Collections: US Navy Japanese/Oriental Language School Archival Project (JSLP)

Background | Status Reports | Collections Promised or Held at UCB Archives | Intrepreters PDF & WORD files

In April, 2000, the Archives launched a third attempt to gather the papers, correspondence, photographs, and records of graduates of the US Navy Japanese / Oriental Language School, University of Colorado at Boulder, 1942-1946. We are assembling these papers in recognition of the contributions made by JLS graduates to the War effort in the Pacific, the successful occupation of Japan, and the creation of Japanese language programs across the country after World War II. Of certain historical interest are the activities of graduates in World War II code breaking, translating and intelligence. But the work of combat interpreters and interrogators has also attracted research attention. Those graduates who served in various capacities during the Occupation of Japan and during the attempts to gain surrender of the bypassed territories also had experiences fascinating to historians. Our new areas of interest are the post war roles played by graduates: in the teaching of Japanese language and culture in higher education, in the US Foreign Service, in the intelligence community, and in grass roots efforts to establish sister cities, exchange programs, and reconciliation projects with Japan. In many instances, the graduates' war-time experiences had only tangential effects on their careers, but even those influences are interesting to scholars. These papers are being collected for use by scholars in Japanese history, World War II history, diplomacy and foreign affairs, and East Asian language and culture.

Captain Roger Pineau, USNR, began collecting information on the graduates of the school for the purpose of including their contribution to World War II naval history in the official record. In 1992, the Archives began to collect materials relating to the Japanese Language School, acquiring the papers of the Captain Roger Pineau and William Hudson. In addition, portions of the collections from Sidney DeVere Brown, Calvin Dunbar, Howard Boorman, Ross Ingersoll, Warren Johnston, Paul Sherman, Dean Towner, and Glenn Nelson were also acquired. The initial acquisitions were made with largely a Japanese Language School and World War II focus. Our interests have broadened since that time. We also are interested in documenting the Chinese, Russian and Malay language programs initiated in 1944.

Since we wish to document the school and the influence it had on its graduates, we are taking the broadest possible approach. Many graduates who do not have much in the way of papers may consider putting comments down on tape, as oral histories are very important. Others may feel that if they have no documents and left the Japanese language field, they have nothing to offer. Nevertheless, even a resume or vita from each graduate would be of enormous use to scholars on this topic.

Background | Status Reports | Collections Promised or Held at UCB Archives | Intrepreters PDF & WORD files

Status Report #1 : November 2000

After six months of work, two of research and calling, three of organizing the response, corresponding with donors, and putting out 9 issues of our project newsletter, The Interpreter, the Japanese Language School Project has been far more successful than anticipated. Such acquisition projects usually require years to attract major collections.

Major Collections

While it is certain that a substantial number of academic collections from JLS graduates have already found their way to major university archives such as Columbia, Stanford, Rutgers, UC Berkeley, Michigan, Duke, and Rochester, still we can boast of having attracted four major academic collections from those graduates whose academic work involved Asia and Japan. Many such scholars or their families have yet to be reached. We have also been fortunate to contact a number of grads who are retired US Foreign Service Officers. These graduates generally have not considered their papers archivable, if they have considered the question at all. We have acquired the papers of two, whose service in Asia and Japan make there papers important to researchers. We would welcome more.

 

An equally facinating group of graduates are those who went into Naval or Government Intelligence Arms after WWII. Unfortunately, the nature of this career generally curtails the compiling of personal papers which can later be archived in a public repository. Nevertheless, we have been in contact and have received some oral history and published memoirs from some of these graduates. Collections in this area are of inestimable worth to researchers. We have, to date, been unsuccessful in attracting collections from such graduates who were conducting business or trade in Japan or Asia. We have also failed to find papers of those who had been involved in reconciliation efforts with Japan. Collections in these areas would be very helpful to scholars. We also have not been able to gather papers from retired Navy or Marine Officers, aside from those of Captain Roger Pineau. This was to be expected, since the first archival choice of retired officers, like that of career academics, would be the institution to which they dedicated their service: the US Navy, USMC, or in the case of professors, various prestigious universities.

