VOLUME: 26 linear feet
ACCESS: This collection is open to the public upon request.
COPYRIGHT: Please consult the archivist for information about duplication or publishing of any materials from this collection.
Charles W. Corddry Jr. was born on March 20, 1920 to Charles W. and Machree Allender Coddry in Snow Hill, Maryland. He graduated from American University in 1941.
Corddry joined the United Press news wire service’s foreign division in 1941. He served as UP’s aviation (1946-1950) and Department of Defense (1950-1967) correspondents. Corddry worked for the Baltimore Sun's Washington bureau from 1967 through 1989. He continued to write occasional articles for the paper up until 1995. He was one of the original panelists on Washington Week in Review from when it began in 1967 through 1991. He lectured at Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y and twenty-two other small liberal arts colleges on a Woodrow Wilson fellowship program.
While a wire service reporter, Corddry covered World War II, the founding of NATO, and the Korean War. He was credited with filing the first report of U.S. troops crossing the 38th parallel. During his long career, he reported on both the construction and the destruction of the Berlin wall.
Corddry won several awards for his work including the first Gerald R. Ford prize in 1988 for distinguished reporting on national defense and the Air Force Association's Gill Robb Wilson award for "consistently excellent reporting and analysis" of defense and foreign policy issues. He was elected to the Hall of Fame of the Society of Professional Journalists. He received honorary degrees from Salisbury State University and Hartwick College.
He married Marion Mattes in 1943. They had three children Charles W. Corddry III, Philip M. Corddry, and Karen Corddry Bricken. Charles W. Coddry Jr. died on March 31, 1996.
This collection documents the life and work of journalist Charles W. Corddry Jr. through appointment diaries (1957-1988), articles written and collected by Corddry, audiovisual materials (1962-1991), awards, correspondence (1941-1996), notes, photographs (1948-1995), scripts (1967-1991), and speeches (1950-1996). The articles (1940-1995) written by Charles Corddry are in variety of formats including drafts, typeset articles, and published newspaper clippings. Of note are the research files for his press trips and special assignments which cover a broad range of aviation, foreign affairs, and military topics. Included is a small selection of correspondence of his wife, Marion Corddry, dating from 1943 until 1998. The bulk of Marion Corddry’s correspondence is condolence cards sent upon her husband’s death. This collection is divided into eight series.
Marion Mattes Corddry donated her husband’s papers to the University of Maryland Libraries in 2000 and American University Library in 2007. The two collections were merged in 2007.
The archivist organized this collection into eight series. Original order was retained wherever possible. Folder contents were transferred to archival folders and the original folder titles were retained whenever possible. The archivist placed undated items at the end of each file. All paper clips and staples were removed and duplicates were discarded. Newspaper clippings were unfolded and flattened.
Series Descriptions and Box & Folder Listing
Series 1: Press trips and special assignments (1945-1989)
3.0 linear feet
This series consists of materials created or used by Charles Corddry to research and report upon select military and foreign affairs topics between 1945 and 1989. The majority of the documents relate to special press tours. The series includes notebooks, loose leaf notes, edited and unedited copy, clips of articles written by Corddry and other journalists, correspondence, photographs, schedules, expense reports, background material, and ephemera such as menus, tickets and travel permits, and souvenirs and postcards. The around the world trip in 1968 includes reporting from Vietnam. The aviation, misc. file contains autographs from industry notables.
Box 1
Caribbean [and South America], 1945 (2 folders)
Aviation, misc., 1946 - 1960
Iceland, 1947
Round-trip Tokyo via B-29, 1947
B-36 investigation, 1948-1949, 1951, undated (5 folders)
Korea and Japan, 1950
See Also: Series 5
Background, 1950-1951
Clippings, 1950-1951
Copy and bulletins, 1950
Correspondence, 1950
Maps, 1950
See Also: Oversize
Notes, 1950
Photographs, 1950
Alaska, 1950 – 1964
Quantico, 1952
London to Rome jet plan trip, 1952
Thule [Greenland], 1952
Box 2
Quantico, 1954-1956 (3 folders)
Canada, 1956 (2 folders)
Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line [Press Tour], 1956
See Also: Oversize
101 st Airborne Division [ Fort Campbell, Ky.], 1956
Europe [and Middle East], 1957
Antarctica, 1957 – 1958
See Also: Oversize.
