Albert Viton papers, 1940-1995 | Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

By Alexis E. Ramsey

Collection Overview

Title: Albert Viton papers, 1940-1995

Primary Creator: Viton, Albert (1913-)

Extent: 24.0 Cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The papers were received by the Purdue University archives without any perceivable order, thus the papers have been divided into five series: I. Sugar-Related Documents, (including chapter drafts for his book, The International Sugar Agreements; II. Cocoa-Related Documents; III. Non-Sugar, Non-Cocoa Related Documents; IV. War-Time Documents; V. Viton's Speeches and Articles.

Date Acquired: 00/00/2005

Subjects: Combined Food Board, Commodities; sugar, cocoa, citrus, International Emergancy Food Council, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, World War, 1939-1945

Forms of Material: Correspondence, Minutes, Reports, Speeches

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The papers document the career of Albert Viton, first as a member of the World War II Combined Food Board and then as an observer to both the International Sugar Council and United Nations Sugar Council debates concerning the ratification of an International Sugar Agreement. He also was a participant at other commodity meetings of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (namely cocoa, citrus fruit, tea, and bananas) in his role as the Chief of Sugar, Beverages, and Horticulture Crops of the Commodities and Trade Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Types of materials in the papers include: meeting minutes, reports, agendas, delegate lists, memoranda, correspondence, articles, speeches, and addresses.

The papers include correspondence between Viton and E. Jones Perry, Paul Prebish, and Baron Kronacker. Also included are various drafts of both the International Sugar Agreement and the International Cocoa Agreement. Documents within the collection are mainly written in English, though documents in French, Spanish, and German are also included.

Series Note: Following the end of World War II, the Combined Food Board was reorganized into the International Emergency Food Council. The International Sugar Council remains active today and seems to be part of the International Sugar Organization. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development meets every four years. And while the International Sugar Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development are autonomous organizations, they are supposed to keep each other abreast of developments. Finally, at one point in the 1970s, both groups were chaired by E. Jones-Perry.

Biographical Note

Albert Viton was born in Lithuania on May 28, 1913. He holds B.S. and Ph.D. (1941) degrees from Northwestern University. Following receipt of his doctorate, Dr. Viton worked on national and international food distribution planning and control in the Office of Price Administration and subsequently in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), including on the U.S. team of the US/UK/Canada Combined Food Board. It was in these government departments that his close association with sugar began.

Prior to World War II, Dr. Viton spent three years in the Near East and authored many journal articles on the politics and economics of the area. In 1941, the John Day Company published his book, Great Britain: An Empire in Transition. In the following year they published his second book, An American Empire in Asia? In 1944, Dr. Viton was at the U.S. Economic Mission in London to work with the Ministry of Food on Europe's post-liberation supplies. When the International Emergency Food Council was formed in 1946 to include allied and liberated countries in the planning of world food production and distribution, Dr. Viton was invited to become the Assistant Secretary General, in which capacity he supervised the operation of several intergovernmental commodity committees. The work of the Sugar Committee brought him in contact with the pre-war International Sugar Organisation (ISO) in London, a relationship that continued after the termination of the Emergency Food Council when Dr. Viton became head of FAO economic work on sugar and tropical crops. When the first post-war preparatory committee on negotiation of a new International Sugar Agreement was formed in 1947, the Chairman, Baron Kronacker of Belgium, requested Dr. Viton's expert cooperation, and Dr. Viton subsequently participated in all the preparatory work from 1947 to 1953.

From 1946 to 1976, Dr. Viton worked with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. As an economist with the FAO, Dr. Viton spent much of his career focused on sugar pricing. Before retiring as a Senior Director of the Commodities Division of the FAO in 1976, he represented the FAO in all international sugar negotiations, conferences, and meetings.

Dr. Viton was a member of the Preparatory Committee for the first international sugar agreement (1947-1952) chaired by Baron Kronacker of Belgium and a member of the Troika chaired by Dr. Raul Prebisch, Director General of UNCTAD, that was in charge of the price and quota negotiations of the 1968 International Sugar Agreement. Dr. Viton was also one of the two Expert Advisors appointed by the Chairman of the 1977 UN Negotiating Conference to resolve quota issues.

Viton was secretary of the Cocoa Study Group in 1956, 1964, and 1972. Following his retirement from the FAO in 1976, Dr. Viton continued to participate in international sugar affairs and to attend all meetings and conferences of the International Sugar Organization as economic consultant of the sugar delegation of El Salvador, and subsequently the Philippines. He has been a consultant on sugar and cocoa to many other governments, and to various beet and cane sugar producing organizations. He has authored two volumes on sugar (published jointly by FAO and the International Sugar Organization), as well as numerous articles, reports, and published speeches on agricultural commodities. His studies on the world sugar economy have appeared in F.O. Licht's International Sugar Report, the F.O. Licht Sugar Yearbook, "Sugar Y Azucar," and other journals. In 2004, Purdue University Press published Dr. Viton's latest book, The International Sugar Agreements: Promise and Reality. This book represents the only comprehensive study of the negotiation and administration of a major international commodity market regulation agreement.