Small Manuscripts

Nevertheless, we have been pleased with the response of those whose donations include primarily their JLS and WWII experiences. The Archives has attracted 42 small collections of World War II correspondence, as well as a wide variety of collections including photographs, news clippings, US Navy records, documents, and unpublished memoirs. All of the above collections are to be processed, organized, and catalogued under the name of the graduate. Who's Who, various universities, and numerous graduates have provided career information regarding a large number of graduates who were unreachable, had no papers, or whose professional materials bore no relation to Asia or Japan. 157 resumes and vitas have been placed in Individual Files within the Japanese Language School Collection.

 

In May and June, the Archives had three staff and students working on the project, not counting myself. This number grew to five in July, 3 in acquisitions and 2 in processing. This number dropped to 2 in August, with the departure of two part-time staff. In late August, The Archives was able to put five students on the Project, for the Fall: two in acquisitions, two in processing, and one coordinating and organizing future JLS functions. The ratio may shift depending on the response of JLS donors.

David M. Hays
Instructor/Archivist

Status Report #2 : April 2000

After one year of work, research, calling, organizing and corresponding with JLS contacts, we have 340 active contacts to whom we have sent 20 issues of our project newsletter, The Interpreter. The Japanese Language School Project continues to be more successful than anticipated. Such acquisition projects usually require years to attract major collections.

Major Collections

While it is certain that a substantial number of academic collections from JLS graduates have already found their way to major university archives, still we can boast of having attracted five major academic collections from those graduates whose academic work involved Asia and Japan. Many such scholars or their families have yet to be reached. We have also been fortunate to contact a number of grads who are retired US Foreign Service Officers. These graduates generally have not considered their papers archivable, if they have considered the question at all. We have acquired the papers of two, whose service in Asia and Japan make there papers important to researchers. We would welcome more.

Small Manuscripts

We continue to be pleased with the response of those whose donations include primarily their JLS and WWII experiences. The Archives has received or been promised more than 80 small collections of World War II correspondence, as well as a wide variety of collections including photographs, news clippings, US Navy records, documents, and unpublished memoirs. All of the above collections are to be processed, organized, and catalogued under the name of the graduate. Who's Who, various universities, and numerous graduates have provided career information regarding a large number of graduates who were unreachable, had no papers, or whose professional materials bore no relation to Asia or Japan. 162 resumes and vitas have been placed in Individual Files within the Japanese Language School Collection.

Processing

Of the 89 collections acquired or promised, 60 have been received and 21 have been organized and have guides. A great many of the collections are sent piecemeal and must be fully on hand before processing can begin.

David M. Hays
Instructor/Archivist

Status Report #3 : October 2001

After eighteen months year of work, research, calling, organizing and corresponding with JLS contacts, we have 390 active contacts to whom we have sent 32 issues of our project newsletter, The Interpreter. The Japanese Language School Project continues to be more successful than anticipated. Such acquisition projects usually require years to attract major collections.

Major Collections

While it is certain that a substantial number of academic collections from JLS graduates have already found their way to major university archives, still we can boast of having attracted five major academic collections from those graduates whose academic work involved Asia and Japan. Many such scholars or their families have yet to be reached. We have also been fortunate to contact a number of grads who are retired US Foreign Service Officers. These graduates generally have not considered their papers archivable, if they have considered the question at all. We have acquired the papers of two, whose service in Asia and Japan make their papers important to researchers. We would welcome more.

Small Manuscripts

We continue to be pleased with the response of those whose donations include primarily their JLS and WWII experiences. The Archives has received or been promised more than 90 small collections of World War II correspondence, as well as a wide variety of collections including photographs, news clippings, US Navy records, documents, and unpublished memoirs. All of the above collections are to be processed, organized, and catalogued under the name of the graduate. Who's Who, various universities, and numerous graduates have provided career information regarding a large number of graduates who were unreachable, had no papers, or whose professional materials bore no relation to Asia or Japan. 162 resumes and vitas have been placed in Individual Files within the Japanese Language School Collection.

Processing

Of the 91 collections acquired or promised, 69 have been received and 30 have been organized and have guides. A great many of the collections are sent piecemeal and must be fully on hand before processing can begin.

Scott E. Shaver
Student Assistant

For further staus reports see the Interpreter issues 68b and 77b.

Background | Status Reports | Collections Promised or Held at UCB Archives | Intrepreters PDF & WORD files

• Bold -- Prelim. Invent.
• [Brackets] -- Received
• Italics -- Guide Processed
• Plain -- Promise

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