Robert Christie Cotton Papers, 1903-1940

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Creators:
Cotton, Robert Christie, 1885-
Abstract:
This collection consists primarily of writings by career United States army officer and historian Robert Christie Cotton (1885-1952) on various topics including the Philippines, China, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Mexican border, and World War I, written during his active army service and later as editor of the U.S. Infantry Journal.
Extent:
231 pieces in 3 boxes.
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists primarily of essays, notes and treatises by Robert Christie Cotton on various topics written during his active army service and later as editor of the U.S. Infantry Journal. It includes articles and essays on the Philippines, China, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Mexican border, and World War I, among other topics. Many of the documents are typewritten.

The collection does contain some correspondence, including 125 letters (1915-40) addressed to Robert Christie Cotton (1885- ) and 5 letters (1929-31) to R. Rush Rankin. There are also typescripts of two 1917 letters to John J. (John Joseph) Pershing (1860-1948) and one 1917 letter from George Bronson Rea (1869-1936) to Lt. Col. D. Nolan.

Biographical / historical:

Robert Christie Cotton (1885-1952), career army officer and historian, graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1908 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 2nd Infantry. He served in the Philippines (1909-11 and 1915), along the Mexico- United States border (1913-15), in the Hawaiian Islands (1917), and with the American Expeditionary Forces in France in 1918. Cotton edited the U.S. Infantry Journal, wrote a doctoral thesis in history at Georgetown University in 1931, taught military science, and contributed articles on military and diplomatic history to several journals. Promoted to the rank of colonel in the 1930s, Cotton retired from the service in 1940 and settled in Los Angeles, California. Cotton died on February 12, 1952.

Acquisition information:
Acquired from Sally Cotton, August 18, 1953.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in the following order:

  • 1. Manuscripts by Robert Christie Cotton (1885- ) Box 1
  • 2. Manuscripts by others Box 2
  • 3. Correspondence Box 2
  • 4. Biographical materials, clippings, etc. Box 2
  • 5. Oversize documents Box 3

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Website