Preliminary Inventory of the Robert C. Richardson papers

Finding aid prepared by Hoover Institution Library and Archives Staff, revised by Beth Goder

Hoover Institution Library and Archives

434 Galvez Mall

Stanford University

Stanford, CA 94305-6003

hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu

URL: http://www.hoover.org/library-and-archives

Title: Robert C. Richardson papers

Date (inclusive): 1890-1954

Collection Number: 68029

Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives

Language of Material: English

Physical Description: 89 manuscript boxes, 1 oversize box (38.6 Linear Feet)

Abstract: Correspondence, bulletins, directives, maps, and photographs relating to American military operations in the Pacific Theater during World War II and the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I.

Creator: Richardson, Robert C. (Robert Charlwood), 1882-1954

Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Access

Boxes 82-84 closed. Boxes 10-11, 31-33, 35, 37, 39, 40, 43-46, 48-51, 53-54, 59-60, 66, 68-71, 75, 77, 80-81, 87-89 may not be used without permission of the Archivist. The remainder of 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

Materials were acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1968.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Robert Charlwood Richardson papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Biographical Note

1882	Born, Charleston, South Carolina
1900-1904	Cadet, United States Military Academy at West Point (USMA)
Circa 1904-1905	Served in the 14th Calvary Regiment during the Philippine–American War
1905	Wounded in action at Cotta Usap
1906-1911	Assistant instructor of modern languages, United States Military Academy at West Point (USMA)
1914-1916	Assistant professor of English, United States Military Academy at West Point (USMA)
1917	Author, West Point: An Intimate Picture of the National Military Academy
	Aide to Major General T. H. Barry
1918-1919	Liaison officer, American Expeditionary Forces
1919	Joined Morale Division, War Plans Division, War Department General Staff, Washington DC
1920-1923	Assistant to assistant chief of staff for operations, Headquarters, Philippine Department, Manila
1924-1926	Attended Ecole Supérieure de Guerre, Paris
1926-1928	Military attaché, Rome, Italy
1929-1933	Commandant of cadets, United States Military Academy at West Point (USMA)
1933	Attended Army War College, Washington
1938	Given command of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade at Fort Bliss, Texas
1940-1941	Commanded the 1st Calvary Division Fort Bliss, Texas
1941	Director, Bureau of Public Relations, War Department
1954	Posthumously promoted to general
	Died
1943-	Commanding general of U.S. Army forces in the Pacific Ocean area
	Military governor of Hawaii
	Commanding general of the Hawaiian Department

Scope and Contents of Collection

The papers document the military career of General Robert Charlwood Richardson, Jr., who served in World War I and World War II. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, bulletins, directives, maps, and photographs relating to American military operations in the Pacific Theater during World War II and the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I.

As an aide to Major General T. H. Barry, Richardson traveled with Barry to Europe in 1917. Since Richardson could speak French, he became a liaison officer for the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. The collection includes materials related to the American Expeditionary Forces and volumes of information summaries.

During World War II, Richardson became the military governor of Hawaii and the commander of Army personnel in the Pacific. He was present aboard the USS Missouri during Japan's surrender in 1945. The collection contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, and photographs related to Richardson's service, as well as history volumes documenting the United States Armed Forces in the Middle Pacific. Also included are materials concerning martial law in Hawaii and suspension of the right of habeas corpus during Richardson's service as military governor.

Index to Major Groups

Box Numbers	Groups
37, 75, 77-79	Biographical File
77-81	Diaries
63-71, 78-79, 81	Correspondence
12, 37, 78, 84	Speeches and writings
1-4, 7, 77	World War I
5-6, 8-11, 76	Interwar period
12-57, 78, 82-84	World War II
36, 38, 61-62	Photographs

Related Sources

Opera􀆟onal Reports:

