Access
Use
Acquisition Information
Preferred Citation
Biographical Note
Scope and Content of Collection
Title: Robert Edward Ward papers
Date (inclusive): 1942-1987
Collection Number: 87014
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: In English and Japanese
Physical Description:
53 manuscript boxes, 2 oversize boxes, 7 card file boxes, 1 oversize folder
(32.5 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Reports, studies, memoranda, minutes, correspondence, pamphlets, and other printed matter, relating to area studies and foreign
language studies in the United States, education to promote international understanding, and American-Japanese cultural relations.
Creator:
Ward, Robert E., 1916-2009
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1987.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Robert Edward Ward papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Biographical Note
Robert Ward was born in San Francisco in 1916. He earned a bachelor's degree from Stanford in 1936. During World War II,
Ward was recruited by the Naval Intelligence Service, attended the Navy Language School in Colorado and became a Japanese
translator on General Douglas MacArthur's staff. He received the Legion of Merit award for his service. Following the end
of the war, Ward returned to his studies and earned a PhD from the University of California at Berkeley in 1948.
Dr. Ward joined the faculty of the University of Michigan in 1948, where he taught political science, directed the Center
for Japanese Studies, and served terms as President of the American Political Science Association and the Association for
Asian Studies. He was also a member of the national council of the National Endowment for the Humanities from 1968-1973.
Ward accepted a position at Stanford in 1973, where he founded the Center for Research in International Studies, precursor
to the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. He served as Director for the Center from 1973-1987. He was also
a Senior Fellow of the Hoover Institution. Ward advocated for International Studies and Education, serving on the Presiden'ts
Commission on Foreign Language and International Studies from 1978-1979. He was also Chairman of the Board of Directors of
the Social Science Research Council, and of the Japan-United States Friendship Commission. He was a member of the American
Panel of the United States-Japan Conference on Cultural and Educational Interchange (CULCON). In 1984 he received the Order
of the Sacred Treasure from the government of Japan.
Ward retired from Stanford in 1987, and died on December 7, 2009.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Robert Ward papers is comprised of three series: Committees and Associations, Research Materials, and Subject File.
The Committees and Associations series contains correspondence, pamphlets, meeting minutes, and reports reflecting Ward's
involvement with scholarly associations and his advocacy work for federal funding of International Studies education. Ward
held leadership positions in both local and national educational associations and also worked to further connections between
the United States and Japan. The files are arranged alphabetically according to association name.
The Research Materials and Drafts include notes, correspondence, bibliographies, a card file, preliminary drafts of books,
and photocopies of original documents relating the political structure of the Japanese government and the United States occupation
of Japan post World War II. The series was maintained in original order.
The Subject File contains reports, pamphlets, clippings, correspondence, and other printed matter relating to area studies
and foreign language studies in the United States, education to promote international understanding, and American-Japanese
cultural relations. It is arranged into published and unpublished material, then alphabetically by subject.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
International education
Intellectual cooperation
Area studies -- United States
Language and languages -- Study and teaching
United States -- Relations -- Japan
Japan -- Relations -- United States
United States. President's Commission on Foreign Language and International Studies
Japan-United States Friendship Commission