In 2005 Dr. Viton established the Albert Viton Scholarship at Purdue University, which recognizes top undergraduate students who work in the Purdue Libraries or at the University Press.The first award was given in spring 2006.

Subject/Index Terms

Combined Food Board
Commodities; sugar, cocoa, citrus
International Emergancy Food Council
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
World War, 1939-1945

Administrative Information

Repository: Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

Alternate Extent Statement: 24 cubic foot boxes

Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Source: Albert Viton

Acquisition Method: Donation

Preferred Citation: MSP 44, Albert Viton papers, Purdue University Libraries, Karnes Archives and Special Collections

Other URL: http://collections.lib.purdue.edu/fa/pdf/viton.pdf

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Sugar Related Documents],
[Series 2: Cocoa Related Documents],
[Series 3: Non-Cocoa, Non-Sugar Related Food and Agriculture Organization Documents],
[Series 4: War-Time Documents (World War II)],
[Series 5: Viton's Speeches and Publications, 1942; 1961-1976],
[All]

Series 1: Sugar Related Documents

Box 1

Folder 1: Sugar Related Publications, 1951-1987
Folder 2: International Sugar Council and Correspondence, 1937-1951
Folder 3: International Sugar Council, 1948-1950
Folder 4: International Sugar Council, 1950
Folder 5: Report to the Secretary of State from the United States Delegation to the International, 1950
Folder 6: United States Industry Advisory Group on the International Sugar Agreement, 1950
Folder 7: Simplified Draft of a new International Sugar Agreement, 1951
Folder 8: Reports of the International Sugar Council and Second World Food Survey Bound Report, 1952
Folder 9: International Sugar Council, 1952
Folder 10: Miscellaneous Sugar Documents, 1952-53
Folder 11: Draft of International Sugar Agreement, 1953
Folder 12: Food and Agriculture Organization: Observations on the Proposed International Sugar Agreement, 1953
Folder 13: International Sugar Council, 1953-1957: 5 folders
Folder 14: United Nations Sugar Conference, 1956: 3 folders
Folder 15: International Sugar Council, United Nations Sugar Conference; Sugar Magazines, 1953-1956
Folder 16: Delegate Lists, 1955-56

Box 2

Folder 1: International Sugar Council, 1956
Folder 2: International Sugar Conference; United Nations Sugar Conference, 1956
Folder 3: United Nations Sugar Conference, 1956
Folder 4: Review of the International Sugar Agreement by the International Sugar Council, 1956
Folder 5: United Nations Sugar Conference, 1956: 4 folders
Folder 6: United Nations Sugar Conference; "A Preliminary Appraisal on the Sugar Agreement", 1956-1958
Folder 7: United Nations Sugar Conference; International Sugar Council, 1957
Folder 8: International Sugar Council, 1957-58: 3 folders
Folder 9: International Sugar Council, United Nations Sugar Conference, 1958-59
Folder 10: International Sugar Council, 1958: 2 folders
Folder 11: United Nations Sugar Conference, 1958
Folder 12: International Sugar Council, 1959

Box 3

Folder 1: International Sugar Council, 1959-1966: 6 folders
Folder 2: United Nations Sugar Conference, 1961: 4 folders

Box 4

Folder 1: International Sugar Council and United Nations Sugar Conference, 1961
Folder 2: International Sugar Council, 1962-1964: 4 folders
Folder 3: United Nations Sugar Conference, 1963
Folder 4: International Sugar Council, 1963-1965: 6 folders
Folder 5: United Nations Sugar Conference, 1965
Folder 6: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development: Committee on Commodities and United Nations Sugar Conference, 1965
Folder 7: United Nations Sugar Conference, 1965: 3 folders

Box 5

Folder 1: International Sugar Organization and United Nations Sugar Conference, 1956; 1965; 1968
Folder 2: International Sugar Organization and United Nations Sugar Conference and Consultations, 1965-1966
Folder 3: International Sugar Council, 1965
Folder 4: United Nations Sugar Conference and International Sugar Council, 1965
Folder 5: United Nations Sugar Conference, 1965: 3 folders
Folder 6: International Sugar Organization, 1965-1971
Folder 7: Miscellaneous Sugar-Related Documents, 1965-1975

