Series II.D. Office of the President and Chairman of the Board: Ralph P. Davidson Files, 1978-1987, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
Ralph P. Davidson's files include his files from roles as chairman of the board, outside charitable work while chairman, and as assistant to Time Inc. President James Shepley.
Arrangement
Organized into three subseries:
Subseries II.D.1. Chairman of the Board: Subject Files
Subseries II.D.2. Chairman of the Board: American Corporate Aid for Lebanon Inc. Files
Subseries II.D.3. Office of the President: Assistant Files
Biographical Note
Ralph P. Davidson joined Time Inc. in 1954 as an advertising salesman for Life. In 1969 Time promoted him to an associate publisher position and by 1972 he was the publisher. With this promotion, Time Inc. also made Davidson a vice president of the company. From late 1978 through 1980, he served in a special assistant position to Time Inc. President James Shepley. The Time Inc. board of directors elected Davidson to join in April 1980 and in June elected him to the position of chairman. He served in this role through at least 1985. By 1987 he was chairman of the executive committee. Davidson left Time Inc. in 1988 to take a role as chairman of the Kennedy Center in Washington.
Citations:
Langer, Emily. "Ralph P. Davidson, former chairman of Time Inc. and Kennedy Center, dies at 86." The Washington Post, August 2, 2014. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/ralph-p-davidson-former-chairman-of-time-inc-and-kennedy-center-dies-at-86/2014/08/02/905dfed4-166f-11e4-9e3b-7f2f110c6265_story.html.
Personnel and Organization: Department Head Lists. Time Inc. Reference Files, MS 3009-RG 3, New-York Historical Society.
Subseries II.D.1. Chairman of the Board: Subject Files, 1978-1987, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
Ralph Davidson's subject files document his work regarding following legislation or government committees regarding issues that could affect Time Inc. and corresponding with congresspeople and others on these matters. The files were sent to the archives by Davidson's assistant Elza Forster.
Arrangement
Organized alphabetically with arrangement imposed.
Archives transfer note, 1987, inclusive
Cable Legislation, 1983-1986, inclusive
Employee Equal Opportunity Roundtables, 1985-1986, inclusive
Gannett Company: Life: Trademark, 1983, inclusive
Manhattan Cable, 1985-1986, inclusive
Minority Business Development Program, 1985, inclusive
Pornography Commission, 1986, inclusive
Postal Affairs, 1978-1986, inclusive
Tender Offer Legislation, 1984-1985, inclusive
Time Canada: General, 1984-1986, inclusive
Time Canada: Postal Situation, 1984-1986, inclusive
Subseries II.D.2. Chairman of the Board: American Corporate Aid for Lebanon Inc. Files, 1982-1984, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents Note
The files on American Corporate Aid for Lebanon Inc. contain the statement of purpose, request letters, speeches given by Davidson, lists of contributors (includes Warner Communications), corporate organization records, and activity reports from the other participating corporations (Ford Motor Company), reactions from members of the United States government (including vice president George H.W. Bush), recipients of aid funds (American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, American Near East Refugee Aid, Al-Kafaat Institute), and the League of Red Cross Societies.
Arrangement Note
Organized alphabetically with arrangement imposed.
Historical Note
In 1982, Ralph P. Davidson created American Corporate Aid for Lebanon Inc. (ACAL), a 501(c)3 organization. It was not affiliated with Time Inc. The organization collected funds from American companies to aid organizations in the relief of the civilian population of Lebanon in the aftermath of an Israeli military operation. ACAL dissolved in 1983.
Archives Transfer Forms, 1984, inclusive
Ajami, Riad: Special Proposal, 1982, inclusive
Audit, 1983, inclusive
Correspondence: General, 1982-1983, inclusive
Scope and Contents Note
Includes digital material.
1 computer disc (floppy disk) : 8 in.
Correspondence: Response to Solicitation, 1982, inclusive
Correspondence: Solicitation, 1982, inclusive
Correspondence: Transmittal Agencies, 1982, inclusive
Correspondence: United States Government Officials, 1982, inclusive
Disbursement of Contributions, 1982-1983, inclusive
Documents, 1982-1983, inclusive
File Storage, 1984, inclusive
Press Conference, 1982, inclusive
Progress Reports, 1982-1983, inclusive
Proposals, 1982-1983, inclusive
Relief Organization Information, 1982, inclusive
Reports, 1982-1983, inclusive
Requests for Contributions, 1982-1983, inclusive
Requests for Employment, 1982-1983, inclusive
Suro, Mary: Investigation of Project, 1983, inclusive
Telex File, 1982-1983, inclusive
Subseries II.D.3. Office of the President: Assistant Files, 1978-1983, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents Note
This series contains the files of Ralph P. Davidson as corporate vice president while working as an assistant in the Office of the President. Some of the early travel files are while he was still Time publisher. The files include his work on corporate issues and travel to Time International offices and on newstours trips. The files were sent to the archives by Davidson's assistant Elza Forster.
Arrangement Note
Organized alphabetically. The travel files are in chronological order based on the original arrangement.