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DeWitt Mackenzie Papers

An inventory of his papers at the Syracuse University Archives

Finding aid created by: Eric Rode
Date: 1998

Revision history:
2011	converted to EAD

Biography

DeWitt Talmadge Mackenzie (1884-1962), class of 1907, was an notable AP correspondent with a long and distinguished career. His column appeared in more than 800 newspapers around the world and was read by millions. A world traveler, he witnessed many events that shaped the history of the twentieth century, including both world wars, and recorded them as a well-trained and objective reporter for his and future generations.

Mackenzie, known as "Mack" to his closest friends, was born on August 13, 1884, in West Burke, Vermont, to Reverend Robert C. T. and Agnes M. Shores Mackenzie. He received a diploma from the Black River Academy in Ludlow, Vermont, and graduated from Syracuse University in 1907. Mackenzie married twice, first to Maud V. Bloomingdale in 1911 (died 1921) and then to Marjorie Louise Rumford in 1924 (died 1962), with whom he fathered a son, Kent Robert, and a daughter, Marjorie Carol.

In 1907, Mackenzie obtained a job with The Post Standard in Syracuse, New York, to help pay for college. After taking an instant liking to the profession, he soon left Syracuse University to pursue a full-time career in journalism. He only worked a short time in Syracuse before transferring downstate to the Schenectady Gazette as sports editor between 1909 and 1910. Mackenzie then joined the Associated Press (AP), with which he would remain for the next 41 years.

Mackenzie led an interesting and active life as a correspondent. On his first assignment abroad, he was almost shot by an execution squad during the Irish Rebellion and extricated himself with some quick talking. Soon after, Mackenzie was off to the World War I front where, during one German barrage, a shell landed in the crater where he was holed up (fortunately it was a dud). Although usually less lethal, these types of adventures characterized Mackenzie's life as a correspondent.

Mackenzie’s list of accomplishments is impressive. He was one of only seven World War I correspondents attached to the British High Command and the first correspondent permitted into Egypt in 1916 to report on the fighting around the Suez Canal. He was present at the Versailles Treaty signing in 1919. Mackenzie’s articles and columns featured in over 800 newspapers. He obtained a rare interview with J. P. Morgan and met numerous heads of states and other notable figures. He visited and reported on the French penal colony, Devil's Island. He reported on nearly all the monumental world events in the first half of the 20th century.

Mackenzie had several hobbies and interests worthy of mention. He was an avid fly fisherman and took many trips with friends and notables, such as Irish officials. In addition to writing his daily columns, Mackenzie still found time to write a number of books and articles, including a fiction book, The Girl in the Mask; books on India; and books and articles related to the AP.

In 1951, after four decades dedicated to reporting on world events, Mackenzie retired. He continued to live in Westport, Connecticut, worked on memoirs and provided the occasional public opinion. After his second wife's passing, Mackenzie moved to Glendale, California, to be near to family. On August 16, 1962, DeWitt Mackenzie passed away at the age of 78.

Scope and Content Note

The DeWitt Mackenzie Papers primarily document his life as a correspondent for the Associated Press (AP). The bulk of the collection consists of Mackenzie's correspondence, photographs, World War I dispatches from the front lines, telegrams and columns from 1930-1951, unpublished memoirs, manuscripts, memorabilia, and authored books. The collection is an excellent historical resource for both World Wars and the post-World War II (1945-51) era.

The Mackenzie Papers has been arranged into four series: Subject Files, Columns and Dispatches, Memorabilia and Photographs, and Printed Material. The Subject Files series contains correspondence, articles, and files on countries and other subjects. Columns and Dispatches consist of the cables of articles written for AP (1917-1918 and 1939-1951) in chronological order. Images of Mackenzie, his family and fellow correspondents as well as medals, awards and other items can be found in the Memorabilia and Photographs series. The Printed Material series includes books, magazines, and other published items.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

The unpublished memoirs of DeWitt T. Mackenzie may not be published without permission of the donor, Mrs. Marjorie Mackenzie Heimer, or her heirs. However, no more than three paragraphs may be quoted without specific permission. Longer quotes require the donor's permission.

Related Material

An issue of the Daily Orange was removed and added to the Archives' Daily Orange Collection.

DeWitt T. Mackenzie wrote several dozen articles about the renowned Yugoslavian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic, the clippings of which can be found in the Printed Material series in the Mestrovic Collection.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Mackenzie, DeWitt.
Associated Press.
Syracuse University -- Students.

Subjects

World War, 1914-1918.
World War, 1939-1945.
Journalists.
War correspondents -- 20th century.

Types of Material

Articles.
Books.
Correspondence.
Memorabilia.
Newspaper columns.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

DeWitt Mackenzie Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

DeWitt Mackenzie's daughter, Mrs. Marjorie Mackenzie Heimer, donated the papers on December 10, 1984.

Processing Information

All the materials in the Mackenzie Papers were placed in acid-free housing. Original folder headings were kept when provided, and a perpetual calendar was used to in providing complete dates for the news cables. All staples and paperclips were removed and replaced with stainless-steel. In most cases, duplicate documents were removed and destroyed.

Photocopies were made of materials in poor condition and where loss of information was threatened. In certain instances, when the original item was deemed of value, it was kept with its facsimile; otherwise the original was destroyed after it was photocopied. A number of whole and partial newspapers were included in the collection; the relevant articles were photocopied and the originals destroyed.

Table of Contents

Subject Files

Columns and Dispatches

Memorabilia and Photographs

Printed Material

Inventory