Ulius L. Amoss papers , 1941-1963

Overview of the Collection

Cre
Amoss, Ulius Louis, 1895-1961
Title
Ulius L. Amoss papers
Dates
1941-1963 (inclusive)
Quantity
6.25 linear feet, (11 containers)
Collection Number
Coll 005
Summary
Before, during, and after World War II, Ulius "Pete" Louis Amoss (1895-1961) engaged in espionage. His work included directorship of the OSS during the war and founder and director of the ISI, the International Services of Information Foundation, Incorporated. Amoss is credited with the coining the phrase "leaderless resistance." The collection includes correspondence, literary manuscripts, espionage material, and print material that reflect his life and work as a spy.
Repository
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.

Additional Reference Guides

See the Collective Name Index to the Research Collection of Conservative and Libertarian Studies for a cross-referenced index to names of correspondents in this collection, if any, and 37 related University of Oregon collections, including dates of correspondence. See index instructions on use.

See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Ulius "Pete" Louis Amoss (1895-1961) dedicated his life to espionage. In several of his speeches Amoss quotes an old-school general who defines espionage as "...the second most ancient profession in the world, not as honorable as the first, nor as much fun." He admits espionage is dirty business, all the more reason, he says, for it to be practiced only by the most honorable of men.

Amoss' first espionage experience was acquired via the war work of the International committee of the YMCA in Greece. Wanting to move into Turkey, the Middle East, and Africa, Amoss set up an export business, Gramtrade International Corporation, of which he was President from 1936 to 1942. During this time, he also posed as a munitions dealer to intervene in negotiations between Germany and Turkey and became involved in two more business: Harrisburg Machine and Foundry company and the Shirgun Corporation. In 1942, when Amoss was ordered to report to the army, the government took over and "ruined" his export operations.

While in the Armed Forces, Amoss served as Director of the Balkan Desk for information, C.O.I. (Coordinator of Information); Director of the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) Near Eastern Desk, intelligence; Deputy Directory, OSS, for sabotage, intelligence, psychological and guerrilla warfare; Commanding Officer, Experimental Detachment G-3 UASFIME; and Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Ninth Air Force. He was awarded the Legion of Merit and formed important friendships with colleagues from most U.S. allies. In addition, he met and later married Mary Veronica "Ron" Grogan who also served in the Armed Forces' secret intelligence.

After being discharged in 1946, Amoss, still dedicated to a career in espionage, formed the International Services of Information Foundation, Incorporated (ISI), a non-profit, privately owned and operated intelligence service whose purpose was to collect and disseminate information from overseas countries. ISI published a General Report, a newsletter entitled INFORM, and a Special Letter to ISI Trustees and Supporters, in order to pass on the information they had learned through their intelligence operations. Amoss edited these publications.

To assist in the financial support of ISI, Amoss formed an unincorporated U.L. Amoss Syndicate in 1948 to promote and carry out legitimate and profitable transactions in foreign or domestic trade. In turn, the Syndicate invested in several other corporations. One, World Rights, Inc. capitalized on Amoss' discovery in 1954 of the hair restoring product, Grecian Formula 16. Aegean Products, Inc. and Delian Distributors, Inc. were set up as distributors for the product. In 1957, Amoss sold his stock in Grecian Formula 16 because he found it had lead in it as well as other undesirable side effects. He then tried to get a British company formed to invest in a new, improved product, but apparently was unable to raise the capital.

The Amoss Syndicate ventures and Amoss personally suffered financial loss. Amoss raised money by giving numerous speeches promoting ISI and writing articles for magazines. It is also evident from his Papers that he intended to write several books. Everything he did earn, he put into ISI.

Amoss died November 9, 1961 from coronary thrombosis.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection includes correspondence, manuscripts, speeches, espionage material, and memorabilia relating to Ulius Amoss, spymaster, and international Services of Information (ISI), a private intelligence agency he founded.

The correspondence is arranged alphabetically within a general folder for each letter of the alphabet, followed by folders relating to specific subjects or more extensive correspondence with one person. Information concerning the Amoss Syndicate (box 4, folder 16) and its investments can be found here as well as publishing ventures and three folders of condolences addressed to Mrs. Mary Veronica Amoss upon the death of Ulius Amoss in 1961.

Amoss apparently intended to write an autobiography with a proposed title, "Easier Said than Done" (see box 5, folders 11 through 13) and at least one other book, possibly a biography of one of his agents. This material, in addition to articles he wrote, can be found in the series of manuscripts.

Between 1950 and 1960 Amoss made many speeches promoting ISI and his profession. These have been arranged chronologically in boxes 6 through 7.

The espionage material includes correspondence special and secret reports and material removed from two notebooks concerning Soviet Intelligence. It is followed by four folders of reports, correspondence and official papers created while he was in the Armed Forces.

Other material that can be found in this collection includes certificates, broadsides, and printed matter. ISI publications, published articles and newsclippings make up the series of printed matter. Although the original photographs have been removed to the Photo Vault, photocopies do appear in the collection (box 10, folder 1).

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Espionage--United States
  • Intelligence service--United States

Corporate Names

  • International Services of Information Foundation
  • United States. Office of Strategic Services

Form or Genre Terms

  • Clippings
  • Photographs