Series IV. Diaries, 1922-1940, inclusive

Among others, records meetings with Ambassador Herrick, Count Bertrand d'Aramond, Norwegian minister de Wedel-Jarlsberg, General Mangin, Andre Tardieu, Marshal Foch, Hughes Le Roux, former Ambassador Wallace, French minister Sarraut, financier Andre Benac (who tells an anecdote concerning Benac's view of what sparked the start of World War I), embassy counsellor Sheldon Whitehouse, Adolph Ochs. Travels to Spain in April-May, and records in detail conversations, art, impressions while traveling largely with the Bynes.

Summarizes his meeting with Georges Clemenceau (October 14), primarily concerning advice on Clemenceau's upcoming trip to the U.S.

In reaction to the death of Sarah Bernhardt, Hyde recalls her performances and his occasional meetings with her. Includes a letter from Associated Press journalist Joseph E. Sharkey with his typed article as submitted about Andre Tardieu, acknowledging that it was the outcome of a dinner with Hyde.

Includes summaries of discussions with Mortimer Schiff (of Kuhn, Loeb) and Ivy Lee about the economic situation in Europe, specifically an Austrian loan (Lee returns to the loan in detail in the diary for March 22, 1924). Includes a page of Vogue magazine that has a photo of Mrs. James Hazen Hyde and her son (page 136 of the diary).

Appointed Grand Officer of French Legion d'Honneur.

Recounted a story regarding antique furniture owned by a friend, which was taken by Germany and subsequently returned to its owners multiple times.

Traveled to Egypt and along the Nile wth Cook's Service, beginning in November. Visits the camp of Professor Reisner of Harvard with Madame Foucard, as well as several other ancient sites. Comments on the restrictions placed on foreign archeologists by the Egyptian government. Also visits the president of American University and others, and makes observations about the culture, architecture, military, politics, etc. The account of the trip continues in the next two diaries.

Account of Hyde's visit to Egypt continues for this entire diary. On February 3, he meets with Professor Breasted who explains his process for photographing and documenting the hieroglyphics found (he meets with Breasted on later dates in the diary as well). Includes typescripts of letters from Ronald Storrs writing from Jerusalem seeking support for a cultural center that would unite peoples across the region's religions. On February 10, Hyde describes his meeting with King Fouad I.

Hyde's Egyptian trip ends in early March. He goes to Italy, where he briefly meets the Pope in Rome (March 25); he returns to Versailles by early April.

Page 47 of the diary is a supplement to the European edition of the New York Herald that includes some photos of Hyde's Paris residence.

Attended the exhibition of Decorative Arts at least three times and is impressed with its beauty and influence.

Traveled to Geneva, visited the League of Nations. Commented that Switzerland itself was a difficult country to govern due to it being home to a multitude of cultures and languages. Traveled on to Italy, specifically Milan and Rome. Begins to think that Germany can remain stable, however the disposition of Mussolini in Italy would lead to civil war.

Contains only newspaper clippings (in French) with little commentary and no diary entries.

Attended a meeting for the committee of the statue commemorating the battle of the Marne, which included the sculptor MacMonnies. Ambassador Herrick also attended, and Hyde recounts favorable anecdotes Herrick told about Aristide Briand. Includes a letter from Franz Boas requesting financial support for the Emergency Society for German and Austrian Science and Art.

Travels to London for an extended stay. Has dinner with the American ambassador, Lady Astor, and many others. Visits theatres, museums, private collections, and shops for artworks. His diary about the trip extends briefly into July, in the next volume.

See also the following diary, which includes out-of-sequence pages for early July when Hyde was in London.

This diary holds the early weeks of July 1926, when Hyde was still in London, then jumps to November 1926. The gap months are in the previous volume. Travels to Genoa from late November to mid-December; this trip appears to be centered primarily on cultural visits. Afterward he goes to Rome, where his visit is the usual mix of politics, geopolitics, economics, culture, etc.; describes at length a pontifical mass he attended (December 31, 1926). On December 26, he dines with Countess Matuschka, who appears several times in later entries; she is likely the Countess he marries in 1930.

