Joseph Warren Stilwell papers, 1889-2010

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Summary

Creators:
Stilwell, Joseph Warren, 1883-1946
Abstract:
Diaries, correspondence, radiograms, memoranda, reports, military orders, writings, annotated maps, clippings, printed matter, sound recordings, and photographs relating to the political development of China, the Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945, and the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. Includes some subsequent Stilwell family papers. World War II diaries also available on microfilm (3 reels). Transcribed copies of the diaries are available at https://digitalcollections.hoover.org
Extent:
89 manuscript boxes, 30 oversize boxes, 1 cubic foot box, 1 record box, 4 boxes of slides, 7 envelopes, 4 album boxes, 1 oversize folder, 3 sound cassettes, maps and charts, memorabilia (66.4 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Joseph Warren Stilwell papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

The papers of Joseph W. Stilwell in the Hoover Institution Library & Archives constitute an extremely valuable resource for scholars and researchers interested in military history in general and in the history of World War II in the China-Burma-India Theater in particular. The historian Barbara W. Tuchman, an authority on the subject of Joseph W. Stilwell's life and career, used these primary source materials extensively for her book, Stilwell and the American Experience in China, 1911-45. These materials contain not only military information, such as plans of troop deployment, determination of war strategy, and handling of supplies, but they also bring to life General Stilwell's personality and character. He was proficient in many languages, traveled widely in connection with his tour of duty, and the papers reflect his interest in and admiration for different cultures.

Handwritten Original Diaries with illustrations constitute the most interesting and significant segment of the collection. Therein Joseph W. Stilwell recorded details of his daily life, his thoughts on various subjects, his trips, his personal life, and important information received from radio messages or via telephone calls. His thoughts, as reflected in these diaries, often developed into plans of military action. General Stilwell never intended that his diaries would be seen by anyone else and he frequently used them to vent the frustrations he faced. The language is often blunt, and while they may not reflect his daily behavior, they do provide insights to his character and strengths. Transcripts of Diaries are also available.

The American Expeditionary Forces, IV Army Corps File contains information relating to the time Joseph W. Stilwell spent at the Army General School in Langres, France, for training, his service with the French army at Verdun, and his work as the Corps' Chief Intelligence Officer. The China-Burma-India Command File provides significant documentation on the situation in the Pacific and in the China-Burma-India sector, Stilwell's performance as a commander, his grasp of strategic issues, and his persistence in upholding the course of action he believed to be viable. This series also traces the history of his disagreements with Chiang Kai-shek, which led to his recall.

The Career File and the Personal and Family File taken together paint a picture of Joseph W. Stilwell as a man totally dedicated to his family and his country. Various school and family records provide an interesting insight into his family affairs and his performance at school. The Literary File reflects his writing skills, as shown by the articles, essays, musical lyrics, poems, and speeches therein.

The Memorabilia series, consisting of Joseph W. Stilwell's personal effects, gifts, and souvenirs from the army, provides a rare and interesting opportunity to learn about life in the army with all its paraphernalia. The Oversize Materials include cartoons, various documents and drafts, maps (including some annotated by Stilwell), and posters, and form an important segment of the collection.

The Scrapbooks, a collection of clippings, messages, photographs, and souvenirs, contain a wealth of information relating to Stilwell's life. The Lantern Slides, depicting scenes of life and people in China, are exquisite and unique features of this collection. And among the Sound Recordings, the recorded messages from Burma and a speech given in San Francisco, California, reveal Stilwell's skills as a speaker and his sense of humor.

The Incremental Materials, while complementing the original collection acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1951 from Mrs. Joseph W. Stilwell, include some new information about Joseph W. Stilwell's personal life and his career in the army. His writings in general, and his letters to his wife in particular, are a significant component of the incremental materials. The issuance of the Stilwell postal stamp, as well as the process leading to this event, represents the nation's tribute to a remarkable man and general.

Finally the Photographs, including a number of postcards, depict beautiful scenes and people from China, Japan, the Philippines, and many cities of the United States. They also reveal a very personal side of Stilwell at his residence in Carmel, California, and in his army life as a West Point cadet, as a soldier during his early assignments in Europe, and as a commander of the China-Burma-India sector, in the Philippines, and in the Pacific.

