Trips Abroad

A few weeks ago, I began processing items from Congressman Hugh Peterson’s post-Congressional work. He visited Europe in the fall of 1946 to survey Post-War Germany and determine if he could be of help to U.S. Forces on the continent. Although he lost his bid to remain in Congress earlier that year, Peterson still wanted to render a public service to the United States. He was able to do this when General Lucius Clay appointed him to an advisory panel regarding West Germany from 1948 to 1950.

On his trip in 1946, Peterson visited many countries, met a variety of people, and brought different letterheads back to Georgia with him. These pieces of paper hearken back to a time when letters and telegrams were equal to today’s text messages and emails. What one wrote upon signified a great deal about who they were and what they were doing. Below are some snazzy examples of letterheads from Peterson’s trip to Europe in 1946 (and one from a letter he received from Venezuela in the same year). You can still stay in all of these establishments (even the RMS Queen Mary) but I doubt the stationary is as nice today!


Post by Renna Tuten, Project Archivist, Russell Library