Finding aid for the Robert T. Oliver papers 3015

Sarah Cassone
USC Libraries East Asian Library
2018 February
Doheny Memorial Library
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-1825


Language of Material: English
Contributing Institution: USC Libraries East Asian Library
Title: Robert T. Oliver papers
creator: Oliver, Robert Tarbell, 1909-
Identifier/Call Number: 3015
Identifier/Call Number: 956
Physical Description: 3 Linear Feet 3 bankers boxes
Date (inclusive): 1911-1993
Abstract: Robert T. Oliver was an American author, professor, specialist in Asian rhetoric and communication, and advisor to South Korean President Syngman Rhee. This small collection consists of his professional and personal correspondence during his life and career, as well as articles, clippings, and some photographs.

Scope and Contents

The Robert T. Oliver papers, 1911-1993, consist primarily of correspondence, both personal and professional, created and collected by Oliver during his career as a professor, political advisor, author, and specialist in Asian rhetoric and communication. The majority of the correspondence is made up of items to and from government agencies, organizations, and high-ranking officials during Oliver's appointment as advisor to South Korean President Syngman Rhee, as well as letters between Oliver, Rhee, and Rhee's family.
Additionally, there is a large amount of correspondence with colleagues at different universities and colleges, as well as publishing companies and newspapers regarding Oliver's writings. Oliver shared the ongoing developments in his professional life, as well as his personal opinions on current political climate between Korea and the United States, with his family members through chain letters that were passed around amongst them. Many of these can be found within Oliver's papers.
The remainder of the collection comprises various publications featuring Oliver's articles and essays (as well as one book), newspapers clippings, and a few scrapbooks and photographs.

Biographical Note

Robert Tarbell Oliver, born on July 7, 1909, was an American author, lecturer, and specialist in public speaking, debate, and Asian rhetoric and communication. In 1936 he received a Ph.D. in Speech from the University of Wisconsin and thereafter served as Assistant Director of Victory Speakers Bureau in the Office of Civilian Defense in Washington, D.C. during World War II, as well as Chief of the National Food Conservation office in the War Foods Department.
His post-war career included appointment as Professor and Chair of the Department of Speech at Pennsylvania State University in 1949, and notably, advisor to South Korean President Syngman Rhee. During this time, he was also advisor to the Korean Commission and the Korean Delegation to the United Nations. Additionally, he managed the Washington Bureau of the Korean Pacific Press and was the editor of the monthly magazine Korean Survey.
Oliver remained in his post at Pennsylvania State while advising Rhee. He also taught at a number of other colleges and universities during his lifetime, including Clark Junior College, Bradley College, and Syracuse University. Oliver served as President of the National Communication Association in 1964, President of the Eastern Communication Association in 1967, and President of the Pennsylvania State Communication Association. He retired as Research Professor at Pennsylvania State in 1970.
Additionally, he was the author of over fifty books on international rhetoric, intercultural communication, and Asian history. Oliver passed away on May 29, 2000 at the age of 90.

Conditions Governing Access

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Curator of the Korean Heritage Library. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Korean Heritage Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Preferred Citation

[Box/Folder# or Item name]. Robert T. Oliver papers, Collection no. 3015, Korean Heritage Library, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Robert T. Oliver

Processing Information

Materials in boxes were found to be arranged, for the most part, chronologically. The collection itself reveals (via correspondence from Oliver) that archivists at USC were responsible for this arrangement upon the original receipt of the papers, possibly by the request of Oliver himself.
This arrangement has been kept intact.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Intercultural communication -- Asia -- Archival resources
Korean language -- Rhetoric -- Archival resources
Political consultants -- South Korea -- Archival resources
Politicians -- South Korea -- Archival resources
Korea (South) -- Relations -- United States -- Archival resources
Clippings
Correspondence
Scrapbooks
Oliver, Robert Tarbell, 1909- -- Archives
Eastern Communication Association -- Archives
Korea (South). Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly -- Archives
Korean Pacific Press. Washington Bureau -- Archives
National Communication Association (U.S.) -- Archives
Pennsylvania State University. Department of Speech -- Archives
Rhee, Francesca Donner, 1900-1992 -- Archives
Rhee, Insoo -- Archives
Rhee, Syngman, 1875-1965 -- Archives
United Nations. Commission on Korea -- Archives

Box 2, Folder 18

Scrapbook [Korean newspaper clippings] undated

Box 3, Folder 1

[Syngman Rhee correspondence with others and Korean translations] 1911-1918, 1990

