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 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