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
Index to personal correspondence
box 1, folder 4
1948 January 2 – August 10
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 9
Part I – India
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs.
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.
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.
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 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
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 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.
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
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.