Europe, 1958
[Electronic surveillance/U.S. planes downed over U.S.S.R.], 1958 - 1961
Space [flight] - military, 1959 – 1964
Missile series, 1960
Kennedy Atlantic Fleet trip, 1962
Elvis Stahr interviews, 1962
Burials at Arlington Cemetery, 1963
Operation “Big Lift,” 1963
Manned orbiting laboratory - space, 1963 – 1967
Guerilla war series, 1965
Middle East, 1967
[Air war in Vietnam], 1967
M16, 1967
Round the world trip, 1968 (3 folders)
Sevastopol, USSR, 1989
Series 2: Articles (1940-1995)
5.0 linear feet
This series contains articles written by Charles Corddry in a variety of formats including drafts, both edited and unedited, typeset, and published newspaper clippings. It also contains Corddry’s scripts from his regular appearances on the public television program Washington Week in Review. See Series 1 for articles relating to Corddry’s press trips and special assignments, and Series 3 for articles specifically about NATO.
Box 3
1940-1944
1944 (2 folders)
1945 (2 folders)
1946
1947
1948
1949
1940s
1950
1951 (3 folders)
1952 (2 folders)
1953 (2 folders)
1954
Box 4
1955 (2 folders)
1956-1957
1957
1958
1959
1950s
1960
1961
1962 (2 folders)
1963 (2 folders)
1964
1965
1966
1967 (2 folders)
1967 WETA
Box 5
1968
1968 WETA
1969
1969 WETA
1960s
1970
1970 WETA
1971
1971 WETA
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1970s
1980-1982
1983-1986
Box 6
1987-1988
1989
1980s
1990-1991
1992-1995
Series 3: Background, notes, and subject files (1919-1995)
11.5 linear feet
This series contains Charles Corddry’s background materials, research, notebooks, and loose leaf notes. The subject file documents Charles Corddry’s varied professional interest in journalism, aviation, military, and foreign affairs through correspondence, books, and newspaper and magazine articles. Included are files on the public television program Washington Week in Review, on which Corddry served as a panelist between 1967 and 1991. The NSC system file includes material on the Iran-Contra Affair. The NATO files include some articles by Corddry.
Box 6 (continued)
[Air power and strategic bombing], 1945-1946, 1948-1949, 1951, undated (2 folders)
[Air transportation], 1944-1945
Aircraft, 1944-1977, undated (6 folders)
Air Force, 1944-1992, undated (7 folders)
Box 7
[Air National Guard], 1961-1966
[American University], 1964-1966
[Antartica], 1966
Armed Forces News Bureau, 1966-1967
Army, 1955-1965
Army, 1966-1987 (2 folders)
[Aviation Policy], 1944-1948 (2 folders)
[Aviation publications, corporate reports, and brochures], 1946-1951, 1966
Backgrounders, 1962-1972, undated
Balchen, 1956
Berlin, 1948-1949, 1958-1963, undated (2 folders)
Bethe, Hans, 1962
Britain, 1948-1981, undated (4 folders)
Budget, U.S. Government, 1964-1967
[Business cards], undated
Casualties, 1954-1966
[China], 1951-1966
China incidents, 1967
Churchill, Winston, 1949 – 1965 non-inclusive
[Cold War], 1962, 1989-1994
Congo Airlift, 1960-1962
Box 8
Congo Airlift, 1960-1962
[Cuba], 1959-1963
[Defense Department], 1948-2003, undated (5 folders)
[Addresses and Statements], 1960-1967, 1979 (2 folders)
[Budget], 1952, 1961-1987 (3 folders)
[Manpower], 1944-1967
Deep Submergence, 1965-1967, undated (2 folders)
Deterrence, 1955, 1981, 1986-1988, undated
Discrimination, 1963, 1967
Dominican Republic, 1965, undated
[Eisenhower, Dwight D.], 1950-1964, 1984
[Foreign Policy], 1943-1994 non-inclusive
