Earl R. Oatman papers

Finding aid prepared by Jamie Madrigal, Student Processing Assistant.

Special Collections & University Archives

The UCR Library

P.O. Box 5900

University of California

Riverside, California 92517-5900

Phone: 951-827-3233

Fax: 951-827-4673

Email: specialcollections@ucr.edu

URL: http://library.ucr.edu/libraries/special-collections-university-archives

Descriptive Summary

Title: Earl R. Oatman papers

Date (inclusive): circa 1897-2015, undated

Date (bulk): 1941-1991

Collection Number: MS 224

Creator: Oatman, Earl R.

Extent: 4.08 linear feet (4 boxes)

Repository: Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.

Riverside, CA 92517-5900

Abstract: This collection contains photographs, correspondence, military records, and other material pertaining to Earl R. Oatman, a Prisoner of War (POW) during World War II and Professor Emeritus of Entomology at the University of California, Riverside. Includes correspondence and documents related to Oatman's experience as a POW in World War II, photographs of Oatman and family from childhood to adulthood, and manuscripts of Oatman's book titled Bataan: Only the Beginning. Material documenting Oatman's personal life and professional accomplishments before and after World War II are also included.

Languages: The collection is in English.

Access

This collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright Unknown: Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction, and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [date if possible]. Earl R. Oatman papers (MS 224). Special Collections & University Archives, University of California, Riverside.

Acquisition Information

Gifts of Dr. Earl R. Oatman, 2007, 2008, 2009.

Processing History

Processed by Jamie Madrigal, Student Processing Assistant, 2016.

Processing of the Earl R. Oatman papers was completed by undergraduate students from the University of California, Riverside as part of the Special Collections & University Archives Backlog Processing Project started in 2015. This project was funded by the UCR Library and administered by Bergis Jules, University and Political Papers Archivist, and Eric Milenkiewicz, Manuscripts Curator.

Biographical Note

Earl R. Oatman, 1920-2015, was a Prisoner of War during World War II and Professor Emeritus of Entomology at the University of California, Riverside. Oatman was born in Texas and grew up in Oklahoma with his two brothers, Delmar and Olen, and sister Elsia. At the age of 20 he enlisted in the United States military and was stationed at Clark Field in the Philippines when it was attacked by enemy forces on December 8, 1941. Oatman was a Prisoner of War under the Imperial Japanese Army and was part of the Bataan Death March. He was held captive for three years before his rescue and subsequent honorable discharge from the United States Army. After returning home, Oatman earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Missouri and then attended UC Berkeley where he earned his Ph.D. in Entomology. He began working at UC Riverside in 1962 and retired in 1988. Oatman published over 200 research papers during his tenure at UC Riverside and in retirement he wrote the book, Bataan: Only the Beginning, documenting his experiences as a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Collection Scope and Contents

This collection contains photographs, correspondence, military records, and other material pertaining to Earl R. Oatman. Includes correspondence and documents related to Oatman's experience as a Prisoner of War in World War II, photographs of Oatman and family from childhood to adulthood, and manuscripts of Oatman's book titled Bataan: Only the Beginning. Material documenting Oatman's personal life and professional accomplishments before and after World War II are also included.

Collection Arrangement

This collection is arranged into three series as follows:

Series 1. World War II experience, circa 1939-2004, undated
Series 2. Professional life, 1951-2001, undated
Series 3. Personal life, circa 1897-2015, undated

Indexing Terms

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

Subjects

Fassoth, William John

University of California, Riverside

Bataan Death March, Philippines, 1942

Entomology

Prisoners of war

World War, 1939-1945

Genres and Forms of Materials

Correspondence

Manuscripts

Photographs

Series 1. World War II experience circa 1939-2004, undated

Series Scope and Contents

This series contains photographs, correspondence, military records and other material pertaining to Earl R. Oatman's military service in World War II with a primary focus on his experiences as a Prisoner of War. Includes manuscripts and photographs pertaining to Oatman's book titled Bataan: Only the Beginning.

Series Arrangement

This series is arranged sequentially by box and folder number.

Box 1, Folder 1

Manuscript of Behind Japanese Lines With The Oklahoma Kid, The Leon Beck Story by Gordon Browne and copy of the final published version titled "A Fugitive Behind Japanese Lines: Private Leon Beck on Bataan 1941-1945" published in Infantry 1999, undated

Box 1, Folder 2

Correspondence and telegrams from Earl R. Oatman to his parents during World War II including his time spent as a Prisoner of War 1941-1945

Box 1, Folder 3

Publications, legal documents, transcripts and other material dealing with the American Prisoner of War lawsuit against Japan 1999-2004, undated

Box 1, Folder 4

Handwritten medical record of Earl R. Oatman during the Bataan Death March as recorded by Oatman (photocopies) 1941-1945

Box 1, Folder 6

Correspondence between Earl R. Oatman and others pertaining to the American Prisoner of War lawsuit against Japan 1999-2004

Box 1, Folder 7

Military records including honorable discharge and separation qualification documents from the United States Army (photocopies) 1941-1946

Box 1, Folder 7

Handwritten ledger detailing items purchased by Earl R. Oatman during his service in the United States Army including his credit, debit, and balance undated

Box 1, Folder 8

Medals from the United States Army and Loma Linda VA Medical Center in recognition of Oatman's military service and experiences as a Prisoner of War undated

