Register of the Robert Parvin Williams papers

Finding aid prepared by Aparna Mukherjee
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2007
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu


Title: Robert Parvin Williams papers
Date (inclusive): 1916-1951
Collection Number: 68017
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 8 manuscript boxes, 1 oversize folder (3.5 Linear Feet)
Abstract: The papers of Robert Parvin Williams, Brigadier General, U.S. Army, include diaries, memoirs, correspondence, studies, memoranda, photographs, maps, charts, and printed matter relating to the U.S. Army Medical Service in the China-India-Burma Theater during World War II and during the Korean War.
Creator: Williams, Robert Parvin, 1891-
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Access

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 1968.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Robert Parvin Williams papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Biographical Note

1891 August 29 Born, Greencastle, Indiana
1912-1913 Intern, Ancon Hospital, Panama Canal Zone
1913 M.D., University of Cincinnati
1913-1915 Cincinnati General Hospital
1915 First Lieutenant, Medical Corps, U.S. Army
1915-1916 Student, Army Medical School
1916-1917 Adjutant, Camp Hospital, Mexican border, Douglas, Arizona
1917-1918 Assistant Divisional Surgeon
1918 Organizer and Commander, General Hospital No. 34, East Norfolk, Massachusetts
1927 Honor graduate, Medical Field Service School
1928-1930 Student, Command and General Staff School
1934-1935 Army War College
1935 Chemical Warfare School
1935-1939 Instructor, Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia
1939-1940 Director, training, Medical Field Service School, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
1940 Commanding officer, First Regiment, march from Pennsylvania to California
1942 February 5 Member, General Joseph Stilwell's military mission to China and Burma
1942 May Surgeon, General Stilwell's column, retreat from Burma to India
1944-1945 Chief surgeon, General Dan I. Sultan, India-Burma theater
1945 July-1949 Army surgeon, Fourth Army
1949 September-November Special assistant to surgeon general
1949 Promoted through grades to Brigadier General
1967 November 20 Died

Scope and Content of Collection

The papers of Robert Parvin Williams, Brigadier General, U.S. Army, include diaries, memoirs, correspondence, studies, memoranda, photographs, maps, charts, and printed matter relating to the U.S. Army Medical Service in the China-India-Burma Theater during World War II and during the Korean War.
The Biographical File, in addition to Williams' curriculum vitae and citations, offers an example of his skills as a writer and a speaker. But of more interest to the researchers might be his diaries, divided in sections in chronological order, recording announcements of citations, daily events and schedules, his itineraries, and descriptions of performance of his duties in the context of the prevalent military situation of 1941 to 1945.
The bulk of the materials in the collection relate to the services provided by the medical units of different army divisions within the framework of the United States Army operations in various parts of the world. All of these documents are included in the United States Army File. The materials are listed in chronological order under the names of the army units with a description of physical forms. Williams' work in the China-Burma-India theater along with General Joseph Stilwell deserves a particular mention.
The series of Photographs is a visual record of army operations involving machinery, weapons, and individuals. Some photographic prints are attached to the materials they illustrate, and they have been left in the United States Army File where noted. Loose prints, including oversize prints, are generally listed in chronological order with information about dates and the names of photographers whenever available. Loose prints found in the folders have been left in place, as they might be better understood if considered in the context of the materials in the folder.

Related Material

Joseph W. Stilwell papers, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Frank Dorn papers, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Raymond A. Wheeler papers, Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Officers
World War, 1939-1945 -- China
World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Burma
World War, 1939-1945 -- Medical care
Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Medical care
United States. Army
United States. Army Medical Service

 

Biographical File 1940-1951

Scope and Contents note

Includes a curriculum vitae, citations, diary, index to Williams' personal correspondence, and writings and speeches by him and by others, arranged alphabetically by physical form.
box 1, folder 1

Biographical information up to 1951 March 9 circa 1951

box 1, folder 2

Citations undated

box 1, folder 3

Diary 1941-1945

 

Index to personal correspondence

box 1, folder 4

1948 January 2 – August 10

box 1, folder 5

1949 January 3 – July 11

box 1, folder 6

Notes 1940 April 27

 

Writings and speeches

box 1, folder 7

"The New Regimental Medical Detachment," an Infantry School teaching, Military Surgeon 1940 January

 

"One Man's CBI: A Different Kind of War," 1942

box 1, folder 8

Introduction, "The Hike"

box 1, folder 9

Part I – India

Scope and Contents note

Includes photographs.
box 1, folder 10

Part II - China

box 1, folder 11

Part III – Burma

box 1, folder 12

Speech, members of the graduating class, Army Specialized Training Program, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas 1947 September 19

box 1, folder 13-14

"Medical Participation in Exercise Seminole," with Arin F. Robinson, Military Surgeon 1948 December

Scope and Contents note

Includes related correspondence, 1947 October 10 – 1949 April 11, one undated letter, one telegram, and photographic prints.
 