This register is an expanded and more detailed version of an earlier version created after the collection was received. Folder numbers and documents not previously mentioned have been added, but the order of the series has been retained, with one exception –- the American Expeditionary Forces series now appears at the beginning. However, new series have been added, the largest one consisting of the incremental material received since the completion of the initial register and listed at the end of the register. Separate series have also been created for the recently created diary transcripts, as well as for the scrapbooks, memorabilia, oversize materials, glass slides, photographs, and sound recordings (sound cassettes), which previously were to be found in the miscellany series.

Biographical / historical:

A chronology of Joseph Warren Stilwell's Assignments, Chronology of Promotions, and List of Decorations follows the Biographical Note.

Date Event
1883 March 19
Born, Palatka, Florida
1904 June 15
B.S., U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York
1904-1906
12th Infantry, Philippine Islands
1906-1910
Instructor, Department of Modern Languages, U.S. Military Academy
1911-1912
12th Infantry, Philippine Islands
1912-1913
12th Infantry, Presidio, Monterey, California
1913-1917
Instructor, U.S. Military Academy
1918-1919
Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, IV Corps, American Expeditionary Forces
1919
Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel, IV Corps, Army of Occupation, Cochem, Germany
1919-1923
Chinese language student, University of California, Berkeley, California, and Peking, China
1924-1925
Assistant Executive, Fort Benning, Georgia
1925-1926
Student Officer, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
1926-1929
Battalion Commander, 15th Infantry, Tientsin, China
1929-1933
Instructor, Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia
1933-1935
Reserve duty, San Diego, California
1935-1939
Military Attaché, U.S. Embassy, Peking, China
1939-1940
Commander, 3rd Infantry Brigade, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
1940
Promoted to Major General
1940-1941
Commander, 7th Division, Ford Ord, California
1941-1942
Commander, 3rd Army Corps, Presidio of Monterey, California
1942
Promoted to Lieutenant General
1942-1944
Commanding General, U.S. Forces in China-Burma-India Theater
1944
Promoted to General
1945
Commander, 10th Army, Pacific Theater
Commander, U.S. Ground Forces
1945-1946
U.S. War Equipment Board, Washington, D.C.
1946
Commander, 6th Army, Western Defense Command, Presidio of San Francisco, California
1946 June 25–July 31
Observer, Bikini Atomic Bomb Tests
1946 October 12
Died, Presidio of San Francisco, California

Prepared by John Easterbrook.