[France], 1966
[Future Trends], 1959
[Germany], 1966-1994
Greece, 1967 and undated
[Greenland], 1957
Gulf of Tonkin, 1964
See Also: Vietnam War
Historic Newspapers, 1940, 1945
Box 9
Historic Newspapers, 1945
Historical, 1955-1966
Hitler’s last days, 1947
[Hydrofoils], 1919, 1955-1966, undated, non-inclusive (2 folders)
[India], 1962-1964
[Japanese surrender], 1944-45, 1954, 1961, 1995, undated
[Johnson, Lyndon B.], 1963-1967
[Joint Chiefs of Staff], 1958-1982 non-inclusive
<[Journalists and journalism], 1931, 1963, 1977, 1980, 1986, undated
“Jungle Journey” manuscript, undated
[Kennedy, John F.], 1961-1967
[Korea], 1950-1953 (3 folders)
Korea Air Operations, 1945-1946, 1950-1952, undated
[Korean War], 1950-1954
[ LeMay, Curtis], 1965
[Lindbergh, Charles], 1970
MacArthur, Douglas, 1950-1952, 1964
[Manuals], 1954, undated
[Marshall, George C.], 1960
[McCarthy, Joseph], 1951-1954
McNamara, Robert, 1960-1968
Addresses and Statements, 1961-1967 (4 folders)
Mencken, H.L., 1930 - 1974, undated, non-inclusive
See Also: Series 7
Box 10
Mencken, H.L. – Writings, 1936-1948, undated(2 folders)
[Middle East], 1951-1991 non -inclusive
Militant Liberty, 1955-1956
Military and the Media, 1948, 1957, 1961-1967, 1984-1987, 1994, undated (2 folders)
Military Biographical Information, 1964, 1993, undated
[Military Chaplains], 1967
Miscellaneous story possibilities, 1950 -1988, undated, non-inclusive
[Missiles], 1948-1967, undated (4 folders)
NATO, 1951, 1953, 1955-1967, 1981-1984 undated (5 folders)
Norstad, Lauris, 1956-1960, 1988, undated
Navy, 1953-1960
Box 11
Navy, 1961-1969, 1991 (5 folders)
[NORAD], 1964-1966
[North Korea], 1994
Northeast U.S. Power Failure, 1965
Notebooks, 1950, 1956-1963, 1989-1995 (4 folders)
Notes, 1943-1995, undated, non-inclusive (2 folders)
NSC System, 1970, 1985-1987, 1994, undated
Nuclear power, 1951-1989, undated (7 folders)
Box 12
[Persian Gulf], 1992
[Photography], 1961
[Psychological Experiments – Carol Paliwoda], 1975-1976
[Railroads], undated
Reagan, Ronald, 1983, 1993, undated
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, death, 1945
Sea Power History, 1993
Selective Service/Draft 1964-1967, undated (2 folders)
[Soviet Union], 1948-1994, undated (4 folders)
Space, 1949-1999 non-inclusive (2 folders)
Spain, 1957-1966
[Special events], 1949, 1958, 1962
Speeches and commentary, 1945 – 1990 non-inclusive
[Strategy], 1955-1996 non-inclusive
[Stringfellow, Douglas R.], 1954
[Symington, W. Stuart], 1950s
TFX, 1961-1968, undated (4 folders)
Hearings, 1963
[Truman, Harry S.], 1952-1953
Box 13
[U-2], 1960
[“The United States in a New World,” Fortune reports], 1942-1943
[Vietnam War], 1954-1971, undated (9 folders)
Vinson, Carl, 1961
Washington Week in Review, 1968 – 1991, undated, non-inclusive (2 folders)
See Also: Series 7, Series 5, Series 2 for scripts
Watson, Mark, 1962, 1965-1966
[Weapons], 1950-1967, 1990
Wilson, Charles, 1953-1954 (4 folders)
Box 14
Wilson, Charles 1955-1957, undated (4 folders)
[World War II], 1940-1960, undated
[Writing], 1948-1949, 1966
Zuckert interview, undated
Series 4: Appointment diaries and schedules (1950-1988)
0.5 linear feet
This series comprises Charles Corddry’s schedules from 1950-1951 and pocket appointment diaries, engagement books, and calendars between 1957 and 1988. Diaries for the years 1963 and 1982 are not included in the collection.