Writings by others

box 1, folder 15

T. E. Darby and Paul E. Zuver 1940 January

box 1, folder 16

Francis P. Kintz and John Edgar 1950 January-March

box 1, folder 17

Amos R. Koontz 1950 December

box 1, folder 18

James B. Mason and Charles H. Beasley 1950 December

box 1, folder 19-20

Spurgeon H. Neel, Jr. 1950 November, 1951 February

box 1, folder 21-22

James H. Stone, military 1949 March, October

 

United States Army File 1916–1951

Scope and Contents note

Relates to Army War College instruction, the role of medical service units in the context of the United States Army operations in general, performance of various army units and training facilities, and the conduct of the war based on situations in different geographical areas.
 

Army War College

box 1, folder 23

Conduct of War course, part II, Analytical Studies undated

box 1, folder 24

Map, Chickamauga and Tullahoma campaigns undated

box 1, folder 25

Conduct of War course, map problem I undated

box 1, folder 26

G-1 to G-4 courses undated

box 2, folder 1

G-2 course undated

box 2, folder 2

Special map no. 5 1930

box 2, folder 3

War Plans course, volume I 1931-1935

Scope and Contents note

Includes a map of Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey, Central Luzon, Philippine Islands, 1931.
box 2, folder 4

Gettysburg-Richmond map 1932

box 2, folder 5

General, Fort Humphreys 1934 March 26 – 1935 June 25

box 2, folder 6

G-3 course 1934 September 28 – October 4

box 2, folder 7

G-1 course 1934 October 12 – December 19

box 2, folder 8

G-4 course 1934 November 12-28

box 2, folder 9

Conduct of War course, part I, Analytical Studies, lectures 1935 January – February 4

box 2, folder 10

War Plans course, volume I (a) – Presentation of "Overseas Possession" by Robert Williams, study no. 3, Philippine Islands 1935 March 1

box 2, folder 11

War Plans course, volume III 1935 April 1-5

box 2, folder 12

Preparation for War course, part II 1935 April 18 – May 1

Scope and Contents note

Individual general staff memoranda, medical service of the Cavalry Division, 1935 June 3.
box 2, folder 13

Conduct of War course, no. 20, lectures delivered by Fox Connor, William D. Connor, D. E. Nolan, and Chas F. B. Price, Army War College, Fort Humphreys, Washington, D.C. 1935 May 10 – June 6

box 2, folder 14

Conduct of War course, part II, no. 23, Field Exercise, Army War College, Fort Humphreys, Washington, D.C. 1935 June 10-12

Scope and Contents note

Includes notes and related materials.
box 2, folder 15

Clippings 1935 June 19-20

box 2, folder 16

Conduct of War course, second map problem period 1935 June-July

 

Medical Field Service

box 3, folder 1

General undated

Scope and Contents note

Relates to combat principles, equipment and supplies, functions, and training drills.
box 3, folder 2

Department of Training, Industrial Mobilization and Procurement Planning report undated

box 3, folder 3

Manual for the Medical Department 1916

Scope and Contents note

Corrected to June 15, 1918.
box 3, folder 4

Medical service in a modern Cavalry Division 1930 October-November

Scope and Contents note

Memoranda and report.
box 3, folder 5

Brochures 1934-1936, undated

box 3, folder 6

Tactical Employment of the Medical Service (tentative) C&GSS report 1938

box 3, folder 7

Eighth Army maps 1940

 

First Medical Squadron

box 3, folder 8

1927 October 13 – 1935 December 9, undated

Scope and Contents note

Clipping, correspondence, memoranda, notes, and reports.
box 3, folder 9

1929 September 8 – 1932 March 23

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence with Condon C. McCormack.
box 3, folder 10

1929 – 1932 July 18, undated

Scope and Contents note

Includes chart for evacuation of casualties, list of personnel, notes, and printed matter.
box 3, folder 11

