living around the world. There are some unidentified creative works, presumably by Rebecca.

Finally, there is a subseries for the Dear Everybody Letters, written by Rebecca during the Matlocks' foreign service work in Prague and Moscow, and sent to friends and family in the United States. These newsletter-style photocopied mass letters were collected by Joe Matlock and saved for the archive. The Dear Everybody Letters contain detailed descriptions of people and scenes, and RM's personal insights into the family's daily activities at the embassy.

Contents

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Collection restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Original audiovisual materials are closed to use. Viewing copies available; contact Research Services to coordinate access to viewing/use copies.

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The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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