Account of trip to Rome continues to March; has glimpse of Mussolini on horseback and has a favorable impression.

Travels to London in mid-May and is there throughout this diary.

London trip ends at start of diary, on August 2.

Traveled to Berlin with side trips to Potsdam, begining April 12. Saw a "speaking cinema," went to the theatre, visited cultural sites and museums, shopped for artwork. Among others saw Friedlander, Kahn, Breasted, Wiegand. Makes reference to Berlin being a "paradise" for Jews (page 358 of the diary).

Account of his trip to Berlin continues; leaves Berlin on June 25, stopping in Baden-Baden before arriving back at Versailles on July 16.

Includes many clippings (one with a photograph) concerning Hyde's receipt of the Grand Croix of the Legion of Honor.

Looked at past philosophical works, including Voltaire. Did not enjoy their works as a form of poetry, but understood this was contemporary writing for the 18th century.

Travels to the Riviera for March and into mid-April. Extensive clippings on the death of Ambassador Myron Herrick, a major presence in Hyde's diaries.

On September 28, Hyde spends the day with Countess Matuschka, who tells him of some of her experiences during the years of World War I. She appears in several entries around this time. The diary includes a copy of the program for Guitry's "Histoires de France" performed at the Theatre Pigalle.

In November, visits Wiesbaden, Mainz, Frankfurt, Cologne, and elsewhere in Germany (at least in part with Herbert Haseltine and Raymond Recouly); makes several observations about German-French relations in the Rhineland and military matters, as well as cultural visits. On the occasion of Clemenceau's death, Hyde records various personal and second hand recollections of the former prime minister.

Substantive summary of Hyde's meeting with Minister of the Interior André Tardieu (December 5), principally concerning French-German relations, and Hyde's first meeting with and advice to the new US Ambassador, Walter Edge (December 18). In reaction to a newspaper piece recalling Henry Frick's death in 1919, Hyde expresses bitterness about Frick in relation to the "Equitable row."

Hyde travels to Germany, including Frankfurt, Dresden, Nuremberg, and Munich, beginning on April 14 and continuing through the entire volume. Initially meets with French General Guillaumat who believes there will be another war with Germany, which is building a military superior to that of France. Most of the entries concern visits to private collections, museums, and residences.

Hyde's travels in Germany continue, in Munich, ending late July; he visits collections there with Countess Matuschka.

In October, the Countess Matuschka visits Hyde in Versailles, seeing his house for the first time; on October 28, a passing reference to his engagement to her. A couple of related clippings (with pictures) at page 101-102.

Includes Hyde's entry of December 8, the day of his wedding to Ella Matuschka; includes clippings, some with photos of the couple at the wedding, with Andre Tardieu.

On June 15, Hyde travels to begin a trip to London, returning to France in early July. On June 16, notes his decision to write a letter of separation from his wife, Ella, who is in Italy.

Travels to Berlin and Potsdam beginning September 30, with Raymond Recouly for much of the trip, ending on October 21. Some individuals he visits voice negative views on the situation in Germany, referring to the Nazis, anti-Semitism, and the financial conditions. He saw a shop in Berlin where silk stockings were mounted on a wax nude figurine, rather than on legs only, and he found this indecent. He describes at length a play by Karl Heinz Martin he sees in the communist quarter of Berlin and comes away impressed.

On December 1, meets the King of Spain at the Chateau de Champs with Dr. Hensler, Cahen d'Anvers, and others.

Includes a panoramic night photo of Harvard across the water (page 49). Includes a photo of Hyde at the Institut d'Aix en Provence, February 18 (page 170).

There is no diary in the collection for March-May 1932. This diary begins in June with Hyde traveling in Germany, until late June. Citizen's arriving late to an opera led to the belief that Germany had lost its sense of discipline since the Reich's takeover.

Includes clippings, program, ephemera, and entries concerning the dedication of Frederick MacMonnies's Marne monument (early-mid September). Hyde is married for a third time, on October 8, to Mme. Thome (commonly referred to as "T" or "Tommie" in the entries). On October 17, they travel to London.

