Register of the James B. Stockdale papers
Finding aid prepared by Tanya Yule
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2016, 2023
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu
Title: James B. Stockdale papers
Date (inclusive): 1933-2008
Collection Number: 79027
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
94 manuscript boxes, 8 oversize boxes, 2 motion picture film reels
(49 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Vice admiral, United States Navy; North Vietnamese prisoner of war, 1965-1973. Collection consists of correspondence, memoirs,
other writings, personnel records, notes, printed matter, and audiovisual material relating to conditions in North Vietnamese
prison camps during the Vietnam War, and to philosophy.
Creator:
Stockdale, James B.
Creator:
Stockdale, Sybil
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
Boxes 27-102 are closed. The remainder of the
collection is open for research;
materials must be requested in
advance via our reservation system.
If there are audiovisual or digital
media material in the collection, they
must be reformatted before
providing access.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Materials were acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1979.
Biographical Note
James Bond Stockdale (December 23, 1923-July 5, 2005) was a United States Navy vice admiral and aviator. Stockdale was a North
Vietnamese prisoner of war from 1965-1973, in which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Stockdale was president of the Naval
War College from 1977 to his retirement from the U.S. Navy in 1979. From 1979-1980 Stockdale was the president of the Citadel.
Stockdale returned to Stanford University (M.A. class of 1962) and was a Hoover Institution Fellow from 1981–1996. In 1992
Stockdale was a candidate for the vice president of the United States in the 1992 presidential election, on Ross Perot's Independent
ticket.
Scope and Contents of Collection
The collection consists of correspondence, memoirs, writings, personnel records, notes, printed matter, awards and citations,
photographs, and audiovisual materials relating to the life and career of Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale.
The correspondence series consists of extensive letters from James B. Stockdale to his parents Vernon and Mabel Stockdale
(1933-1965). The letters document James' everyday thoughts on friendships, relationships, philosophy, and career activities
over the course of almost thirty years.
The bulk of the correspondence series consists of the correspondence between James and Sybil Stockdale (née Bailey). This
material spans from their courtship in 1946, through numerous deployments, and includes a small amount of material from when
James was released from Vietnam in 1973. For letters during the time of James' capture in Vietnam, please refer to the Sybil
Bailey Stockdale papers (81084).
The remainder of this collection is closed.
Related Collection
Sybil Bailey Stockdale papers (81084), Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Audiotapes
Video tapes
Philosophy
Motion pictures
Prisoners of war
Officers
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Prisoners and prisons, North Vietnamese
United States. Navy
Correspondence
1933-2008
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically within each sub-series.
Processing Information
Letters arranged by postmark (received date, if available). Dates with just year or year range were determined based on address
location from envelopes.
Stockdale, Vernon and Mabel
1933-1965
Scope and Contents
Vernon and Mabel Stockdale are the parents of James B. Stockdale. Letters sent primarily by James Stockdale. Beginning in
the 1950s some letters are sent by Sybil Stockdale including letters from the Stockdale children, as well as other family,
and family friends
box 7, folder 7
1961 January-June
Scope and Contents
Letters pertaining to studying at Stanford University and working at the Hoover Tower on a research project. The letters discuss
Stockdale's views on politics, philosophy, religion, and current affairs.
Letters received by Stockdale, Mabel
1965-1967
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Contents
Letters sent to Mabel Stockdale while James was MIA/POW in Vietnam.
box 9, folder 7
United States Navy
1965 October 4-November 15
Scope and Contents
Contains the first letters that were received by Mrs. Stockdale from the United States Navy notifying her of James' missing
in action status.
box 9, folder 8
Family and friends
1966-1967
Scope and Contents
Includes letters from the Stockdale children and friends. Of note is a letter sent by Sybil Stockdale (1967 March 20) that
contains an update and synopsis of the letters she had received thus far from James as a POW.
Letters received
1943-1983
General
1943-1977, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes letters received by Stockdale from friends, colleagues, military, and others.
box 10, folder 4
1983 June 3-October 24
Scope and Contents
Contains three letters from Richard M. Nixon.
Stockdale, James and Sybil
1946-2004
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Related Materials
See the Sybil Bailey Stockdale collection (81084) for correspondence during James' capture in Vietnam (1965-1973).
Scope and Contents
Contains letters between Sybil Stockdale (née Bailey) and James B. Stockdale. Also includes letters sent from Stockdale children
to James and some correspondence received from friends, family, and military orders (often as enclosures within letters).
box 20, folder 9
1960s-1980s
Scope and Contents
Contains greeting cards
box 26, folder 6
circa 1960
Scope and Contents
Contains greeting cards
box 20, folder 10-11
1965-1977
Scope and Contents
Letters from Stockdale children
box 20, folder 8
Letters received
1990-2004
Scope and Contents
Contains letters from family, friends, and others to James and Sybil Stockdale.
Stockdale, Sybil
1947-2008, undated
Arrangement
Arranged by recipient and then chronologically within.
Related Materials
See Sybil Bailey Stockdale collection (81084) for letters pertaining to activities related to the National League of Families
of American Prisoners in Southeast Asia.
Scope and Contents
Contains letters with both the Stockdale and Bailey families, as well as letters received from friends and other relatives.
Of note are letters during James' time as a POW (1965-1973).
Bailey, Sidney and Lucretia
1964-1982, undated
Scope and Contents
Parents of Sybil Stockdale. Contains letters sent and received from Sybil Stockdale.
Letters received
1969-2008, undated
box 24, folder 1
1969
Scope and Contents
Telegram from President Richard M. Nixon to Mr. & Mrs. Pen Wilson regarding their concern for the treatment of POWs.
box 24, folder 2
1971-1972
Scope and Contents
Contains letters from close friends, as well as letters regarding work and with the National
League of Families of American Prisoners in Southeast Asia.
box 24, folder 3
1979
Scope and Contents
Letters regarding Charles Russell, Civil War veteran.
Letters sent
1947-1997, undated
box 24, folder 5
General
1968-1997, undated
Stockdale, Vernon and Mabel
1947-1967, undated
Scope and Contents
Letters sent by Sybil Stockdale to the parents of James Stockdale.
box 26, folder 9
Detached enclosures
1941-1972
undated
Processing Information
Enclosures (primarily clippings) that had become detached from original letters (but were within groupings of letters) have
been arranged by date (if available).
