2018-11-30 Preliminary Inventory of the Aida and Robert L. Norman East European Diplomatic Collection, circa 1960s-2004 SPEC.TRI.0050 Finding aid prepared by Courtney Bishop and Nicole Miller Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2018 November This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2023-03-30T15:30-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Aida and Robert L. Norman East European Diplomatic Collection SPEC.TRI.0050 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 5.26 Cubic feet circa 1960s-2004 Aida Raverta and Robert Norman both worked at the Embassy in Belgrade and Robert also worked as the human rights officer at the Embassy in Prague from 1986-1989, and had close contact with dissidents including Vaclav Havel. The Aida and Robert L. Norman East European Diplomatic Collection contains materials related to their work at embassies. These materials include posters and cartoons, maps, post cards, and photographs. There are two scrapbooks documenting Robert Norman's career including photographs, documents, personnel records, press releases, clippings, and programs. Also included are audiocassettes of the MCH Band, the band Pulnoc, recordings of Voice of America, and other radio shows. Materials are dated circa 1960s-2004. (3) flat boxes; (3) oversize folders; (2) costume boxes; (2) 2.5" letter document box; (1) 5" letter document box; (1) framed item English, Czech Norman, Aida Norman, Robert L. Arrangement of Materials

This collection is unprocessed. Materials are arranged in the order received.

 Acquisitions Information

Accession No. TRI.2017.0122: Robert L. and Aida Norman, 2017 November; Accession No. TRI.2019.0019: Robert L. and Aida Norman, 2019 February; Accession No. TRI.2023.0006: Robert L. and Aida Norman, 2023 March

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Aida and Robert L. Norman East European Diplomatic Collection, SPEC.TRI.0050, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, Ohio State University

 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Contains VHS videocassettes, audiocassettes, and computer disk.

 Access to Materials

Audio/visual materials and computer media may need a use copy produced before access is allowed. The remainder of this collection is available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.

 Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

 Processing Information

This collection is unprocessed; finding aid written by: Courtney Bishop, 2018 November, Nicole Miller, 2019 April, and Morag Boyd, 2023

 Biographical Note

Aida Raverta and Robert Norman met in Belgrade, the then capital of Yugoslavia, in 1981. This is where Robert served his initial posting abroad with the United States Department of State. Robert worked as the human rights officer at the Embassy in Prague from 1986-1989, and had close contact with dissidents including Vaclav Havel. During his 25 year career there, he rose through the ranks and eventually entered the Senior Foreign Service in 2003, after completing his assignment as the Deputy Chief of Mission, the second ranking official in an embassy. Robert retired a year later in 2003. Aida did visa work at the Embassy in Belgrade and was the Department Bureau of Consular Affairs American Citizen Services desk officer, first for Western Europe, then Mexico.

 Scope and Contents

The Aida and Robert L. Norman East European Diplomatic Collection contains a signed Bob Dylan poster that was in the embassy, two Predrag Koraksić Corax cartoons of Slobodan Milošević and Mira Marković with bumper stickers celebrating the fall from power, two posters from the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, and a signed poster commemorating Vaclav Havel’s receiving the Erasmus Prize. Also included are a Welkarte zu den Entdeckugen im 15ten und 16ten Jahrjundert map, Asia minor Armenia and Syria map, blank post cards, invitations, cards, Terasy Barrandon menu and coaster (signed), photographs, "Ballad for Princess" music book, and a flyer for The Civic Forum.T here are three VHS videocassette recordings "MTV-Pulnoc," "Pokouseni-Divadlo Natahu," and "RSC-Pokouseni." Also included are audiocassettes of the MCH Band, the band Pulnoc, recordings of Voice of America, and other radio shows. There are two scrapbooks documenting Robert Norman's career including photographs, documents, personnel records, press releases, clippings, and programs. There is a copy of “Ten Years of Charter 77,” edited by Vilem Precan and autographed by numerous Charter signators. Materials are dated circa 1960s-2004.

 Separated Materials

Several items were separated from the archival collection and can be found in the OSU library catalog by searching for "Forms part of the Aida and Robert L. Norman East European Diplomatic Collection."

 Havel, Václav Norman, Aida Norman, Robert L. Audiocassettes Diplomatic and consular service--Czech Republic--Prague--20th century Diplomatic and consular service--Czech Republic--Prague--21st century Diplomatic and consular service--Yugoslavia--Belgrade--20th century Diplomatic and consular service--Yugoslavia--Belgrade--21st century Human rights--20th century Human rights--21st century Maps (documents) Photographs Postcards Posters Accession No. TRI.2017.0122 2.44 Cubic feet circa 1960s-2003 Signed Bob Dylan poster from embassy Accession No. TRI.2017.0122 circa 1960s Corax cartoon featuring Slobodan Milošević with bumper sticker celebrating the fall from power Accession No. TRI.2017.0122.004 circa 2000 Corax cartoon featuring Mira Marković with bumper sticker celebrating the fall from power Accession No. TRI.2017.0122.003 circa 2000 Welkarte zu den Entdeckugen im 15ten und 16ten Jahrjundert map Accession No. TRI.2017.0122.001 1 undated Asia minor, Armenia and Syria map Accession No. TRI.2017.0122.001 2 undated Terasy Barrandon menu and coaster (signed), black and white photographs, color photograph of statue, "Ballad for Princess" music book, and The Civic Forum flyer Accession No. TRI.2017.0122.001 3 circa 1989-2003 "MTV-Pulnoc" recording Accession No. TRI.2017.0122.002 1 undated Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

