The Papers and Book Collection of Colonel William J. Walsh

The papers and book collection of Colonel William J. Walsh were donated to Georgetown University by his widow, Mrs. Helen Walsh. Contained in 64 file boxes, these papers constitute the fruits of Colonel Walsh's forty years of research in organizing and promoting the Citizenship Research Project, which was concerned with studying and teaching the techniques of effective political campaigning - an area of study which had been neglected almost totally until Colonel Walsh began this project. His unique concept involved the use and adaptation of the teachings of the Army command and General Staff School to political campaigning. The book collection, which numbers over 1,600 books, documents, pamphlets and journal issues, covers the broad spectrum of American political history. There is an emphasis on the political history of New York City and State in the 20th Century. This reflects Colonel Walsh's own deep involvement in New York politics beginning in the early 1930's when he was a key organizer of Mayor LaGuardia's first successful campaign for mayor of New York City in 1933. Mrs. Walsh has established, also, an Endowed Lectureship in American Electoral Processes at the University in memory of her husband. The inaugural lecture, scheduled for April 25, 1984, will be given by Ambassador Jean Gerard, the United States permanent representative to UNESCO.