Lt. Gen. Robert C. Richardson, "Par􀆟cipa􀆟on of United States Army Forces in the Central Pacific Area [USAFCPA] in Galvanic Opera􀆟on," (official report, n.p.: HQ, USAFCPA, 1944). Lt. Gen. Robert C. Richardson, "Par􀆟cipa􀆟on in the Kwajalein and Eniwetok Opera􀆟ons [Marshalls], by the United States Army Forces in the Central Pacific Area," (official report, n.p.: HQ, USAFCPA, 1945). Lt. Gen. Robert C. Richardson, "Par􀆟cipa􀆟on in the Western Carolines and Central Philippines Opera􀆟ons by United States Army Forces in Pacific Ocean Areas," (official report, n.p.: HQ, USAFPOA, 1945). Lt. Gen. Robert C. Richardson, "Par􀆟cipa􀆟on in the Iwo Jima Opera􀆟on by United States Army Forces in Pacific Ocean Areas," (official report, n.p.: HQ, USAFPOA, 1946). Lt. Gen. Robert C. Richardson, "Par􀆟cipa􀆟on in the Okinawa Opera􀆟on by United States Army Forces in Pacific Ocean Areas," 2 vols. (official report, n.p.: HQ, U. S. Army Forces Middle Pacific, 1946). Lt. Gen. Robert C. Richardson, "Report on Canton, New Caledonia, Kwajalein, Saipan, Tarawa, Tinian, Fiji, Guam, Guadalcanal, Okinawa" (official report, n.p.: HQ, U. S. Army Forces Middle Pacific, 1945).

Robert C. Richardson, Jr., "A Soldier's Life," unpublished manuscript, U. S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) Historian's Office. Robert C. Richardson Papers, "unpublished dra􀅌," Box 1A, Folders 1- 2 & Box 1B, Folders 17-18, U.S. Army Heritage and Educa􀆟on Center (USAHEC), Carlisle, PA. This unpublished autobiography is an elusive source. The USAHEC collec􀆟on has an "unpublished dra􀅌," in 25 Tabs mixed with "Diary" documents in two loca􀆟ons. The USARPAC History Office has 8 files en􀆟tled Chapters. All eight Chapters at USARPAC have iden􀆟cal 􀆟tles to eight Tabs at USAHEC, but there are different chapter and tab numbers between the two collec􀆟ons. James

Related Collections

Delos Carleton Emmons papers, Hoover Institution Library & Archives William Edward Hammer processed volume, Hoover Institution Library & Archives Raymond B. Jordan collection, Hoover Institution Library & Archives Henry J. Muller, Jr. papers, Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Subjects and Indexing Terms

United States -- Armed Forces -- Philippines

World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Pacific Ocean

Officers

World War, 1939-1945 -- Hawaii

World War, 1914-1918 -- United States

United States. Army

American Expeditionary Forces 1917-1919

Scope and Contents note

See also: Ecole Supérieure de Guerre, Box 8-9.

box 1

General 1917-1919

box 2

General 1917-1919

box 2

"Summary of Information, Second Section, General Staff, General Headquarters," 1917 October-1918 October

box 3

"Summary of Information, Second Section, General Staff, General Headquarters," 1917 October-1918 October

box 3

"Summary of Air Information, Second Section, General Staff, General Headquarters," 1918 March-November

"Summary of Intelligence, Second Section, General Staff, General Headquarters," 1918 April-November

box 4

"Press Review, Second Section, General Staff, General Headquarters," 1917 December-1919 June

Philippine Department 1921-1922

box 5

"Orders, Bulletins, and Memoranda," volume 1 to 3 1921-1922

Scope and Contents

Prepared by Personnel Division, General Staff (G1), Philippine Department.

box 6

"Orders, Bulletins, and Memoranda," volume 1 to 3 1921-1922

box 6

"Studies, Orders, Bulletins and Other Papers," by Robert C. Richardson, 2 volumes 1921-1922

box 7

Military books and pamphlets 1906-1938

Scope and Contents note

Mainly related to World War I.

box 36

Military books and pamphlets 1906-1938

Scope and Contents note

Mainly related to World War I.

box 61

Military books and pamphlets 1906-1938

Scope and Contents note

Mainly related to World War I.