Box 14 (continued)
Schedules, 1950-1951
Calendars, 1957-1961
Appointment diaries, 1962-1988 non-inclusive (5 folders)
Series 5: Speaking opportunities (1948-1996)
0.5 linear feet
This series consists of materials related to Charles Corddry’s speaking opportunities between 1948 and 1996. Included are notes, talking points, and copy, correspondence, programs, newspaper clippings, expense reports, and photographs. Folders 1 and 2 contain material connected with Corddry’s speeches about Korea from 1950 through 1952. Speeches delivered at award ceremonies are found in Series 8.
Box 14 (continued)
1948 – 1996 and undated, non-inclusive (5 folders)
See Also: Oversize
Notes and background, 1942 – 1993, undated
Series 6: Biographical and personal materials (1940-1996)
0.5 linear feet
This series contains a variety of biographical and personal materials related to Charles Corddry between 1940 and 1996. Included are honors and awards, resumes, biographical articles, press identification, expense accounts, obituaries and memorials. The honors and awards files contain certificates, programs, photographs, correspondence, speeches, and academic regalia related to Corddry’s two honorary doctoral degrees. Expense reports for Corddry’s press trips and special assignments and speaking opportunities are found in Series 1 and 5.
Box 15
Corddry Company, 1957
Expense accounts and financials, 1944 – 1988 non-inclusive
Honors and awards, 1940 – 1993 non-inclusive (3 folders)
Honors and awards, academic regalia, 1980s
See Also: Oversize
Miscellaneous personal items, 1941, 1952, 1973, 1985
Obituaries and memorials, 1996
Press identification, 1942 – 1965, undated, non-inclusive
Resumes and biographical articles, 1944 – 1992, undated, non-inclusive
Series 7: Correspondence (1941-1998)
1.0 linear feet
This series comprises letters, telegrams, memoranda, greeting cards, invitations, post cards, and facsimiles to and from Charles Corddry between 1941 and 1996. In some instances, the letters are addressed to Corddry’s editor or producer and Corddry is copied or mentioned within the text. Included within this series is a small selection of correspondence of his wife, Marion Corddry, dating from 1943 until 1998. The bulk of Marion Corddry’s correspondence is condolence cards sent upon her husband’s death. Correspondence specifically related to Corddry’s press trips, awards, and speaking opportunities is also found in Series 1, 5 and 6.
Box 15 (continued)
Charles Corddry Correspondence, 1941 – 1996 (12 folders)
Charles Corddry Correspondence, Posthumous
Charles Corddry Correspondence, Undated
Marion Corddry Correspondence 1943 – 1998
Series 8: Audio/Visual (1948-1995)
4.0 linear feet
This series consists of photographs, audiotapes, and videotapes. The photographs depict Charles Corddry press trips. The audio and video tapes feature news programs such as Washington Week in Review as well as interviews and speeches recorded by Corddry.
Box 16
Photographs
[Aircraft]
Charles Corddry Jr.