Date Assignment
1904 June 15 Graduated from United States Military Academy, West Point, New York
1904 June 16 - September 14 Graduation leave and travel to West Coast
1904 September 15 - November 7 En route to Camp Jossman, Guimaras, Philippine Islands ( USAT Sheridan, October 1-29, 1904)
1904 November 7 - 1906 April Camp Jossman, Guimaras, Philippine Islands (in the field, Samar, Philippine Islands, February 3, 1905), 12th Infantry
1906 April 9 - August 21 Graduated from United States Military Academy, West Point, New York
1906 August 22 - 1910 December 18 Department of Modern Languages, United States Military Academy (intelligence gathering trip through Guatemala, June 20-August 9, 1907; trip through Mexico, June 28-August 1, 1908; trip to Honduras, Salvador, and Guatemala, June 25-August 4, 1909)
1910 December 19 - 1911 January 31 Travel to West Coast and en route to Philippine Islands ( USAT Sherman, January 5-31, 1911)
1911 February 1 - 1912 February 11 Fort William McKinley, Philippine Islands (Company D, 12th Infantry, June 4, 1911; leave in Japan and China, September 15-December 14, 1911); returned to the U.S. with Company D, 12th Infantry
1912 February 11 - 1913 April 29 Presidio of Monterey, California, Company D, 12th Infantry
1913 April 30 - May 31 Leave
1913 June 1 - 27 Fort Niagara, New York, for tryout for Army Infantry Rifle Team
1913 June 28 - August 17 Leave and travel
1913 August 18 - 1914 June 2 Department of English and History, United States Military Academy
1914 June 3 - 14 Travel to Madrid, Spain ( Lorraine, June 3-10, 1914)
1914 June 15 - August 6 Madrid, Spain, for Spanish language course
1914 August 8 - 27 Travel to the U.S. ( RMS Ivernia from Gibraltar to Boston, August 8-20, 1914) and leave
1914 August 28 - 1915 April 21 Department of Modern Languages, United States Military Academy
1915 April 22 - 26 Travel to Madison Barracks, New York
1915 April 27 - September 27 Madison Barracks, New York, for "duty with troops" (Companies H, L, and K, 3rd Infantry)
1915 September 28 - 30 Leave
1915 October 1 - 1916 June 25 Department of Modern Languages, United States Military Academy
1916 June 12 - August 12 Camp of Instruction, Regular Troops, Plattsburg, New York (Company M, 1st Battalion, Station Training Regiment/8th Training Regiment
1916 August 12 - 1917 August 24 Department of Modern Languages, United States Military Academy (with additional duty in the Department of Tactics starting in June 1917)
1917 August 25 - December 18 Camp Lee, Virginia, 80th Division (Brigade Adjutant, Camp Quartermaster, Commandant Quartermaster Training School, Commandant School of Arms and Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2)
1917 December 30 - 1918 January 19 En route to France ( USMS New York from New York, January 7, 1918, arrived in Le Havre, France, January 19, 1918)
1918 January 19 - February 6 General Headquarters, American Expeditionary Forces, Chaumont, France
1918 February 6-10 Travel to British 30th Division and on to British 58th Division
1918 February 10-15 With British 58th Division, La Fère Sector
1918 February 16-28 Army Schools, Intelligence Course, Langres, France
1918 February 28 - March 17 General Headquarters, American Expeditionary Forces, Chaumont, France
1918 March 20 - April 29 With French 17th Corps, Verdun Sector
1918 April 30 - June 5 General Headquarters, American Expeditionary Forces, Chaumont, France
1918 June 6-15 With U.S. 2nd Corps, G-2 Section
1918 June 19 - 1919 January 20 Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2, U.S. 4th Corps (Toul Sector, in Battle of St. Mihiel; temporary duty, 1st Corps, August 8-10, 1918)
1919 January 20 - June 23 Assistant Chief of Staff G-1, 4th Corps, Army of Occupation, Cochem, Germany
1919 July 5-15 En route to the U.S. ( Lorraine)
1919 July 16 - August 29 Leave (one month) and travel to California
1919 August 29 - 1920 May 17 Chinese language student, University of California, Berkeley, California
1920 May 18 - August 4 Leave
1920 August 5 - September 20 En route to China ( USAT Madawaska to Manila, August 5-31, 1920)
1920 September 20 - 1923 July 8 Chinese language student, Peking, China
1923 July 8-31 En route to the U.S. ( USAT Thomas)
1923 August 1 - September 9 Leave and travel to Fort Benning, Georgia
1923 September 10 - 1924 May 29 Student, Advanced Officers' Course, Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia
1924 May 30 - 1925 May 30 Assistant Executive, Fort Benning, Georgia
1925 May 31 - August 21 Leave and travel to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
1925 August 22 - 1926 June 30 Student Officer, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
1926 July 1 - September 28 Leave and travel to Tientsin, China (sailed on USAT Thomas, August 20-September 28, 1926)
1926 September 29 - 1928 February 22 15th Infantry, Tientsin, China
1926 October 1 - December 15 Commander, Provisional Battalion, 15th Infantry
1926 December 6 - 1927 April 30 Commander 2nd Battalion, 15th Infantry
1927 May 1 - October 31 Regimental Executive Officer, 15th Infantry
1927 November 1 - December 23 Commander, Provisional Battalion, 15th Infantry
1927 December 24 - 1928 February 22 Regimental Executive Officer, 15th Infantry (trip to Korea and Japan, September 5-25, 1927; trip to Japan, September 22-October 30, 1928)
1928 February 22 - June 30 Post Executive Officer, Tientsin, China
1928 July 1 - 1929 April 16 Chief of Staff, United States American Forces in China (detached service for one month effective March 10, 1929; trip to Korea and Japan, March 10-April 1, 1929)
1929 April 17 - May 31 En route to the U.S. ( USAT Grant, April 17-May 7, 1929, to San Francisco and then New York via Panama, May 14-31, 1929)
1929 June 1 - July 9 Leave and travel to Fort Benning, Georgia
1929 July 10 - 1930 May Instructor in Tactics, Fort Benning, Georgia
1930 May - 1933 May 30 Chief of First Section (Tactics) and Instructor, Fort Benning, Georgia
1933 June 6 - 1935 May 19 Reserve duty in San Diego, California
1935 April 20 - June 4 Leave and travel to San Francisco, California
1935 June 5 - July 6 En route to China ( USAT Grant)
1935 July 7 - 1939 May 13 Military Attaché to China and Siam, Peking, China (26 field trips within China and Siam)
1939 May 13 - August 14 Leave (Indo-China, Siam, Malay, Java, and Philippines) and en route to the U.S. ( USAT Grant, July 24-August 14, 1939)
1939 August 16 - September 23 Leave and travel to Fort Sam Houston, Texas
1939 September 24 - October 8 Commander, 3rd Brigade, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
1939 October 8 - 1940 June 28 Infantry Commander, 2nd Division, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
1940 July 1 - 1941 July 25 Commanding General, 7th Division, Fort Ord, California
1941 July 25 - December 23 Commanding General, 3rd Corps, Presidio of Monterey, California
1941 December 24 - 1942 January 23 Washington, D.C. (planning North African invasion)
1942 January 23 - March 4 Planning, assembling staff, and en route to China
1942 March 4 - 1944 October 26 Chief of Staff to the Supreme Commander of the China Theater; Commanding General of U.S. army forces in the China Theater of Operation, Burma, and India (o/a June 22, 1942, evolved to Commanding General, China-Burma-India Theater); and subsequently Deputy Commander, Southeast Asia Command
1944 October 26 - 1945 January 22 En route to the U.S., leave, and waiting for new assignment per verbal instructions from General George C. Marshall, Army Chief of Staff
1945 January 24 - June 21 Commanding General, Army Ground Forces
1945 June 23 - October 15 Commanding General, Tenth Army, Okinawa, Japan
1945 November 1 - 1946 January 19 War Equipment Board, Washington, D.C.
1946 January 22 - February 28 Commanding General, Western Defense Command, Presidio of San Francisco, California
1946 March 1 - October 12 Commanding General, Sixth Army, Presidio of San Francisco, California (observer, Bikini Atomic Bomb tests, June 25-July 31, 1946)
1946 October 12 Died at Presidio of San Francisco, California, at age 63

