Reference Request
Finding Aids to Personal Papers and Special Collections in the Smithsonian Institution Archives
Record Unit 7165
International Whaling Commission
International Whaling Conference and International Whaling Commission, Records, 1930-1968
Historical Note
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) was established in accordance with the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling which was signed December 2, 1946, and which entered into force November 10, 1948. Signatories for the United States included A. Remington Kellogg, Ira N. Gabrielson, and William E. A. Flory. Previously, Kellogg had been the U. S. delegate to the Berlin conference of experts on whaling matters held under the auspices of the League of Nations in 1930. Kellogg was later named the State Department representative to the 1937 International Conference on Whaling held in London. In 1946 Kellogg chaired the Washington Conference which formulated the International Whaling Commission. For twenty years (1947-1967) Kellogg served as United States Commissioner on the IWC. From 1952-1954 he also served as chairperson. Kellogg was succeeded as U. S. Commissioner by J. L. McHugh who served from 1967 to 1973.
The IWC, permanently based in London, has fifteen member nations. It is the responsibility of the IWC, as conditions warrant, to amend the provisions of the Schedule annexed to the 1946 Convention, which are, in effect, the regulations governing the conduct of whaling by the contracting governments. Regulations adopted as an integral part of the 1946 Convention included a prohibition on the commercial taking of gray whales and all right whales, as well as an established catch quota for the Antarctic. Catch of humpback whales was prohibited in the Antarctic starting in 1963/1964 and catch of blue whales was prohibited in 1964/1965.
Introduction
This finding aid was digitized with funds generously provided by the Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee.
Descriptive Entry
These records document the participation of A. Remington Kellogg in various international whaling conferences (1930-1946), as well as his participation in the IWC meetings (1947-1967). Also included are reports on the IWC meetings made to the Secretary of State; copies of treaties, whaling statistics, and reports; and correspondence relative to each meeting of the IWC.
See also Record Unit 7170, the Remington Kellogg Papers, for further information.
Index Terms
This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.
Name
- Kellogg, Remington, 1892-1969
- McHugh, J. L. (John Laurence), 1911-1999
- Gabrielson, Ira Noel, 1889-1977
- Flory, William E.S. (William Evans Sherlock), 1914-
- League of Nations
- United States. Department of State
- International Conference on Whaling
- International Convention on the Regulation of Whaling
Subject
Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7165, International Whaling Conference and International Whaling Commission, Records