Europe
[Illustrations]
Press Trips 1948-1995, undated, non-inclusive (3 folders)
U.S.S. Intrepid CVA -11
Washington Week in Review
Box 17
Audiotapes
Washington Week in Review
March 6, 1969/September 4, 1969
March 13, 1969
May 8, 1969/October 7, 1971
June 19, 1969
June 26, 1969/ July 3, 1969/November 3, 1972
August 7, 1969
December 4, 11, 18, 25, 1969
January 1, 1970
February 19, 1970/February 26, 1970/March 3, 1971
March 12, 1970/March 19, 1970
April 30, 1970
September 10, 1970/September 17, 1970
September 23, 1970/October 29, 1970
March 25, 1971/April 1, 1971
April 8, 1971/April 15, 1971
May 20, 1971/May 27, 1971
June 24, 1971/August 5, 1971
November 11, 1971
November 18, 1971
November 25, 1971/December 2, 1971
December 9, 1971/December 16, 1971
January 6, 1972/January 14, 1972
January 21, 1972/January 28, 1972
February 4, 1972/February 11, 1972
February 18, 1972/March 3, 1972
February 25, 1972/March 5, 1972
March 17, 1972/March 24, 1972
March 31, 1972/April 7, 1972
April 21, 1972
April 21, 1972/June 9, 1972
June 16, 1972/June 23, 1972/June 30, 1972
July 14, 1972/July 21, 1972
August 8, 1972/August 11, 1972
August 25, 1972/September 1, 1972/September 29, 1972
September 15, 1972
September 22, 1972
November 10, 1972
November 24, 1972/December 8, 1972
November 15, 1972/February 16, 1973
January 5, 1973
January 12, 1973/January 19, 1973
January 26, 1973
February 2, 1973/February 9, 1973
February 23, 1973/March 3, 1973
March 9, 1973/March 16, 1973
March 23, 1973/March 30, 1973
April 23, 1973/May 11, 1973
May 4, 1973/December 21, 1973
April 11, 1973/May 18, 1973
June 15, 1973/June 22, 1973
June 29, 1973/July 6, 1973
July 13, 1973/July 20, 1973
July 27, 1973/August 8, 1973
August 17, 1973/August 24, 1973
August 31, 1973/September 7, 1973
October 5, 1973/October 12, 1973
October 19, 1973/October 26, 1973
November 2, 1973/November 9, 1973
November 16, 1973/November 23, 1973
December 7, 1973/December 14, 1973
January 11, 1974/January 18, 1974
January 25, 1974/February 15, 1974
March 1, 1974/March 8, 1974
March 29, 1974/April 5, 1974
April 12, 1974/May 10, 1974
April 26, 1974/May 17, 1974
April 12, 1974/May 10, 1974
May 24, 1974/May 31, 1974
June 7, 1974/June 14, 1974
July 19, 1974/August 2, 1974
September 6, 1974/September 13, 1974
September 20, 1974
September 27, 1974
October 4, 1974
October 11, 1974
October 25, 1974
Box 18
Audiotapes (continued)
Washington Week in Review (continued)
November 1, 1974/November 15, 1974
November 22, 1974/November 29, 1974
December 13, 1974/December 20, 1974
January 24, 1975/January 31, 1975
February 7, 1975
May 23, 1975/May 30, 1975
July 4, 1975/July 11, 1975
July 18, 1975/July 25, 1975
October 4, 1975
January 21, 1977/January 28, 1977
February 4, 1977
March 11, 1977/March 18, 1977
March 25, 1977/April 1, 1977
May 27, 1977
June 10, 1977/June 17, 1977
June 24, 1977/November 11, 1977
July 1, 1977/July 8, 1977
July 15, 1977/December 2, 1977
October 7, 1977
October 28, 1977/October 4, 1977
December 23, 1977/December 30, 1977
December 29, 1977
January 26, 1979/February 16, 1979
January 4, 1980
January 6-27, 1980/February 7-4, 1980
September 4, 1981
October 9, 1981/November 20, 1981
July 9, 1982/July 16, 1982/July 30, 1982/August 6, 1982
December 31, 1982
February 4, 1983/February 25, 1983
Reagan’s Neutron Bomb Decision
Mini-cassette - undated
May 29, 1969/June 5, 1969 (Bad Tape)
January 5, 1970/March 7, 1970 (Eclipse)
Moon/Eclipse
March 26, 1970/March 22, 1970 (WMSBURG)
April 23, 1970 (Cambodia)/December 3 (NATO)
May 14, 1970/April 28, 1970
October 1, 1970/November 6, 1970
May 6, 1971 (New Army)/May 13, 1971
June 10, 1971 (Troop…)/October 27, 1972
June 17, 1971 (Pentagon Papers)/July 8, 1971
June 21, 1971
September 16, 1971/September 20, 1971 (Ted Stell)
October 16, 1971 (…Phils Wedding)/October 28, 1971
April 22, 1972 (VN phone conversation
November 18, 1972 (Rusk)
December 22, 1972
January 23, 1973 (Nixon)
April 22, 1973 (PVM et al)
August 10, 1973 (Agnew)/August 15, 1973 (Nixon Speech)
CBS 5 Special Agnew
NEH Testimony
February 5, 1974 (NBC the Man Who Changed the Navy)
May 8, 1974 (CNO Interview J Finney/R Levine/ C Corddry)
May 28, 1974 (CINC/Corrdry/Hussein)
November 18, 1975 (Tax Advice Mary Russo)
November 18, 1975 (Tax Advice Cont.)