box 8

Ecole Supérieure de Guerre, Paris 1911-1934

Scope and Contents

Includes materials related to the American Expeditionary Forces.

box 9

Ecole Supérieure de Guerre, Paris 1911-1934

box 10

"Third Army Command Post Exercises," 6 volumes 1936

Conditions Governing Access

Box 10 Closed

box 11

"Third Army Command Post Exercises," (continued)

Conditions Governing Access

Box 11 Closed

box 87

"Third Army Command Post Exercises," (continued)

Central Pacific Command 1941-1949

Scope and Contents note

See also: declassified materials in Box 73-74.

box 12

Joint communications, Central Pacific area 1942-1945

Scope and Contents note

Includes communications, memoranda, speeches, and conference data, as well as "Where Do We Stand?" and "Inauguration Address" by Richardson.

box 12

Central Pacific combat and status reports 1942-1945

Scope and Contents note

Includes reports on Aitutaki, Angaur, Baker, Bora Bora, Efate, Fanning, Makin, Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Nukufetau, Palmyra, Penrhyn (Tongareua), Russell Islands, Tongatabu, Tulagi, Tutuila, Upolu, and Wallis; reports on participation in the Galvanic Operation in the Gilbert Islands and the Kwajalein and Eniwetok Operations; and transcripts of telephone conversations.

box 13

Central Pacific combat and status reports 1942-1945

box 14

Central Pacific combat and status reports 1942-1945

box 15

Military combat reports 1944-1949

Scope and Contents

Includes Richardson's notes on operations in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands.

box 16

Military combat reports 1944-1949

box 17

Correspondence and communication files 1942-1946

Scope and Contents

Includes Commanding General, U.S. Army Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas (COMGENPOA) and Commander-In-Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas (CINCPOA) files.

box 18

Correspondence and communication files 1942-1946

box 19

Correspondence and communication files 1942-1946

box 20

Correspondence and communication files 1942-1946

box 21

Correspondence, memoranda, summaries of meetings, and MacArthur file 1941-1945

Scope and Contents

Includes correspondence with John McCloy.

box 22

Orders, reports, memoranda, and subject files 1942-1946

box 23

Orders, reports, memoranda, and subject files 1942-1946

Military Governor of Hawaii 1941-1946

box 24

"Wartime Security Controls in Hawaii, 1941-1945: A General Historical Survey," part 1 to 8 1945

box 25

"Wartime Security Controls in Hawaii, 1941-1945: A General Historical Survey," part 1 to 8 1945

box 30

"Wartime Security Controls in Hawaii, 1941-1945: A General Historical Survey," part 1 to 8 1945

box 25

Martial law 1941-1946

Scope and Contents note

See also: declassified materials in Box 74.

box 26

Martial law 1941-1946

box 27

Martial law 1941-1946

box 27

Investigation related to Joseph Petrowski 1946

box 28

Investigation related to Joseph Petrowski 1946

box 28

Habeas corpus cases 1942-1946

Scope and Contents note

Includes materials concerning case of Lloyd C. Duncan. See also: declassified materials in Box 74.

box 29

Habeas corpus cases 1942-1946

box 31

Civil affairs 1943-1945

Conditions Governing Access

Box 31 Closed

box 32

World War II administrative and policy documents, correspondence, demobilization file, and personnel in Japan 1941-1946

Conditions Governing Access

Box 32 Closed.

box 33

World War II administrative and policy documents, correspondence, demobilization file, and personnel in Japan 1941-1946

Conditions Governing Access

Box 33 Closed.

box 33

World War II administrative and policy documents (continued)

Conditions Governing Access

Box 33 Closed.

box 88

World War II administrative and policy documents (continued)

box 34

Public Relations Bureau, War Department 1941, 1945

Scope and Contents

Includes correspondence with Julius Klein discussing the possibility of a motion picture film.

Saipan incident, Holland Smith/Ralph Smith controversy 1948-1949

Scope and Contents note

See also: declassified materials in Box 73.

box 35

Closed

box 36

Saipan documents, press statements, and clippings 1944

box 36

Smith vs. Smith controversy, 1948

box 36

Infantry Journal issues, 1949

box 37

Biographical file 1944-1962

Scope and Contents

Includes clippings about Richardson and photograph.