1929 November 1 – 1933 September 28, undated

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence with Edgar King.
box 3, folder 12

1930 April 7 – 1933 September 20, undated

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence, memoranda, and notes.
box 3, folder 13

1931 January 6 – 1940 March 22

Scope and Contents note

Memoranda and notes.
box 3, folder 14

1932 January 19 – August 4, undated

Scope and Contents note

List of supplies, notes, proceedings of conference, and summary of intelligence records.
box 3, folder 15

1932 June 27, undated

Scope and Contents note

Letter, photographic prints, and illustrations.
box 3, folder 16

1933 December 4, undated

Scope and Contents note

Letter and photographic prints.
box 4, folder 1

1940 April – September 3

Scope and Contents note

Chart, correspondence, memoranda, press release, report, and telegram.
box 4, folder 2

Miscellany 1930-1933, undated

Scope and Contents note

Includes related materials, some photographic prints with illustrations, and Christmas programs.
 

Fourth Army

box 4, folder 3

1940 April 13 – May 2

Scope and Contents note

Instructions.
box 4, folder 4

1947 August 31 – 1949 December

Scope and Contents note

Brochure, list of numbered hospitals as of 1945 May 31, memoranda, and photographic prints.
box 4, folder 5

1947 September 8 – 1948 January 30, undated

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence, list of personnel, and report of the General Board, United States Forces, European Theater.
box 4, folder 6

1947 October 15 – 1949 February, undated

Scope and Contents note

Memoranda, notes, report, and telegrams.
box 4, folder 7

1948 January 26 – April 2

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence, list, memoranda, and miscellany.
box 4, folder 8

1948 January 29 – February 26

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence and memoranda.
box 4, folder 9

1948 March 29 – April 30

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence, memoranda, and related materials.
box 4, folder 10

1948 May 3 - June 4

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence.
box 4, folder 11

1948 June 2–30

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence, memoranda, and related materials.
box 4, folder 12

1948 July 2 – August 10

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence, list, memoranda, and miscellany.
box 4, folder 13

1948 – 1949 January 31

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence, memoranda, record of telephone conversation, and miscellany.
box 4, folder 14

1949 January 31 – February 28

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence, memoranda, and related materials.
box 4, folder 15

1949 February 28 – March 31

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence and memoranda.
box 4, folder 16

1949 April 4–20

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence, memoranda, and miscellany.
box 4, folder 17

1949 May 2–31

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence, memoranda, and related materials
box 4, folder 18

1949 June 1–30, undated

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence, memoranda, and note.
box 4, folder 19

1949 June 27 – July 11

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence, memoranda, and note.
 

Infantry School 1938-1939

 

General

box 5, folder 1

1925 January – 1939 March 7

Scope and Contents note

Course material, map, and memoranda.
box 5, folder 2

1939 February 20 – June 1

Scope and Contents note

Course and test materials and map.
box 5, folder 3

Conference, part I, Legal Aspects, section I, Continental United States undated

box 5, folder 4-6

Maneuvers, sections I-V 1939 June 2-9

 

Mimeographed instructional matter 1938-1939

box 5, folder 7-8

Volumes I-II

box 6, folder 1-3

Volumes III-V

box 6, folder 4

Ninth Corps 1940 May 9 – 1941 October 24

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence, medical organizational records, and memoranda.
box 6, folder 5

Seventh Infantry Division 1950 October 27 – 1951 March 11

Scope and Contents note

Memoranda.
 

Subject file

box 6, folder 6

China-Burma-India Theater (CBI) 1942 May 30 - 1945 October 5, undated

Scope and Contents note

Clipping, diary, graphs, list of personnel, maps, memoranda, military circulars, printed matter, and related materials.
box 6, folder 7

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Arizona 1932 – 1934 April, undated

Scope and Contents note

Booklet, correspondence, journal, memoranda, notes, photographic prints, and printed matter.
box 6, folder 8

Far East Command 1950 October 17 – 1951 February 1, undated

Scope and Contents note

Bulletin, list of personnel, medical information, memoranda, note, and related materials.
box 7, folder 1

Japan, Nara Station Hospital 1951 March 17 – April 5, undated

Scope and Contents note

Includes information booklet, operational data, memoranda, notes, physical reconditioning program, and sketches.
 

