Phillip H. Fahrenholz papers, M4042

Originally from Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Phillip Fahrenholz attended Colgate University and was a part of the 1936 graduating class. During his Junior year at Colgate, Fahrenholz was awarded a scholarship by the Institute of International Education which allowed him to spend a year abroad studying in France. After graduating from Colgate, Fahrenholz sought employment in the United States Foreign Service, but was informed there were no openings. As a result, he obtained a secretarial position in the College of Engineering at New York University. About a year afterwards, Fahrenholz received an appointment offer from the Department of the State. He became part of the diplomatic service, and would remain abroad during World War II. In 1937, he received an appointment as junior clerk, third class, at the American Embassy at Moscow, U.S.S.R. In 1939, Fahrenholz was transferred to the American Embassy at Berlin, Germany just a few days before the war began. He would remain there for much of the war in the position of secretary to the Charge d’Affairs. Fahrenholz was ordered to Rome in 1940, but the order was counter-commanded before he ever left Berlin. In 1942, Fahrenholz got his next assignment and reported to duty in Madrid as the secretary to the counselor of the embassy. In total, Fahrenholz ended up being abroad in Europe for nearly ten years before being appointed vice consul to Aqua Prieta, Mexico.

During his time abroad, Fahrenholz frequently wrote home. His letters focus on the interesting and significant experiences he had and on his own observations and reflections. Taken together, the letters offer insight into the cultural scenes of Fahrenholz’s different posts as well as giving an idea of what was happening in Europe during the war all as seen through the perspective of one man.