Register of the Warren H. Atherton Papers, 1891-1976

Processed by Don Walker, Harrison Inefuku, Jon Lin, and Michael Wurtz

Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections

University of the Pacific Library

3601 Pacific Ave.

Stockton, CA 95211

Phone: (209) 946-2404

URL: https://www.pacific.edu/university-libraries/find/holt-atherton-special-collections

Register of the Warren H. Atherton Papers, 1891-1976

Collection number: MSS 165

Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections

University of the Pacific Library

Stockton, California

Contact Information

Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
University Library, University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA 95211
Phone: (209) 946-2404
URL: https://www.pacific.edu/university-libraries/find/holt-atherton-special-collections

Processed by:: Processed by Don Walker, Harrison Inefuku, Jon Lin, and Michael Wurtz
Date Completed:: 2007
Encoded by:: Michael Wurtz

Descriptive Summary

Title: Warren H. Atherton papers, 1891-1976

Dates: 1891-1976

Collection number: MSS 165

Creator: Atherton, Warren H., 1891-1976

Collector: Atherton, Marietta

Collection Size: 6 linear feet

Repository: University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Dept. of Special Collections

Stockton, California 95211

Abstract: The Atherton Papers consist of correspondence pertaining to the GI Bill, the American Legion, Holt Family matters and the Jedediah Smith Society. The Papers also contain clippings, scrapbooks, photographs and memorabilia relevant to the public and family life of Warren H. Atherton.

Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.

Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

Collection open for research.

Publication Rights

Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Preferred Citation

Warren H. Atherton papers, 1891-1976. MSS 165. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library.

Biography / Administrative History

Warren H. Atherton (1891-1976) was a Stockton (Calif.) attorney, judge and politician. He is perhaps best known as a former National Commander of the American Legion and "Father of the GI Bill" (1943). During this period, Atherton was consultant to the Secretary of War and envoy to Nelson Rockefeller, Coordinator of International Affairs. Admitted to the California State Bar (1913), he married Anne Holt, daughter of Benjamin Holt, developer of the Caterpillar Tractor. After service in World War I, Atherton became a Stockton city judge and President of the local Chamber of Commerce. He was concurrently involved in agriculture and in various business interests. Atherton served on the California Board of Prison Terms and Paroles (1935-1937) and ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate (1957).

Scope and Content of Collection

The Atherton Papers consist of correspondence pertaining to the GI Bill, the American Legion, Holt Family matters and the Jedediah Smith Society. The Papers also contain clippings, scrapbooks, photographs and memorabilia relevant to the public and family life of Warren H. Atherton.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Atherton, Warren H., - 1891-1976

American Legion

Jedediah Smith Society

Lawyers - California - Stockton

Veterans

Travelers' writings, American

United States - Politics and government

Box 1: Papers

1.1: Biography

1.2: Death

1.3-5: 80th Birthday testimonials December 28, 1971

1.6-8: Jedediah Smith Society

1.9: Financial Correspondence and Records

1.10: Speeches, Messages, Articles (Misc), Programs

1.11: Invitations, Souvenirs: World Wars One and Two

1.12: The Mechanization of Agriculture and the Grain Trade in the Great Central Valley of California by Reynold M. Wik, 1974

1.13: Plans for Atherton Island, April 1950

1.14: 1966 Attempt at Novel

1.15: Stockton Opera Association, 1969-1976

1.16: Michael Warren Atherton

1.17: Marietta Atherton Correspondence

1.18: Atherton Family

1.19: Marietta Atherton

1.20: Holt Family

1.21: Places named for Atherton

1.22: Haggin Museum

1.23: San Joaquin First Federal Savings and Loan, 1971-1973

1.24: Atherton Honorary Doctorate of Laws from University of the Pacific, May 26, 1972

1.25: University of the Pacific

1.26-32: Clippings c.1930-c.1985

Box 2: Papers

2.1: Correspondence with American Legion

2.2: 1973-4 American Legion Convention and Resolutions

2.3: Publications “The Legion News” Sept. 15, 1925

2.4-8: American Legion Magazines and Publications

2.9: Stockton Legionnaire 1955

2.10: 1940: Selective Service and Training Bill

2.11: Personal Correspondence concerning G.I. Bill

2.12: G.I. Bill: Misc Reports, Minutes, and Addresses

2:13: 1967: G.I. Bill Committee Reunion (American Legion Convention)

2:14: G.I. Bill Misc.

2.15: Politics – general

2.16: Prison and Parole Papers

2.17: Guest list and letters – dinner from General Adler 1955

2.18: Senate Campaign Scrapbook 1958

2.19: Various books, reports, and government publications

2.20: Objects: medals, campaign bottle caps (Atherton and Bob Monagan), Lyndon Johnson pen used to sign American Legion act, 1966

Box 3: Photographs

3.1: Military: World War I

3.2: Military: World War II

3.3-4: American Legion

3.5: Atherton with others (includes photos with General Henry “Hap” Arnold, Stanley McCaffery, Coke Wood, Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, and Sam Rayburn)

3.6: Portraits

3.7: Marietta Atherton

3.8-11: Family photographs

3.12: Homes

3.13-14: Trips

3.15: Photo Album: Atherton’s Spring 1944 Pacific Island trip as commander of American Legion

3.16: Photo Album: 1944 Capture of Admiralty Islands booklet presented to Atherton

3.17: Photo Album: Alameda to Pearl Harbor aboard U.S.S. Princeton, 1952

3.18: Photo Album: American Center Exchange Brisbane, Australia, c.1945

3.19: Photo Album: Japan Trip 1958

3.20: Photo Album: c.1944

3.21: Photo Album: College of the Pacific Death Valley Trip, 1943

Box 4: Trips

4.1: Misc Trips 1944-45

4.2: 1953 Trip to Europe

4.3-4: 1960-1 Trip around the World

4.5: 1963 Trip to Hawaii

4.6: 1974 Trip to Russia

4.7: Other Trips – Itineraries, Accounts, Passports

Box 5: Oversized materials

5.1: Photo Album: The American Red Cross in the Southwest Pacific 1944

5.2: Photo Album: Brazil, 1944

5.3: Photo Album: Europe and Panama, c.1944-c.1962

5.4: Photo Album (Loose): c.1944

5.5: Awards, Citations, Certificates, 1951 drawing of residence

Scrapbook 1: American Legion, September-December 1943

Scrapbook 2: American Legion, December 1943-January 1944

Scrapbook 3: American Legion, January-September 1944

Scrapbook 4: American Legion, 1932-1934

Scrapbook 5: American Legion, 1930s-1940s

Scrapbook 6: American Legion, 1943-1944

Scrapbook 7: California Prisons Terms, and Paroles 1935 (includes account of Atherton being taken hostage while at San Quentin)