Conditions Governing Access

Box 37 Closed

box 37

Speeches and writings 1944-1960

Scope and Contents

Includes first two chapters of Richardson's memoirs, published in the WDBPR veteran's newsletter.

Conditions Governing Access

Box 37 Closed.

box 89

Speeches and writings (continued)

box 38

Photographic portraits of Richardson February 17, 1942

VII Corps, administrative files and photographs 1941

box 38

VII Corps Training photographs (7 files) circa 1941-1943

Scope and Contents

Includes parades, training scenes, airplanes, calvary, and many group photographs. Also includes some Richardson portraits at training areas.

box 38

Report of the VII Corps Exercises, October 1941

box 38

VII Corps reports and correspondence, 1941-1943

box 38

Fort Bliss, Texas, housing issues reports and correspondence, 1941

box 38

VII Corps training reports for the 81st, 79th, and 73rd divisions, 1943

box 38

Western Defense Command report, 1941

box 38

VII Corps and Western Defense Command reports, March-April 1942

Scope and Contents

Includes Defense of the Continental U.S. reports

U.S. Air Force and radar reports and materials 1944-1955

Conditions Governing Access

Box 39 Closed.

box 39

Information on Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific Area 1942

Conditions Governing Access

Box 39 Closed.

box 39

Airdrome lists, South Pacific Area undated

Conditions Governing Access

Box 39 Closed.

box 39

Radar in Hawaii 1943-1945

Conditions Governing Access

Box 39 Closed.

box 39

7th Air Force Operations, November 1943-January 1944

Scope and Contents

Includes photographs

Conditions Governing Access

Box 39 Closed.

box 39

South Pacific Report, 1943

Conditions Governing Access

Box 39 Closed.

box 39

Air Forces Report, 1941

Conditions Governing Access

Box 39 Closed.

box 39

Report from Australian Air Corps September 1942

Conditions Governing Access

Box 39 Closed.

box 39

Correspondence on Air Commands August 1943-February 1944

Conditions Governing Access

Box 39 Closed.

box 39

Correspondence on Air Commands January - May 1945

Conditions Governing Access

Box 39 Closed.

box 39

Messages regarding Air Force units July 1945-1946

Conditions Governing Access

Box 39 Closed.

box 39

Air Force Manual Revision 1945

Conditions Governing Access

Box 39 Closed.

History volumes, "United States Army Forces, Middle Pacific and Predecessor Commands," 1941-1945

box 40

History of Adjutant General's Office, Artillery Section and Chaplain's Section

Conditions Governing Access

Box 40 Closed.

"History of Chemical Warfare," undated

box 41

Volume I to III

box 42

Volume IV to V

"History of Engineer Section," undated

box 43

Volume I to II

Conditions Governing Access

Box 43 Closed.

box 44

Volume III to IV

Conditions Governing Access

Box 44 Closed.

box 45

"History of an Exchange and Fiscal Section," 1941-1945

Conditions Governing Access

Box 45 Closed.

box 46

"History of the G-1 Section," 1941-1945

Conditions Governing Access

Box 46 Closed.

box 47

"History of G-2 Section" and "History of G-4 Section," 1941-1945

box 48

"History of the G-4 Section" and "History of G-5 Section," 1941-1945

Conditions Governing Access

Box 48 Closed.

box 49

"History of H.Q. Commandant, Appendix," "Office of the Surgeon," and "History of Ordinance Section," 1941-1945

Conditions Governing Access

Box 49 Closed.

box 50

"History of Provost Marshal's Office," 1941-1945

Conditions Governing Access

Box 50 Closed.

box 51

"History of Provost Marshal's Office," 1941-1945

Conditions Governing Access

Box 51 Closed.

box 52

"History of Provost Marshal's Office," 1941-1945

Conditions Governing Access

Box 52 Closed.

box 52

"History of the G-3 Section" and "Replacement Training Offices," 1941-1945

Conditions Governing Access

Box 52 Closed.

box 53

"History of Public Relations," "History of Quarter Master," "History of Judge Advocate's Office," and "History of Replacement Sections," 1941-1945

Conditions Governing Access

Box 53 may not be used without permission of the Archivist.

box 54

"History of Signal," "History of Special Service," "History of the Inspector General's Section," and "History of the Transportation Section," 1941-1945

Conditions Governing Access

Box 54 Closed.