December 26, 1975 (Dean Rusk)
April 20, 1976 (BBC 4)
August 27, 1976 (Q &A Pete on pres role)
February 25, 1977 (10th Anniversary)/March 4, 1977
March 6, 1977 (Meet Press H Brown…)/July 29, 1971
April 29, 1977 (Carter’s 100 Days)
May 17, 1977 (War Room London)
February 22, 1978 (EMS…)
Box 19
Audiotapes (continued)
June 29, 1978 (Holloway)
November 24, 1978 (Hayward)
December 15, 1978 (China…)/December 22, 1978
February 20, 1979 (Poison Control)/February 21, 1979 (High Risk Infant)
February 8, 1979 (David Boyd)
June 10, 1979 (Trauma Session Corddry)
January 14, 1980 (Mr. Charles Corddry on Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan W&L Radio)
June 1980
March 6, 1981 (Uncle Walter’s Farewell)
1981 (Detroit Station…)
February 26, 1982 (Fifteenth Anniversary)
April 4, 1982/May 7, 1982 (Falklands)
March 27, 1981 (WWIR)/April 16, 1982 (Argentina-UK)
January 15, 1982/April 23, 1982 (Argentina-UK)
May 15, 1982 (Falklands start)/May 28, 1982 (Falklands)
June 4, 1982 (Falklands)/June 8, 1982
1982 (CSIS…)
October 16, 1984 (SECNAV interview with Charlie Corddry)
January 1, 1985 (S/D, Weinberger)
November 13, 1987 (Charles Corddry Salute to Sec. Steinberger in Phil, PA; Center for Study of Presidency)
July 28, 1987 (Background Interview Senior Intel Official on Soviet Fleet Building Program, Sevastopol)
May 10, 1990 (Brzezinski “The Implications of Victory”)
February 25, 1991 (Interview of Charles W. Corddry by Claude Hammond, Berea College)
October 23/November 27
Albion Speech
Boyd
Clark
Carson
Alistair Cooke’s Letter from America
Domestic Action
Domestic Action
Drug…
Conned
Jody’s Wedding
Rodger Kelly
Gen Parks
Perry
Poison Control Center
PW acct’n
AWACS
Salvador- Former Guerilla
Salvador- Former Guerilla
Selling of Pentagon
Start of 2nd…
Technology for Defense
Wedding
Mary Watson
Box 20
Audiotapes (continued)
18 unlabeled cassette tapes
Mini-cassettes
August 12, 1977 (Pacific)
Purnell Museum
982 (Falkland Islands)
CNO
Hartwick Commencement
April 3, 1991 (MWC WDTS)
Hartwick
October 10, 1988/October 18, 1988
12 unlabeled/illegible
Reel to Reel
1962 (Phil’s trip to Puerto Rico with NY Jets)
September 29, 1964 (Guest Lecturer: Mr. Charles Corddry)
August 11, 1966 (Lt. Col Gordon Furbish Award at the Pentagon)
July 18, 1967 (Radio Release Made on Speech at Defense Information School)
Meet the Press
Watson
6 unlabeled
Videotapes
VHS
October 1993, (RV Jones, Directorate of Intelligence)
Beta
August 15, 1986 WWIR
November 4, 1987 (Night Watch: Charlie Rose)/December 8, 1987 (White House Welcome Reagan/Gorbachev Speeches, Treaty Signing)
December 1987 Former Secretaries of State/ WWIR January-March 1988.
WWIR March& May 1990/Headline Show, Panama
July-October 1990 WWIR
March 14, 1991
WWIR Full
WWIR 2/22
6 unlabeled