Box 1, Folder 1

[Correspondence] 1931-1939

Box 1, Folder 2

[Correspondence] 1940-01-06-1942-12-31

Box 2, Folder 9

[Student reviews, articles, and cippings] 1941-1974

Box 1, Folder 3

[Correspondence] 1943-01-18-1946-12-30

Box 2, Folder 11

[Published articles] 1944-1962

Box 3, Folder 2

[Francesca and Syngman Rhee correspondence] 1945-11-12-1947-12-13

Box 2, Folder 12

[Published articles and clippings] 1945-1964

Box 3, Folder 16-19

[Newspaper clippings] 1945-1970

Box 3, Folder 3

[Diary writings of time in Korea] 1946-05-25-1946-08-14

Box 1, Folder 4

[Correspondence] 1947-01-02-1947-12-23

Box 2, Folder 13

[Robert Oliver FBI records] 1947-1988

Box 1, Folder 5

[Correspondence] 1948-01-07-1949-12-25

Box 3, Folder 4

[Letters to Francesca and Syngman Rhee] 1948-01-12-1948-12-30

Box 3, Folder 5

[Francesca and Syngman Rhee correspondence] 1948-01-20-1948-12-19

Box 3, Folder 6

[Francesca and Syngman Rhee correspondence] 1949-01-03-1950-10-11

Box 3, Folder 7

[Personal and professional correspondence] 1949-01-07-1950-08-05

Box 1, Folder 19

Correspondence 1950s

Box 1, Folder 6

[Correspondence] 1950-01-11-1951-12-11

Box 3, Folder 8

[Letters from Francesca and Syngman Rhee] 1951-03-18-1952-06-18

Box 3, Folder 9

Oliver, Robert T. "Verdict in Korea" 1952

Box 1, Folder 7

[Correspondence] 1952-01-02-1952-12-30

Box 2, Folder 14

[Report on Korea by Robert T. Oliver and supporting clippings] 1952-1956

Box 1, Folder 8

[Correspondence] 1953-1954

Box 3, Folder 10

[Letters from Francesca and Syngman Rhee] 1953-10-19-1954-11-25

Box 1, Folder 9

[Correspondence] 1955-01-04-1955-12-19

Box 3, Folder 11

[Francesca and Syngman Rhee correspondence] 1955-11-24-1956-02-09

Box 2, Folder 10

Ambassador Ben G. Limb in his home country [scrapbook and loose photos] 1956

Box 1, Folder 10

[Correspondence] 1956-01-06-1956-12-19

Box 1, Folder 11

[Correspondence] 1957-01-07-1957-12-30

Box 3, Folder 12

[Francesca and Syngman Rhee correspondence] 1957-01-10-1957-11-28

Box 1, Folder 12

[Correspondence] 1958-01-09-1958-12-18

Box 3, Folder 13

[Letters from Francesca and Syngman Rhee] 1958-12-12-1959-10-23

Box 1, Folder 13

[Correspondence] 1959-01-05-1960-01-19

Box 1, Folder 14

[Bibliography, lectures, speeches, and correspondence] 1960-01-05-1963-11-18

Box 1, Folder 15

[Speeches, articles, and correspondence] 1960-01-08-1961-10-25

Box 3, Folder 14

[Letters from Francesca and Syngman Rhee] 1960-02-05-1969-10-14

Box 1, Folder 16

[Correspondence and lectures] 1960-09-22-1962-09-15

Box 1, Folder 17

[Correspondence, articles, and reports] 1962-11-15-1962-12-13

Box 1, Folder 18

[Correspondence and lectures] 1962-03-21-1963-10-01

Box 2, Folder 1

[Correspondence] 1964-02-20-1965-01-19

Box 2, Folder 2

[Correspondence] 1965-02-25-1967-09-11

Box 2, Folder 3

[Correspondence] 1968-01-09-1969-11-17

Box 2, Folder 4-5

[Correspondence] 1970-1979

Box 3, Folder 15

[Letters from Francesca and Insoo Rhee and to USC Korean Heritage Library] 1970-1979, 1990-1993

Box 2, Folder 6

[Correspondence] 1971-1990

Box 2, Folder 15

[Francesca and Insoo Rhee correspondence and letters] 1979-1988

Box 2, Folder 7

[Correspondence] 1980-1989

Box 2, Folder 8

[Correspondence] 1981-1988

Box 2, Folder 16

[Lei Yuan Shin correspondence and letters] 1982-1985

Box 2, Folder 17

[USC Korean Heritage Library correspondence] 1987-1991