World War II department histories undated

box 55

Volume 1 to 5

box 56

Volume 6 to 10

box 57

Volume 11 to 15

box 58

Maps, memoranda, and history of Army port and service command 1943-1947, undated

box 59

World War II correspondence and memoranda, public relations file, Army and Navy relationships file 1944-1945

Correspondence, memoranda, orders, and directives pertaining to Hawaii and the Pacific Ocean and public relations file 1943-1945

box 72

"Army Activities Benefiting Hawaii" reports, 1944

box 72

Reports by Island, 1944

box 72

South Pacific Command reports September 1944

box 72

Italian Prisioners of War in Hawaii, 1945

box 72

Schoffield Barracks dedication, rank lists, and other materials, 1942-1944

box 72

Santa Clara University correspondence file, 1942-1945

box 60

General Lear correspondence 1942-1943

Conditions Governing Access

Box 60 Closed.

box 60

Agenda file, 1945

Conditions Governing Access

Box 60 Closed.

box 60

Promotions and discharges 1943-1946

Conditions Governing Access

Box 60 Closed.

box 60

POA APO 244 correspondence and reports, demobilization directives, 1942-1946

Conditions Governing Access

Box 60 Closed.

box 60

Corps Organization, 1944

Conditions Governing Access

Box 60 Closed.

box 60

Army Port Services Command, Roy Blount memoranda and correspondence 1943-1946

Conditions Governing Access

Box 60 Closed.

box 72

Stars and Stripes issues, 1946

box 72

Requsitioning the Hotel De Anza for military use 1942

box 61

Military books and pamphlets 1917-1938

box 61

Army Officers' manuals

box 61

"An Army Interlude: Kilauea Military Camp," brochure circa 1944

Signal Corps photographs

box 90, folder 1

General Richardson's office in Hawaii undated

Scope and Contents

1 album containing 22 prints.

box 90, folder 2

General Richardson's residence, Fort Shafter undated

Scope and Contents

1 album containing 22 prints.

box 90, folder 3

Pearl Harbor and Pacific Islands, World War II 1944

Scope and Contents

1 album containing 31 prints.

box 62

Pacific Islands, World War II 1944-1945

Scope and Contents

1 album.

Army University Center, Oahu; Schofield barracks 1945-1946

Scope and Contents

1 album.

box 62

General World War II photographs 1944-1945, undated

Scope and Contents

Mainly groups of officers and soldiers, some including cars, airplanes, and other machinery. Also includes aerial shots from an airplane.

box 62

Visitors to Headquarters, South Pacific Base Command, circa 1944-1945

Scope and Contents

Includes captions for each image

box 62

Groups of officers and soldiers in Oahu 1944-1945

box 62

Oahu and Saipan 1944-1945

Scope and Contents

Mainly individuals and groups of military men

box 62

Iwo Jima, Tinian, and Palaus 1944

box 62

Okinawa 1945

box 62

Guam 1944

Correspondence 1941-1946

box 63

Number 1 to 300, Personal, A-Z, A-B 1941-1946

box 64

Number 301 to 550 1941-1946

box 65

Number 551 to 800 1941-1946

box 66

Number 801 to 950 1941-1946

Conditions Governing Access

Box 66 Closed.

box 67

Number 951 to 1100 1941-1946

box 68

Number 1101 to 1300 1941-1946

Conditions Governing Access

Box 68 Closed.

box 69

Number 1301 to 1500 1941-1946

Conditions Governing Access

Box 69 Closed.

box 70

Number 1501 to 1800 1941-1946

Conditions Governing Access

Box 70 Closed.

box 71

Number 1801 to 2201 1941-1946

Conditions Governing Access

Box 71 Closed.