Includes a "listes conferences et articles" from 1913-1918 by Hyde. Hyde's and his wife's visit in London continues, returning to France in early December.

On February 7, Hyde learns of the suicide of Henry Rippe, his "confidential secretary and friend" and "last link with my American business friends."

On August 17, Hyde dines with [Joseph] Duveen, among others, and recounts an anecdote told by Duveen of why he bought a picture at a Christie's auction from the Lord Baltimore collection at a price higher than its value.

On September 30, Hyde and his wife ("Tommie") travel on the Orient Express, arriving in Austria, especially Vienna. They are there for the rest of the diary. Among other activities (mostly cultural), they visit various churches and other cultural institutions, often with art historian Hans Tietze. Among the programs in the diary from this trip are those from the Wiener Philharmoniker (featuring Arturo Toscanini) and from the Burgtheater (featuring Richard Beer-Hofmann's Faust).

The Hydes's trip to Austria continues. On November 22, they travel to Berlin. They return to Paris on December 9. Hyde takes his son, Henry, now age 18, to the American Consulate to formalize Henry's intention to declare himself an American citizen.

On January 22, Hyde's son is in a car accident in England, but survives. Hyde meets with Sato, the Japanese ambassador to France.

The diary opens with a "memorandum" concerning the convention of 1932 between the U.S. and France on double taxation; the memo is dated "Paris, February 26, 1934" but its authorship is unattributed. The memo is in English, with a shorter French version. On March 3, Hyde visits Finance Minister Germain Martin at the request of American ambassador Straus; he summarizes the separate exchanges he had with Straus and Martin. On March 29, Hyde goes to Berlin with Helfer and Frank.

The Hydes's trip to Germany continues, through April 23, when they travel on to Czechoslovakia and Prague. On April 29, Hyde meets with President Masaryk. Leaves Czechoslovakia on May 19 for Poland (Cracow/Krakow and Warsaw). Left for Berlin on May 31 at the diary's close.

The diary opens in Berlin, but the trip ends on June 7.

The Hydes begin a trip to London on October 29.

The Hydes trip to London continues until December 7.

Hyde travels to Berlin on March 11, meeting and traveling with Hensler for part of the time there. He traveled on to Budapest on April 8 and Vienna on April 20.

Hyde's visit to Austria continues; his wife, Tommie, joins him from Paris on May 6. Handwritten documents, in German, from conductor Carl von Alwin at May 12 and June 4. Includes an extended summary of Hyde's conversation over supper with Ambassador Messersmith on May 24. On May 30, Hyde travels with Tietze to Linz and the surrounding area; along the way presumably Tietze (the name is cut out of the diary) tells Hyde of the increasing police power in Austria; later travels with Tommie in Salzburg and other parts of Austria. Arrives in Munich on June 13, then returning to Paris on June 17.

On August 18, Hyde receives notice that the German art historian Erwin Hensler died; Hensler appears frequently in Hyde's entries during his trips to Germany and here Hyde reflects on Hensler.

On September 16, Hyde meets with General Charles Sherrill, who had met with Hitler as arranged by the German ambassador Koster (see September 17). Sherrill voiced optimism about Germany, noting everyone seemed prosperous under Hitler's regime. Hyde disagrees, but appreciates "the propaganda value of dictators."

The diary opens on September 27, with Hyde traveling to Munich, where he visits Dr. Berliner, among others. On October 5, he goes on to Vienna, where he remains, traveling in the area, for the balance of the diary.

Hyde leaves Vienna on December 3 for Berlin (Tommie joins him there on December 12), where he remains for the balance of the diary. On December 21, Hyde is given a tour by Otto Meyer of the stadium and other buildings for the upcoming Olympics.Whether out of discretion or other reason, Hyde's entries for this trip seem to avoid almost all topics but cultural matters.

The Hydes's trip to Berlin continues. A typescript of a letter to Hyde from Ambassador William Dodd is included at January 7, conveying a sense of potential danger to Germans who accept invitations from Dodd. On January 16, sees more of the Olympics facilities with Otto Meyer.

