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Burns' American Diary, an Englishman's view of American society, is the fruit of his Laura Spellman Rockefeller fellowship, 1926-1928. Very descriptive of his tour of U.S. and Canada (Quebec, Vancouver), numerous illustrations and clippings are laid in. In addition to his economic and social concerns, of particular interest are the architecture of major cities, their theatrical life, their politics; his visits to certain universities (Harvard, University of Chicago, Stanford), and his long visit to Washington with other Rockefeller fellows and their ongoing meetings and discussions with members of the Federal Board of Trade and professors from all over at what was to become the Brookings Institute. Competition in business was his major interest; it is discussed in the Diary, and his 1936 book, The Decline of Competition, is said to be a major influence in undergraduate teaching in the U.S. Included in the Collection is a cassette of his memorial service at Columbia, 24 April 1981.

The material in this collection consists primarily of correspondence, writings, lectures and articles by and about Benjamin Graham dating between the 1930s and 1976. It also contains materials about Benjamin Graham's work and influence which were created after his death in 1976. This more modern material was primarily created by or collected by his friend and mentee, Warren Buffett. One can also find many articles and a correspondence file from Jason Zweig, a financial journalist who writes The Intelligent Investor column every weekend for The Wall Street Journal. Jason Zweig is also the editor of the revised edition of Benjamin Graham's The Intelligent Investor.