Sources: Diaries, orders, papers, and notes in the Joseph W. Stilwell papers, Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace, Stanford University, Stanford, California, and personal letters in the possession of John Easterbrook. Compiled by John Easterbrook, April 2002.

NOTE: Some time intervals shown between assignments are assumed to be a small number of leave days and/or travel time, and in some cases clearing customs following international travel. Major blocks of leave time are noted. Single day differences were occasionally noted between Stilwell's diaries, summary notes, and orders. In these cases preference was given to daily diary entries when available.

Prepared by John Easterbrook

Date Event
1904 June 15
Second Lieutenant
1911 March 3
First Lieutenant
1916 July 1
Captain
1917 August 5
Major, AUS (accepted August 21, 1917)
1918 August 26
Lieutenant Colonel, AUS (accepted September 11, 1918)
1919 May 6
Colonel, AUS (accepted May 10, 1919)
1919 September 14
Returned to grade of Captain
1920 July 1
Major
1928 May 6
Lieutenant Colonel
1935 August 1
Colonel
1939 July 1
Brigadier General (accepted August 5, 1939)
1940 October 1
Major General, AUS (aaccepted October 2, 1940)
1942 February 25
Lieutenant General, AUS
1943 September 1
Major General, Regular Army
1944 August 1
General

Prepared by John Easterbrook

United States. Army decorations

Combat Infantryman's Badge

Distinguished Service Cross

Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Legion of Merit, Degree of Chief Commander

Bronze Star (posthumously)

Air Medal (posthumously)

Philippine Campaign Medal

World War I Victory Medal with clasps for St. Mihiel and Defensive Sector

American Defense Service Medal

American Campaign Medal

Army of Occupation of Germany Medal

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one silver star in lieu of five bronze stars

World War II Victory Medal

Foreign decorations

Légion d'Honneur, Chevalier, France

La Solidaridad, Panama

Order of Leopold with Palm, Degree of Grand Officer, Belgian (posthumously)

Croix de Guerre with Palm, Belgian (posthumously)

Mentioned in Despatch for Distinguished Service, British

Acquisition information:
Materials were acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1951, with an increment received later.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Boxes 67, 69, 72-73, 113, 117-125 and FH10 may not be used without permission of the Archivist. Boxes 36-38 and 40 may only be used one folder at a time. Box 39 microfilm use only. 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], Joseph Warren Stilwell 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
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