VHS videocassette; color; sound; approximate run time unknown

 "Pokouseni-Divadlo Natahu" recording Accession No. TRI.2017.0122.002 2 undated Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

VHS videocassette; color; sound; approximate run time unknown

 "RSC-Pokouseni" recording Accession No. TRI.2017.0122.002 3 undated Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

VHS videocassette; color; sound; approximate run time unknown

 Blank postcards, invitations, cards, and photographs Accession No. TRI.2017.0122.002 1985, circa 1989 Poster Commemorating Vaclav Havel’s receiving the Erasmus Prize and note Accession No. TRI.2017.0122.001 1986 Poster for Winter Olympics in Sarajevo Accession No. TRI.2017.0122.002-.003 1984 Accession No. TRI.2019.0019 0.4 Cubic feet circa 1975-1990 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

audiocassettes

 Scope and Contents

This accession includes two photographs taken at the Havel home; a photograph of Norman with Martin Palous, Robert Norman, and Ted Kennedy; and a photograph taken on the occasion of Norman’s confirmation. Four audiocassettes by the MCH Band, along with one by the band Pulnoc are included. This donation also contains an audiocassette recording of Voice of America from November 1, 1986, and an additional audiocassette containing the programs: “Charter letters to Husak," “Moravian Worker’s Request that Husak Abdicate," and “VOA Vienna –DLENT: Gorbachev to Prague.” Materials date from circa 1975-1990.

 Photographs Accession No. TRI.2019.0019.001 circa 1975-1990 "Voice of America" Accession No. TRI.2019.0019.001 1986 November 1 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

audiocassette

 "Charter Letters to Husak," "Moravian Worker’s Request that Husak Abdicate." and "VOA Vienna –DLENT: Gorbachev to Prague" Accession No. TRI.2019.0019.001 1987 March 31 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

audiocassette

 Pulnoc Accession No. TRI.2019.0019.001 undated Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

audiocassette

 MCH Band "Gorleben" Accession No. TRI.2019.0019.001 1986 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

audiocassette

 MCH Band "Jsme Zdravi A Dari Se Nam Dobre (We Are Free and We Feel Fine" Accession No. TRI.2019.0019.001 1983 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

audiocassette

 MCH Band "Es Reut Mich-F..." Accession No. TRI.2019.0019.001 undated Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

audiocassette

 MCH Band "Live in Nymburk" Accession No. TRI.2019.0019.001 1987 October 20 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

audiocassette

 Photograph of Martin Palous, Robert Norman, Ted Kennedy, and Ivan Havel Accession No. TRI.2019.0019.001 1990 Accession No. TRI.2023.0006 2.42 Cubic feet (2) costume boxes; (1) 2.5" letter document box 1971-2004 Scope and Contents

Accession No. TRI.2023.0006 contains materials created and compiled by Robert Norman, primarily during diplomatic service in what was at the time Czechoslovakia, and later the Czech Republic. Included are two scrapbooks containing documents, photographs, and ephemera from Norman's service, as well as other photographs, documents, and speeches. Materials range in date from 1971-2004, when Norman left diplomatic service.

 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Contains an audiocassette and a floppy disk.

 “Ten Years of Charter 77,” edited by Vilem Precan and autographed by numerous Charter signators Accession No. TRI.2023.0006.001 1986 Speech in Czech Accession No. TRI.2023.0006.001 1987 August 21 Jakese's speech audiocasette Accession No. TRI.2023.0006.001 circa 1987 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Audiocassette; runtime: unknown U.S. Foreign Service personnel records and coorepondence Accession No. TRI.2023.0006.001 2003-2004 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Contains a floppy disk. Myers-Briggs Interpretive Report Accession No. TRI.2023.0006.001 2004 Farewell party program Accession No. TRI.2023.0006.001 2004 Press releases and clippings Accession No. TRI.2023.0006.001 1981-1999 Photographs, postcards, and brochures Accession No. TRI.2023.0006.001 1990s Photographs previously laid in scrapbooks Accession No. TRI.2023.0006.001 1980s-1990s Scrapbook Accession No. TRI.2023.0006.002 1971-1990 Scrapbook Accession No. TRI.2023.0006.003 1991-2004