Box 1, Folder 11

Photographs of Earl R. Oatman and his divisions during World War II 1940-1946

Box 1, Folder 12

Documents and correspondence pertaining to the Bataan Death March and Paul L. Ashton's book Bataan Diary 1988, undated

Box 1, Folder 13

Correspondence with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs pertaining to Earl R. Oatman's medical compensation from injuries sustained during World War II 2009

Box 2, Folder 1

Correspondence and manuscript describing experiences of Earl R. Oatman and others as Prisoners of War during World War II 1966-1967, undated

Box 2, Folder 2

Photographs (portraits) of Earl R. Oatman in uniform 1945, undated

Box 2, Folder 3

Membership and identification cards of Earl R. Oatman for various veteran's associations 1982-2002, undated

Box 2, Folder 5

Correspondence between Earl R. Oatman and the United States Department of Defense regarding unpaid quarters and subsistence allowances for guerilla fighters in the Philippine Islands during World War II 1997

Box 2, Folder 6

Photographs used in Bataan: Only The Beginning by Earl R. Oatman undated

Box 2, Folder 7

Partial manuscript of Bataan: Only The Beginning by Earl R. Oatman undated

Box 2, Folder 8

Plates and captions for Bataan: Only the Beginning by Earl R. Oatman undated

Box 2, Folder 13

Photographs of Earl R. Oatman in military uniform with friends and family 1945

Box 2, Folder 21

Photographs, negatives, and maps pertaining to Earl R. Oatman's time as a Prisoner of War during World War II undated

Box 2, Folder 22

Military rosters including the 34th Pursuit Squadron and American Prisoners of War at Funatsu 1944-2006

Box 3, Folder 1

Dust jackets of Bataan: Only The Beginning by Earl R. Oatman undated

Box 3, Folder 2

Manuscript and related material pertaining to the Fassoth family and Fassoth's Camp compiled by Earl R. Oatman undated

Box 3, Folder 3

Manuscript of Bataan: Only the Beginning signed by Earl R. Oatman 1991

Box 4, Folder 1

Oversize photographs and maps pertaining to Earl R. Oatman's time as a Prisoner of War during World War II undated

Box 4, Folder 3

Photographs of the Philippines undated

Box 4, Folder 5

Newspaper reprint from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin 2nd Extra with headline "Deaths Over 400 on Oahu, Latest Report" from December 7, 1941 1941

Oral history interviews with Earl R. Oatman regarding his experiences as a Prisoner of War during World War II conducted by Chuck Wilson (digital copies) 2008-2009

Digital files stored on the Digital Projects server

S:\Digital Projects\curivsc\born digital\MS224

Series 2. Professional life 1951-2001, undated

Series Scope and Contents

This series includes documents and other material pertaining to Earl R. Oatman's educational achievements and professional career as an entomologist at UC Riverside.

Series Arrangement

This series is arranged sequentially by box and folder number.

Box 1, Folder 10

Bibliography of scientific publications (primarily Entomology) by Earl R. Oatman undated

Box 2, Folder 9

Title pages from student theses for which Earl R. Oatman served on the approval committee (photocopies) 1966-1983

Box 2, Folder 15

Documents pertaining to Earl R. Oatman's work as an entomologist at UC Riverside undated

Box 2, Folder 16

Research bulletins by Earl R. Oatman pertaining to insect disease and fruits 1960-1962

Box 2, Folder 17

Photographs of plants and insects taken by Earl R. Oatman undated

Box 2, Folder 19

Program of the University of Missouri Fifth Honors Convocation for Earl R. Oatman's graduation 1951

Box 4, Folder 2

Laminated copies of Earl R. Oatman's educational diplomas and certificates 1951-1957

Series 3. Personal life circa 1897-2015, undated

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series contains photographs, programs, and other material pertaining to the personal life of Earl R. Oatman. Includes photographs of Oatman with family friends from childhood through adulthood.

Series Arrangement

This series is arranged sequentially by box and folder number.

Box 1, Folder 5

Photographs of Earl R. Oatman with siblings and friends during childhood undated

Box 1, Folder 9

Funeral program and obituary for Karin Virginia Oatman 2009

Box 2, Folder 4

Photographs of Earl R. Oatman and Henry S. Winslow 2003

Box 2, Folder 10

Photographs of Earl R. Oatman's family and family friends including brother Delmer Oatman, mother Ruby Oatman Gomez, and wife Karin Virginia Oatman 1897-1990, undated

Box 2, Folder 11

Photographs of Earl R. Oatman, Karin Oatman, and the Fassoth family post World War II 1994-2008

Box 2, Folder 12

Photographs of the Fassoth family including William, wife Catalina, and their son John undated

Box 2, Folder 14

Announcement and invitation list regarding "Aztec Community Reunion" and city street maps of Omulgee and Henryetta, Oklahoma 1988-1994

Box 2, Folder 17

Photographs of sites in and around Henryetta, Oklahoma, and Sylvester, Texas undated

Box 2, Folder 18

Photographs (portraits) of Earl R. Oatman including his high school graduation 1939-1940

Box 2, Folder 20

Funeral Program for Earl R. Oatman 2015

Box 4, Folder 4

Arrowheads and pottery fragments (in display frame) collected by Earl R. Oatman undated