Robert B. Stinnett papers, 1931-2019

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Summary

Creators:
Stinnett, Robert B.
Abstract:
Robert B. Stinnett (1924-2018) served in the United States Navy during World War II as an aerial photographer and was a photographer for the Oakland Tribune from 1947-1986. The Robert B. Stinnett papers (1931-2019) primarily consists of Stinnett's research material for the monograph "Day of Deceit: The Truth about FDR and Pearl Harbor" (2000), and Stinnett's other research interests surrounding World War II.
Extent:
210 manuscript boxes, 1 audio cassette box, 1 card file box, 4 microfilm boxes, 9 oversize boxes, 44 cubic foot boxes, 1 oversize folder, 1 videocassette, digital media, and memorabilia (168.72 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

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

Background

Scope and content:

The collection includes Stinnett's research material for the monograph "Day of Deceit: The Truth about FDR and Pearl Harbor" (2000) and other research interests surrounding World War II. Included are correspondence, interviews, and facsimiles of intelligence reports, dispatches, ciphers and other records related to research on the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the life of President George H. W. Bush, memoranda and photographs depicting the aircraft carrier San Jacinto, naval personnel, prisoner of war camps, life at sea, scenes of battle, naval artillery, Tokyo, and the Pacific Islands during World War II. The collection also includes book proposals, drafts, and reviews of Stinnett's books. Consulting Appendix B, "Research for Day of Deceit," in the book "Day of Deceit" may be useful for locating sources of the material Stinnett acquired from archival repositories for his research.

The initial donation of material consisted of photographs and negatives in envelopes A-Q, that are listed the Photographs series (boxes 1-3) and the Photographic Film series (box 4). Additional photographs and negatives that were received in a later donation were added to subsequent boxes. The collection is arranged according to Stinnett's organization system and labeling of folders. Many of the documents Stinnett duplicated from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) contain classified markings. Archival records made available to the public by NARA are either unclassified or declassified.

The Writings series includes book proposals, manuscript drafts, and publisher's proofs relating to Stinnett's monographs. The material is arranged by the title of the work.

The Subject File series includes correspondence, interview transcripts, notes, clippings, and secondary research material from other repositories relating to Stinnett's research on World War II, the life of President George H. W. Bush, and other topics. It includes Stinnett's reference/research notes on undated 5 x 8 in. index cards. The material is arranged according to Stinnett's organization in which the files are grouped alphabetically but may not be in alphabetical order, as Stinnett organized certain subjects together.

The Photographs series include envelopes A-mO, consisting of 515 photographic prints of World War II taken by Stinnett while serving as an official photographer in the United States Navy aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. San Jacinto. The series includes additional prints Stinnett made for his research. Scenes include military personnel, aerial shots at Tokyo, prisoners of war camps, life at sea, scenes of battle, naval artillery, scenes of Tokyo, and the Pacific Islands.

The Photographic Film series includes envelopes P and Q, negatives, slides, and microfilm of material from archival repositories, Stinnet's visits to archival repositories and site specific visits for his research, Stinnett's images of track and field and other interests, and compilations of negatives Stinnett created. Stinnett organized the negatives using a photo file number.

The FBI File series comprises photocopies of the Federal Bureau of Investigation records. Stinnett obtained these copies through Freedom of Information Act requests; they are heavily redacted and arranged by FBI file number.

The RBS (Robert B. Stinnett) Research Materials File primarily consists of photocopies from archives (including the National Archives) made by Stinnett in the course of his research. Original order is maintained according to Stinnett's alphanumeric file codes. Stinnett embossed some of the material with "Library of RBS, Robert Stinnett."

The Sound Recordings series includes audio cassette tapes with interviews and recordings for Stinnett's research and the Video Recordings series contains one VHS recording.

The Digital Materials series includes digital files Stinnett acquired from other repositories, photographs, and Sinnett's files.

The memorabilia series includes Stinnett's journalist identification cards, patches, and other ephemera he collected.

Content warning: This collection contains photographs depicting war scenes that are graphic in nature. This collection also contains creator-supplied folder titles that use harmful and outdated language. Description staff transcribed the titles as they are found on the objects in order to accurately reflect the language used by the collection's creator and represent the context in which the records were created.

Biographical / historical:

Robert B. Stinnett was born March 31, 1924, in Oakland, California. He graduated from Fremont High School in 1942 and immediately enlisted in the United States Navy. During World War II he served as an aerial photographer in the Pacific. While in the military, he met future president, Lieutenant George H.W. Bush, serving under him for four years and earning ten stars for being engaged in battle and a Presidential Unit Citation. After his military service ended in 1946, Stinnett returned to the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1947 he began working as a photographer for the Oakland Tribune, retiring in 1986. After retiring, Stinnett focused on writing. He researched and published two books regarding the second World War: "George Bush: His World War II Years" published in 1991 by the Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., and "Day of Deceit: The Truth about FDR and Pearl Harbor" published in 2000 by Free Press. Stinnett spent 18 years researching "Day of Deceit." Additionally, he was a Research Fellow at the Independent Institute in Oakland, California. Stinnett was also a consultant for the British Broadcasting Service, Asahi, and NHK Television, Japan. Stinnett died November 16, 2018, in San Jose, California.

Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1963. Additional material acquired in 2020.
Processing information:

Between September 2020-September 2023, the collection was processed at the folder level, capturing the titles written on folders/envelopes. After September 2023, to expedite processing, the collection was processed at the box level and a summary of the contents was captured and placed in a scope and contents note. Cartons of material were grouped by series and processed. Stinnett maintained his research material in envelopes grouped alphabetically, but not necessarily in alphabetical order. Envelope titles were transcribed or if lengthy, abbreviated and maintained with the material. Typos and spelling errors were corrected, as applicable, but may appear in the titles that Stinnett originally created. Spelling errors/typos are most common in names of individuals and trying different spelling variations may be useful when searching the collection.

Arrangement:

Stinnett's original organization has been maintained. To assist with locating material in the Subject File, files that appeared erroneously placed within an alphabetical group were intellectually arranged alphabetically.

Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Boxes 4, 262-268, 285, and 289 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.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

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

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
Website