Korea, Eighth Army

box 7, folder 2

General 1951 March 1 – April 30, undated

Scope and Contents note

Agenda for Medical Policy Council, list of medical service personnel and patients, notes, operational data from surgeon general's office, and related materials.
box 7, folder 3

Maps, regions of Korea 1951 March 19, undated

Scope and Contents note

Includes Inchon, Chunghon, and Samchok; and I Corps medical installations.
box 7, folder 4

Report, Robert Williams' trip to Korea 1951

box 7, folder 5

Mountain Stretchers 1943 January 22, undated

Scope and Contents note

Includes bibliography and photographic prints with illustrations.
box 7, folder 6

Third Army 1940 January 17 – May 15, undated

Scope and Contents note

Maneuvers. Includes maps and photographic prints.
 

War Department

box 7, folder 7

1929 September 8 – 1933 June 27, undated

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence with Garfield L. McKinney.
box 7, folder 8

1930 June 2 – 1933 September 21

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence with T. E. Darby. Includes memoranda.
box 7, folder 9

1932 August 16 – 1933 July 7

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence with Fred?
box 7, folder 10

1937 January – 1950 October 12

Scope and Contents note

Medical instructors bulletin and memoranda.
box 7, folder 11

1937 June 15 – 1940 September 10, undated

Scope and Contents note

Memoranda, report of physical examination of enlisted men on induction, and special orders.
box 7, folder 12

1939

Scope and Contents note

Protective Mobilization Plan, including change No. 3, 1940 January 16.
box 7, folder 13

1940 May 25 – July 8, undated

Scope and Contents note

Chart, correspondence, memoranda, and notes.
 

Miscellany

box 7, folder 14

"The Cacolet," undated

Scope and Contents note

Some photographic prints attached to the materials.
box 7, folder 15

Inspection records 1951 March 2 – October 3

Scope and Contents note

Clippings, correspondence, memoranda, and notes.
box 7, folder 16

"The Story of a Small Campaign: The Medical Arrangements During the Burma Rebellion, 1931," Major General J. W. West, Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps 1933 June

box 7, folder 17

Sketches from the Medical Department Equipment Laboratory undated

 

Photographs 1927–1950, undated

Scope and Contents note

277 photographic prints, including 2 oversize prints of Army officials and 27 negatives, reflecting army operations with machinery and individuals.
map_case 

2 oversize group photographic prints of army officials undated

box 8, folder 1

43 prints, Cavalry Division, and 5 prints depicting army vehicles undated

box 8, folder 2

18 prints depicting army operations, modes of transport, and personnel undated

box 8, folder 3

4 prints and 2 negatives taken by Johnny McKee depicting D-Day on the Florida Gulf coast objective area undated

box 8, folder 4

26 prints depicting the sea, ships with numbers, military vehicles, land transports, and soldiers (including wounded ones) undated

box 8, folder 5

12 prints depicting soldiers with horses in open fields or by a mountain, Fort Bliss, Texas undated

box 8, folder 6

1 print depicting 4 soldiers (their names are on the other side of the print) standing in front of a building 1927 August

box 8, folder 7

5 prints (taken by Don Thompson?) depicting soldiers with horses engaged in various activities circa 1931

box 8, folder 8

86 prints, including some from Cavalry Division, depicting soldiers involved in various activities 1932

box 8, folder 9

12 prints depicting soldiers playing and a building, Army War College 1934-1935

box 8, folder 10

2 prints of a number of people (with their names listed) belonging to different medical groups, Fourth Corps 1940

box 8, folder 11

29 prints depicting China-Burma-India sector, including the retreat from Burma to India with a note from Joseph Stilwell about Robert Williams' contribution and award of the Purple Heart to Joseph Stilwell 1942

Scope and Contents note

Includes description of the prints on the other side.
box 8, folder 12

6 prints taken by John McKee depicting soldiers of the Second Armored Division 1947

box 8, folder 13

25 negatives and 2 miniature films returned by the Fourth Army with a request for developing for the purpose of using them in an article 1948

box 8, folder 14

1 print depicting a soldier receiving medical care during the Korean conflict 1950

 

Declassified U.S. Government Records 1944

Scope and Contents note

Formerly security-classified records of the U.S. government, released in full or in part. Arranged chronologically by date of release by Hoover, thereunder chronologically by date of creation.
box 7, folder 18

2016 February release of records 1944 September 2

Scope and Contents note

[China-Burma-India] Theater Map indicating sectional boundaries and their dates of establishment. Produced by the Office of the Chief Engineer, U.S. Air Force.