Declassified U.S. government records 1943-1946

Scope and Contents note

Formerly security-classified records of the U.S. government, released in full or in part. Includes some interfield records determined by the government to be unclassified. Arranged chronologically by date of release by Hoover.

box 73

2015 May release of records 1944

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence, memoranda, and reports related to Saipan and Holland Smith/Ralph Smith, arranged chronologically. For related materials, see Box 35-36.

box 73

2016 January release of records 1943-1946

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence, reports, memoranda, orders, and other communications related to Central Pacific Command and Richardson's role as Military Governor of Hawaii (specifically martial law and habeas corpus cases), arranged by original box number and folder title, then chronologically thereunder. The materials originally were in Boxes 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, and 28.

box 74

2016 January release of records 1943-1946

box 75

"Peronsal Notes of Robert C. Richardson," 1918-1923

Conditions Governing Access

Box 75 Closed.

box 75

Papers, correspondence, and collected material 1890-1923

Conditions Governing Access

Box 75 Closed.

Military Attaché File

Scope and Contents

Materials related to Richardson's post as a military attaché in Rome, Italy, from 1926 to 1928.

box 76

Military record, Rome 1923-1928

box 76

"Reports on Italy: Military, Political, Economic, Current Events," by Richardson 1926-1928

box 77

Diaries 1910-1918

Conditions Governing Access

Box 77 Closed.

box 77

"Divisional History Charts," 1917-1920

Conditions Governing Access

Box 77 Closed.

box 77

Clippings scrapbook, 1942

Scope and Contents

Includes Washington Bureau of Public Relations, Birmingham 7th Corps, desert maneuvers, and Jacksonville command

Conditions Governing Access

Box 77 Closed.

box 78

Plan for seizure of coal mines 1941-1943

box 78

Diary 1930-1933

box 78

Biography undated

box 78

Speeches and writings 1926-1928

box 78

Correspondence, Philippines 1912-1916

box 79

Biographical file

Scope and Contents

Includes condolence letters

box 79

Diaries 1941, 1945-1946

box 79

Correspondence 1945

Scope and Contents

Includes letters to General Douglas MacArthur

Diaries

box 80

1937

Conditions Governing Access

Box 80 Closed.

box 80

1940

Conditions Governing Access

Box 80 Closed.

box 80

1941-1942

Conditions Governing Access

Box 80 Closed.

box 80

1946-1951

Conditions Governing Access

Box 80 Closed.

box 81

1943-1944

Conditions Governing Access

Box 81 Closed.

box 81

1945-1946

Conditions Governing Access

Box 81 Closed.

Correspondence

box 81

Numbers 1001-1100 1945-1946

Scope and Contents

Includes correspondence with family members

Conditions Governing Access

Box 81 Closed.

box 82

Haskell, Joseph F. 1941-1945

Conditions Governing Access

Box 82 Closed.

box 82

Eichelberger, R. L. 1941-1946

Conditions Governing Access

Box 82 Closed.

box 82

Marshall, George C. 1942-1944

Conditions Governing Access

Box 82 Closed.

box 85

Organizational charts, Office of Internal Security, Territory of Hawaii Military Area 1945

Photographs

box 86

Arial photographs of Manila and Jolo Point 1922

box 86

Army photographs, New Hebrides, Fiji, New Caledonia 1944

Digital materials

Physical Description: 1 DVD

Access

Digital materials are not available until processed. If interested in accessing these materials, please contact us for more information.

box MC37

"Luau: Native Feast" circa 1944

Physical Description: 1 DVD

Scope and Contents

DVD containing one digitized color film titled "Luau: Native Feast." Notes from original DVD case: "12:00 min color film, no audio. U.S. Army Forces in Central Pacific Area AAF Combat Camera Unit. Large luau for party of Army officers and NCOs (Gnd, Air, and Support) to include LTG R.C. Richardson Jr."