The Hydes continue in Germany. Attends the "Horse Show" (VII. Internationales Reit-Und Fahrturnier); the program is in the diary. On February 6, visits the Harnack Haus (illustrated booklet included in diary). On February 7, is given a tour of Dahlem by Dr. von Cranach, who points out the building in which poison gas was invented; Hyde observes Cranach smiling as he said it. The Hydes left Berlin for Paris on February 25. At the back of the diary is a draft and corrected draft of a document "Impressions de Voyage," in French and presumably written by Hyde upon his departure from Germany.

Diary includes the last day of February and May 1 in addition to the core March-April pages. Includes the checklist for the 1936 annual exhibition of the Cercle de l'Union Artistique. On March 11, Hyde met with Ambassador Straus and "left him some notes," possibly those found in the February 1936 diary. At page 93 are two original letters from Arthur Popham Pope, one to Hyde and the other to Mrs. Hyde, commenting at length on the European situation.

Met with friend who had returned from Italy and was enthusiastic about its state after meeting with Mussolini.

On June 4, Hyde takes the Orient Express to Vienna. On June 26 he goes to Semmering, Austria, for a few days before returning to Paris on July 3. At page 90, there is typescript of a letter from Louis Germain Martin (in French).

At page 81, includes a handwritten poem from the Alwyns to the Hydes; written on stationery of Pavillon de l'Ermitage at Versailles. On September 3, Hyde finds in old files lists of the directors of the various companies he was involved with in the United States (lists are in the diary at page 95); these include American Surety Company, Commercial Trust Company of Philadelphia, Equitable Life Assurance Society, Metropolitan Opera Company, New Theatre, and several others. There are several clippings, programs, etc. related to the celebration of Harvard's 300th anniversary.

The Hydes travel to Vienna on October 1 where they remain throughout this diary.

The Hydes continue in Vienna. Stayed until December 21, when they left for Munich.

On January 1, the Hydes leave Munich for Berlin where they stay for this diary.

Visit in Berlin continues. On February 8, Hyde met General Goering at a dinner at the French Embassy. Tommie left for Paris on February 14, but Hyde remained behind. On February 28, Hyde attends the Opera Ball, which Goering also attends. Hyde returns to Paris on March 4.

The diary opens with the Hydes apparently attending the dedication of the American Meuse-Argonne War Memorial (program included), then traveling to Austria and Germany, starting in Salzburg and Munich; returns to Paris on August 24. (This diary begins a new form of binder for the documents, which was used for the balance of the volumes; the first three original binders were retained as examples, with the remainder removed to folders.)

On November 1, Hyde travels to Munich with Helfer, Perrot and Frank, then on to Vienna on November 4; Tommie joins Hyde on December 6.

Visit to Vienna continues until February 1 when the Hydes go to Berlin.

Hyde and his wife, Tommie's, travels in Germany continue. Goes to the Reichstag on March 19 to hear Hitler and Goering. Tommie returns to Paris in late March while Hyde goes on to London where he makes his typical rounds of embassies, social engagements, and cultural events, including going with Raymond Recouly to see "Nine Sharp" at the Little Theatre, among several others (programs included). On April 1, he attends a lunch given by the Foreign Press Association at which Viscount Halifax provides two anecdotes by way of illustrating the "English character." Tommie rejoins him in London in mid-April. The diary includes a picture postcard postmarked (with swastikas) from Austria featuring a drawing of Hitler. Hyde has meetings with Count Colleredo-Mansfield whose life in Austria has been ruined by the Nazis but is uncertain whether to return there or not.

The Hydes continue in London. On May 10, attends a gala perfomance of the ballet at the Sadler's Wells Theatre, given in the Queen's presence (program included). The Hydes return to Paris on May 18. On May 20, Hyde meets with architect Patrice Bonnet who seeks to build a musical center at Versailles; Hyde provides counsel as to the geopolitical implications of his plans. The King and Queen of England visit France on July 22 and Hyde describes some of the related events; the diary includes a related program and an identification card with photograph of Hyde.

