I. Personal and Travel Diaries, , 1931-1994

Summary: Ardath Burks's diaries tell many stories. One theme that is explored throughout is his relationship with Jane Lyle, who became his wife. The couple met in high school while working together on the school newspaper. The relationship continued while Burks was away at college, then at naval training school. The couple married in 1941 and eventually adopted son Riki through a Welcome House agency in Pennsylvania. Professor Burks remained devoted to his wife until she died in 1991. Only a few entries address the father-son dynamic.

Another interesting time of Burks's life revealed in his diaries was that spent pursuing his MA in Minnesota (1939-1941). As a young academic, Burks was often opinionated and judgmental toward others, offering criticism and analysis of everyone from President Roosevelt to his professors. Burks's writing explores politics, social structures, cultural shifts, and personal relationships. He commented on the people who touched his life whether they were radicals, isolationists, warmongers, socialists, communists or good friends. Burks disagreed or found fault with many of his colleagues and acquaintances, but this was what invigorated Burks to appreciate his own existence to the fullest. The diaries show an intelligent, often belligerent young man grow and change into a mature, rational man of tremendous accomplishment and power.

In later years, Burks was devoted to renewing ties between America and Japan and worked diligently in his roles of consultant of both the International House of Japan in Tokyo and Council on International Educational Exchange. Through numerous research and diplomatic trips to Japan, he renewed broken ties between Rutgers University and Fukui University which manifested in various activities including a formal exchange program between Rutgers and Fukui Universities.

The Burks traveled extensively as much for pleasure as for academic pursuits. The diaries therefore contain detailed writings of trips throughout Europe, Canada, Mexico, Asia and Australia.

This collection does not contain diaries for the years 1932-1938, 1942, 1947-1951, 1960-1961, 1963-1969, 1971-1975, 1987 and 1992. It is unknown if diaries for the missing years exist. Also missing is any discussion of Burks's naval intelligence work that enabled the Enola Gay to drop the atom bomb over Japan.

Each diary is assigned a folder. Each folder is numbered and dated and its contents physically described.