Archimedes L. A. Patti Research Papers
Scope and Contents
The collection is divided into three series based on the type of manuscript materials found in the collection. Many parts of this collection were found not to be in the original order as created by Patti. Where possible, original order was retained while remaining materials were organized by material type.
Series I: Research, 1922-1993, Undated, contains research notes created by Patti. These notes can be found throughout the series in various forms, mostly handwritten directly on news clippings, photocopied monographs, magazines and in personal notebooks. This series also includes photographs, an audio tape, handwritten and typed index notecards, maps of Indochina and scrapbooks created by Patti.
Series II: Photographs, 1919-1990, Undated, Materials in this series include original negatives and images, as well as those given to and collected or copied by Patti. Please refer to the included scrapbooks (Series I, box 10) for additional notations and images.
Series III: Publications, 1948-1990, Undated, contains draft and final manuscript materials for the author's published and unpublished works. This series includes reviews of the author's published work by the Washington Post, New York Times, and CBS.
Dates
- created: 1922-1993
Conditions Governing Access
The entire collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Equipment is not available for playing the 8 inch floppy disks in Series I.
Biographical or Historical Information
Archimedes L. A. Patti was a writer, historian and retired Army lieutenant colonel best known for his work with Ho Chi Minh 1945 and his subsequent 1980 book, Why Viet Nam? Prelude to America’s Albatross. After his service in the European Theater during World War II, Patti was transferred to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS – precursor to CIA) in Hanoi, Vietnam. While there, Patti was named head of a secret OSS mission under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt designed to support anti-colonialism in Asia. Part of Patti’s mission was to befriend Ho Chi Minh and train Ho’s men to fight the occupying Japanese forces in Vietnam. Patti was later pulled out of Vietnam by the United States in 1945 but he continued his friendly relations with Ho and his representatives. After his retirement, Patti worked closely with federal agencies in creating plans for civil governance in the event of a catastrophic attack on the US. Patti also became a well-known writer, recounting his work with Ho in 1945 and the changing face of politics in the Indochina region. Held for publication in the 1950s due to its controversial subject matter on communism, Patti’s book, Why Viet Nam? Prelude to America’s Albatross was published in 1980 and became known as a critical work on the study of politics in Asia. Patti passed away in Winter Park in 1998 at age 84 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC.
Extent
20.25 Linear Feet (27 Boxes, 1 Flat File)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection contains the research materials collected by Archimedes L. A. Patti for use in his historical writings. Known for his military career, his work in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and his relationship with Ho Chi Minh, Patti was recognized later in life as a respected researcher and historian on Indochina affairs. Notes, manuscripts, ephemera, photographs, maps, books and scrapbooks are held in this collection. Of important note are photographs given to Patti by Ho Chi Minh in 1945.
Method of Acquisition
Mr. Patti's wife, Margaret Telford Patti donated these materials to the University of Central Florida Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives in 1998 (CFM1998_02).
Processing Information
Processed by Alexandra Olsen, April Karlene Anderson and Katie Seeler; finding aid prepared by April Karlene Anderson, Jonathon Teasley and Katie Seeler. Photographs processed by Sandra Varry, encoded by Kelly Gaiser. Rusty staples and paper clips have been removed where necessary. Paper materials were placed in acid free folders which in turn are housed in acid free boxes. Some photographs were placed in mylar enclosures to protect flaking emulsion. All photographs were placed in acid free folders. Negatives were placed into acid free sleeves and stored in acid free folders. Scrapbooks have been wrapped in acid free paper and tied with cotton cloth to prevent further damage.
Subject
- United States. Central Intelligence Agency (Organization)
- United States. Army (Organization)
- Patti, Archimedes L. A. (Person)
- Hồ, Chí Minh, 1890-1969 (Person)
- Title
- Archimedes L. A. Patti Research Papers
- Author
- Alexandra Olsen, April Karlene Anderson and Katie Seeler
- Date
- 00/00/2008
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the UCF Special Collections Repository
Special Collections & University Archives
University of Central Florida Libraries
P.O. Box 162666
Orlando Florida 32816-2666 US
(407) 823-2576
speccoll@ucf.edu