Luther H. Evans

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Luther H. Evans, 1958.

Luther Harris Evans (born October 13, 1902 in Sayersville , Bastrop County , Texas , † December 23, 1981 in San Antonio , Texas) was an American political scientist , director of the Library of Congress and UNESCO director- general.

He organized and directed the Historical Records Survey , an inventory of historically significant files from numerous archives as part of the New Deal's job creation efforts . He was then appointed by the head of the Library of Congress, Archibald MacLeish , to head the Legislative Reference Service and later to be deputy head of the Library of Congress. After MacLeish's departure, then US President Harry S. Truman appointed Evans as his successor. He held this position between 1945 and 1953. During his tenure, Evans opposed the censorship of the library holdings and greatly expanded this collection. Through his experience with international relations , he brought numerous writings back to their countries of origin.

Evans also worked with various US delegations during the formation of UNESCO. He participated with the government delegation of his country in all general conferences from 1945 on and represented the USA on the executive council of the organization from 1949 on. In 1953 he gave up his post to work for UNESCO as the third director general. He held this post from July 4, 1953 to December 4, 1958. In 1950 Evans was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences .

Evans was also President of the United States National Commission. At first he saw himself as a professional administrator and initially accepted the limitations of the programs. These were an expression of the low status of UNESCO in the foreign policy of many member states during the Cold War. He later came up with his own new ideas for activities, including the peaceful uses of nuclear energy . A direct and relevant dialogue between the member states, the Executive Council and the Secretariat that he initiated had a positive effect on the climate in the organization and strengthened the Director General in the role of an initiator and mediator of UNESCO concerns.

With the entry of the Soviet Union in the spring of 1954, the chances of acting for the General Director were greater on the one hand, and more complex and complicated on the other. Luther H. Evans resigned after the International Court of Justice in The Hague disapproved of the dismissal of US secretarial staff at the request of the McCarthy Committee.

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personal data
SURNAME Evans, Luther H.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Evans, Luther Harris (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American political scientist, Head of the Library of Congress, UNESCO Director General
DATE OF BIRTH October 13, 1902
PLACE OF BIRTH Sayersville , Texas
DATE OF DEATH December 23, 1981
Place of death San Antonio , Texas