Evening star., 1942-06-27
Wilbur J. Carr Dies Suddenly;
Father of u. S. Foreign Service
Hull Poys Tribute
To Ex-Assistunt
Stote Secretary

Wilbur John Carr, former Assist
ant Secretary OF State and often
called the father OF the American
foreign service" died Unexpectedly
last night at John Hopkins Hospital
in Baltimore. He was II.
Mr.. Carr entered the hospital May
% for treatment of chronic asth-
matte bronchitis and his release
was expected in a few days, the
Associated Press reported. He was
stricken with a heart attack and no
member of his family was at the
hospital when he died.
Secretary of State Hull. on learn
ing of Mr.. Carrs death. declared:
The debt which the State De-
partment and the foreign service
owe to his years of devoted and un-
stinted service never can be repaid.
That we have been able to meet the
heavy burdens of the present war
Is in large measure due to his plan
ming and his foresight. The foreign
service as 1t exists today is in large
measure his creation. He laid the
foundations upon which we have
built. His memory will be cherished
not only by those who were asso-
ciated with him but by many others
whose careers in the public service
he has made possible"
Formerly U. S. Envoy.
State Department publications
frequently referred to Mr.. Carr as
"the father of the American foreign
service" because. they said, he had
done much to change the foreign
service from a system of political
appointees to service of career
men.
He was appointed Minister to
Czecho-Slovakia in 1887, after hav-
ing served IS years in the State
Department He was recalled after
this country closed its legation in
Prague in March, 1889 He had
succeeded ]. Butler Wright as Min
lister to the Czech capital.
Mr.. Carr started work as a ST 900
a-year clerk in 1892 and rose to
the position Of Assistant Secretary
of State, which he held from 1924
to 1887.
He was born near Hillsboro. Ohio.
october 81. 1870, and was graduate
Of the commercial college of Ken
lucky University in 1889. Mr.. Carr
war awarded a law degree from
GEORGETOWN University In 1894 and
received master of law degree from
Columbian, now George Washington
University, in 1899. He held doctor
Of law degrees from George Wash
ington and Hillside College.
Held Many Posts.
Mr.. Carr, during his career. was In
turn chief of the Consular Bureau
chief clerk of the department.: men,
Der of the Board of Examiners for
the Consular Service; member of
the board to formulate plan for the
examination Of candidates for the
Consular Service; chairman Of
the Committee on Business Meth
ods: director of Consular Service
from 1909 to 1924: vice chairman of
the Division of Foreign Relations
and representative of the depart
ment on the Division of Foreign
Relations, National Research Coun-
Gil, 1920. and budget officer.
Mr.. Carr was a member Of the
Board of Trustees of the Community
Chest and was elected vice presi-
dent at the last meeting. His serv-
ice with the chest included men,
bership on the Budget Committee,
for which he visited each agency,
and craftsmanship of the State De-
partment unit of the chest in 1884
and 1885.
Mr.. Carr was a member Of the
American Society Of International
Law, Council on Foreign Relations,
Ohio Society and trustee of George
Washington University and Garfield
Hospital. He was a member of the
Cosmos, Metropolitan and National
Press Clubs.
He Is survived by his widow, Mrs.
Edith Carr, and a brother. Alva
Carr of Taylorsville, Ohio. Mr.. and
Mrs. Carr made their home at 2300
Wyoming avenue NV.
Funeral services for Mr.. Carr will
be held at IL am. Tuesday at his
late home, with burial in Rock Greek
Cemetery.