Box 6

Folder 1: United Nations Sugar Conference and International Sugar Organization, 1968
Folder 2: International Sugar Council, 1968
Folder 3: United Nations Sugar Conference, 1968: 3 folders
Folder 4: International Sugar Organization, 1968-1972: 8 folders
Folder 5: Sugar Review #1055 and International Sugar Organization, 1971
Folder 6: International Sugar Organization, 1971
Folder 7: Miscellaneous Sugar Documents, 1971-1974
Folder 8: International Sugar Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization's Committee on Commodity Problems, 1972

Box 7

Folder 1: International Sugar Organization, 1972
Folder 2: Miscellaneous Documents, 1972-1973
Folder 3: Miscellaneous Documents, 1973
Folder 4: United Nations Sugar Conference, 1973: 11 folders
Folder 5: Miscellaneous Documents, 1974
Folder 6: Miscellaneous Documents, 1974
Folder 7: Miscellaneous Documents, 1974

Box 8

Folder 1: Miscellaneous Documents, 1974
Folder 2: Miscellaneous Documents, 1974-1976
Folder 3: International Sugar Council, 1975
Folder 4: Israel Sugar Beet Production Documents, 1974-1975
Folder 5: Miscellaneous Sugar Documents, 1976
Folder 6: Miscellaneous Sugar Documents, 1976
Folder 7: International Conference on Economic Cooperation, Commission on Raw Materials and International Sugar Organization, 1976
Folder 8: International Sugar Organization, 1976
Folder 9: Miscellaneous Sugar Documents, 1976-1977
Folder 10: International Sugar Organization and United Nations Sugar Conference, 1976-78
Folder 11: International Sugar Organization, F.O. Licht's International Sugar Report, and United Nations Sugar Conference, 1977
Folder 12: United Nations Sugar Conference, 1977: 3 folders
Folder 13: International Sugar Organization, 1977
Folder 14: Sugar Reviews #1340 and 1357 and United Nations Sugar Conference, 1977

Box 9

Folder 1: United Nations Sugar Conference, 1977: 2 folders
Folder 2: Miscellaneous Sugar Documents, 1977-1978
Folder 3: International Sugar Organization, 1977-1979
Folder 4: International Sugar Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization Council Meeting, 1978
Folder 5: International Sugar Organization, 1978: 2 folders
Folder 6: International Sugar Organization, "Today's Sugar Note" Press Release, Outgoing Correspondence, 1978-1979
Folder 7: International Sugar Organization, 1979-1982: 4 folders
Folder 8: International Sugar Organization: Sugar Agreement Documents, 1978-1983

Box 10

Folder 1: International Sugar Organization and F.O. Licht's International Sugar Report, 1980-1983
Folder 2: International Sugar Organization, 1981-1983: 5 folders
Folder 3: United Nations Sugar Conference and International Sugar Organization, 1983
Folder 4: United Nations Sugar Conference, 1983
Folder 5: International Sugar Organization, 1983
Folder 6: United Nations Sugar Conference and International Sugar Organization, 1983
Folder 7: International Sugar Organization Consultative Group Meeting, 1983
Folder 8: United Nations Sugar Conference and International Sugar Organization, 1983
Folder 9: International Sugar Organization, 1982-1983
Folder 10: United Nations Sugar Conference, 1983-1984: 2 folders
Folder 11: International Sugar Organization, 1983-1984

Box 11

Folder 1: International Sugar Organization, 1984: 2 folders
Folder 2: International Sugar Agreement Consultation Group, 1984
Folder 3: International Sugar Organization, 1985
Folder 4: Miscellaneous Folder, 1984-1985
Folder 5: International Sugar Organization, 1985-1988: 3 folders
Folder 6: Miscellaneous Folder, 1987-1988
Folder 7: International Sugar Organization and F.O. Licht's International Sugar Report, 1987
Folder 8: International Sugar Organization and United Nations Sugar Conference, 1987
Folder 9: International Sugar Organization and South African Sugar Association, 1988-1989
Folder 10: International Sugar Organization, 1988-1989

Box 12

Folder 1: International Sugar Organization, 1988-1989
Folder 2: International Sugar Organization, Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics - Media Release, 1988-1991
Folder 3: International Sugar Organization and "An Overview of World Sugar Prices and Prospects", 1989-1991
Folder 4: International Sugar Organization, 1991: 3 folders
Folder 5: International Sugar Organization and United Nations Sugar Conference, 1991-1996: 3 folders
Folder 6: International Sugar Organization, 1993-1995: 3 folders
Folder 7: Miscellaneous Charts on Sugar, 1990s
Folder 8: Miscellaneous Sugar Documents, 1980s-1990s

Box 13

Folder 1: The International Sugar Agreements: Promise and Reality, Book Chapter Drafts, ca. 1990s
Folder 2: Book Notes: Tables for Inclusion, International Sugar Organization 1976, ca. 1990s