In August, Hyde stayed at Aix-les-Bains for health reasons. On August 9, Hyde has lunch with a Reverend Pere Gillet who describes the Pope's anger with the pro-Nazi attitude of Austrian cardinal Innitzer, who explains it as related to Hitler's promise of special treatment to Austrian and German Catholics. On August 19, he meets with French ambassador to the U.S. Comte de Saint-Quentin and Hyde documents various anecdotes he hears related to American-German relations. Hyde's sister dies and he attends her funeral in Paris at the American Cathedral on September 9. On September 16 sees the film "Jeunesse Olympique" and bemoans the contrast between nations working together on sports, but not in other realms. On September 30, Hyde meets with Hugo Burghauser who explains he escaped from Austria with only his musical instruments and clothes, and is headed for New York. As the Czechoslovakia situation intensifies, France begins to mobilize for war; workers appear at Hyde's home in Versailles to plan defensive trenches. On October 23, has lunch with Hans Tietze and his wife who left Austria just before the Anschluss and are also heading for the U.S.

The Hydes go to Cannes and the French Riviera in January. Visit Tardieu's new home at Menton on February 2 and provide description of it; the menu of their lunch is included.

Hyde travels to the Netherlands(the Hague, Amsterdam, Leeuwarden, etc.) beginning in mid-April, motors with Sarah Benton, visits bookdealers, antiquarians, and museums. On April 27, Hyde rides a diesel-electric train of the Netherlands Railways; diary includes itinerary, train description, and 3 photographs.

Hyde's trip to the Netherlands continues until about May 6, primarily visiting art museums.

On July 4, a newspaper article about an 1874 kidnap victim, Charley Ross, causes Hyde to recall that the event had created fear at the time in Hyde's father and "poisoned" Hyde's youth. On July 6, attends and describes Sacha Guitry's fourth wedding (invitation in diary). On July 13, meets with Pierre Verlet of the Louvre, who will be cataloging Hyde's collection on the four parts of the world. July 19 includes a transcription of a letter and related obituary Hyde received from Naomi DesVernay regarding the death of her husband, William, an African-American who apparently worked for Hyde around 1900 and had expressed admiration to his wife about Hyde. On July 28, the Hydes travel to Geneva and elsewhere in Switzerland. On July 30 visits the Palais de la Societe des Nations and comments positively on the building. Had meetings with archaeologist Arthur Evans who was staying in the same hotel. On August 3, Hyde documents his visit with Henry de Rothschild. Hyde returns to Paris on August 23, noting that the German-Russian treaty will "complicate the situation which is already bad enough." August 24 includes a notice from the American Embassy advising American citizens to return to the U.S. In the following days, members of Hyde's household staff are mobilized for war and leave.

France declares war on Germany and Hyde discusses the mobilization, his concerns about his exposure at his home in Versailles, his attempts to make himself useful as during World War I, and other matters related to the opening of the war, though he continues his walks, social rounds, lunches at the Ritz, visits to the cinema, etc. During this time, John Jay Ide is staying as a guest at Hyde's home in Versailles. On September 22 he meets with Lefeuvre, formerly of the French Embassy in Berlin, who described the departure of the staff from the embassy. On November 3, Hyde notes "War is a very fatiguing and depressing affair," which captures the general tone of many of his entries at this time.

Traveled to Switzerland (Bern) beginning January 10, returning on February 3, expressing comfort with being back with the French Army and Maginot Line. On February 6, sees the film "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," which he likes.

March 21 includes a carbon copy of a letter from a Dean to E.B. Close of the American Hospital of Paris regarding the American Hospital's and the Red Cross's plans for relief in France. On March 28, sees the "Jewish propaganda film" Apres Mein Kampf les Crimes and provides an extended critique and impressions of key scenes. At page 168 is a carbon copy of a memo from Paul Azan of the Comite Militaire Franco-Finlandais titled "L'Action en Scandinavie"; numbered as 30 and dated March 15; the memo is updated by number 51 dated April 6, also here, and number 54 dated April 19 (at page 212). 10 sheets total, all in French. On April 11, Hyde meets with his lawyer, Robinson, to finish his new will. The diaries end at April 30, a few weeks before the German invasion of France.