Robert Christie Cotton Papers: Finding Aid

Finding aid prepared by Jennifer L. Martinez, June 28, 2001.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2001
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.


Overview of the Collection

Title: Robert Christie Cotton Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1903-1940
Collection Number: mssCotton papers
Creator: Cotton, Robert Christie, 1885-
Extent: 231 pieces in 3 boxes.
Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
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.
Language: English.

Access

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

Administrative Information

Publication Rights

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. Robert Christie Cotton Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

Acquired from Sally Cotton, August 18, 1953.

Biographical Note

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.

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.

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

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.  

Subjects

Cotton, Robert Christie, 1885-
Washington, George, 1732-1799.
United States. Army -- History -- 19th century -- Sources.
United States. Army -- History -- 20th century -- Sources.
United States. Army -- Officers -- Archives.
United States. Army -- Officers -- Correspondence.
World War, 1914-1918.
Cuba -- History.
Mexico -- Relations -- United States.
Philippines -- History.
Philippines -- History -- Philippine American War, 1899-1902.
Puerto Rico -- History.
United States -- Foreign relations -- 20th century.
United States -- Relations -- Mexico.

Forms/Genres

Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 20th century.
Manuscripts -- United States -- 20th century.


Box 1

Manuscripts by Robert Christie Cotton

Folder 1

Cotton, Robert Christie. Are Armies Necessary?

Folder 2

Cotton, Robert Christie. Armistice Day & Why We Celebrate Armistice Day

Folder 3

Cotton, Robert Christie. Articles on George Washington

Folder 4

Cotton, Robert Christie. Chronological Summary of Leading Events Connected with the Philippine Insurrection…

Folder 5

Cotton, Robert Christie. Cuba. 1898-1902.

Folder 6

Cotton, Robert Christie. Do Dreams Come True? By Pertinax Americus

Folder 7

Cotton, Robert Christie. The Hanseatic League…

Folder 8

Cotton, Robert Christie. Military Operations in the Philippines.

Folder 9

[Cotton, Robert Christie]. Notes on U.S.-Mexican Conditions Along the Border, 1909-1912

Folder 10

[Cotton, Robert Christie]. The Occupation of Cuba and Puerto Rico.

Folder 11

Cotton, Robert Christie. The Present Economic Position of Italy.

Folder 12

[Cotton, Robert Christie]. Puerto Rico.

Folder 13

[Cotton, Robert Christie]. Quotations by George Washington.

Folder 14

[Cotton, Robert Christie]. Some Thoughts on the Improvement of Government.

Folder 15

[Cotton, Robert Christie]. The St. Mihiel Offensive, 1918.

Folder 16

Cotton, Robert Christie. Translation of an Old Fragmentary Spanish Document Found in Manila, P.I., by Second Lieutenant…

Box 2

Manuscripts by Robert Christie Cotton (continued) and others; Correspondence; Biographical materials, clippings, etc.

Folder 1

Cotton, Robert Christie. The Treaty of Neuilly

Folder 2

Cotton, Robert Christie. The Trend in Our Foreign Relations.

Folder 3

Cotton, Robert Christie. Two Significant American Campaigns…

Folder 4

Cotton, Robert Christie. The War. Outline of Events, August 1914-18.

Folder 5

Cotton, Robert Christie. Where is the R.O.T.C. Armory at O.A.M.C.?

Folder 6

Cotton, Robert Christie. Ledger book, 1903-08

Folder 7

Nottoc, Trebor C. Opportunity Beckons

Folder 8

Weiss, Louis S. War Power of President

Folder 9

Rea, George Bronson. [Letters] To Lt. Col. D. Nolan

Folder 10

[Letters] To Robert Christie Cotton, 1885-

Folder 11

[Letters] To R. Rush Rankin

Folder 12

[Commission appointing General Foch as allied forces supreme commander]

Folder 13

[Biographical notes, certificates, clippings, etc.]

Box 3

Oversize

Folder 1

Cotton, Robert Christie. Memorable Events…and Special Days and Weeks

Folder 2

[Cotton, Robert Christie]. Notes on Powers of the President

Folder 3

Cotton, Robert Christie. A Short Thesis in Psychology

Folder 4

Cotton, Robert Christie. The St. Mihiel Offensive, 1918.

Folder 5

Cotton, Robert Christie. Washington’s Words of Wisdom, 1748-1799 (Folder 1 of 2)

Folder 6

Cotton, Robert Christie. Washington’s Words of Wisdom, 1748-1799 (Folder 2 of 2)

Folder 7

[Letters] To John J. (John Joseph) Pershing, 1860-1948

Folder 8

Clippings