Joseph E. Davies was the second Ambassador to represent the United States in the Soviet Union in 1937 – 1938.
His daughter, the twenty years old Emlen Knight Davies, took some pictures of the surroundings. These images, courtesy of her private collection, were on display in Moscow for the anniversary of the Spaso House — the official diplomatic residence.
These 19 images portray Moscow in a slightly different view — the entire pre-war epoch ended was just about to end, and those times, still full of life and character, still look very charming.
Emlen Knight Davies, at the age of 20 (ish)
From left: Joseph Davies, Joseph Stalin, Vyacheslav Molotov.
Diplomatic Pass, Emlen Knight Davies, who is granted all diplomatic rights and privileges as the holder of such a document.
Spaso House, the official diplomatic residency of the American Embassador
The celebratory march of November 7th 1937
TSUM shop, just before opening
“Communism holds no serious threat to the United States. Friendly relations in the future may be of great general value”, Joseph E. Davies assessed.
The parents (Embassador and his wife) are going to a dinner party to M. Litvinov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Embassy’s staff team, in front of the Spaso House
The view from the second floor of the Spaso House
The park in front of the residence
The doorman nicknamed Two-Bearded and the Embassador’s Packard
Two Bearded, closer up
The Embassador with the wife, out on Leninskie Gory