General Joseph W. Stilwell Papers, 1901-1963

GOGA 26980

Golden Gate National Recreation Area
ATTN: Park Archives and Records Center
Building 201, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
[Mailing Address]	Park Archives and Records Center
Presidio of San Francisco
Building 667 McDowell Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94129
[Physical Address]	

www.nps.gov/goga/historyculture

Phone: 415-561-2807
Fax: 415-441-1618

Susan Ewing Haley, Park Archivist
Introduction
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Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), a unit of the National Park Service, was established by an Act of Congress on October 27, 1972. The 80,000-acre park encompasses a great diversity of cultural and natural resources in and around the Bay Area of San Francisco, California.  It includes Muir Woods National Monument and Fort Point National Historic Site.

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	Mailing Address: 
	National Park Service					
	Golden Gate National Recreation Area
	Attn:  Park Archives and Records Center		
	Fort Mason, Bldg. 201
	San Francisco, CA  94123

	Physical Address:
		Park Archives and Records Center
		Presidio of San Francisco
Building 667 McDowell Avenue
		San Francisco, CA 94129
		Phone:	(415) 561-2807
		Fax: (415) 441-1618

General Joseph W. Stilwell Papers

Title
	General Joseph W. Stilwell Papers

Dates
	1901-1963

Collection Number
	Catalog Number GOGA 26980 (Accession Number GOGA-1766, GOGA-1902)

Provenance
The collection was donated to the Presidio Army Museum (PAM) in conjunction by Winifred S. Cox, daughter of General Joseph W. Stilwell, on 6 March 1974, and her sister, Nancy S. Easterbrook in June of 1974, and then acquired by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) in 1994 when the Presidio of San Francisco was closed and transferred from the U.S. Army to the National Park Service (NPS).

Volume
62 Items [.7 LF]  

Description
The collection consists of forty-four [44] photographs depicting Joseph Stilwell as a young cadet at the U.S. Military Academy in 1904; at his wedding at the Presidio of San Francisco in 1910; as a young major in the Army in 1917; at the Second Cairo Conference with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill, among others, in 1943;  jogging on the beach in Carmel with his dog, Gary, in 1944; with Generalissimo and Mrs. Chiang Kai-shek at their home; observing maneuvers in the field; at the Japanese Surrender ceremony in the Ryukyu Islands, 1945; at a barbeque hosted by his wife at the Presidio of San Francisco; and at other events at the Presidio in the 1940s. In addition, there is one [1] oversize du Charme photograph depicting Mrs. Stilwell and General Mark Clark at the dedication of Stilwell Hall in the Presidio of San Francisco, and two [2] photographs of Sam Berman cartoons depicting caricatures of General Stilwell.
Also included in the collection is one [1] Holy Bible that General Stilwell received as a gift for his dedication to his men, one [1] copy negative of a program for the Dedication of Stilwell Hall at the Presidio, eight [8] photocopied photograph captions, one [1] Star Presidian newspaper and three [3] newspaper clippings announcing the death of General Stilwell in 1946, featuring an interview of his widow in 1959, and discussing his career and legacy in 1963.

History
Joseph W. Stilwell was born on 19 March 1883 in Palatka, Florida and was known as Warren to his immediate family. He grew up in New York with is father, Doctor Benjamin Stilwell, and mother, Mary A. Peene. He attended Yonkers High School where he was a quarterback of the football team and attended post-graduate courses. While attending this course, he went through a rebellious phase—running with a group of friends that played cards and stole desserts from high school functions; the former event culminated in the punching of an administrator that led to the expulsion and/or suspension for Stilwell’s friends, although he escaped unscathed as he had already graduated.

These escapades prompted Dr. Stilwell to enroll his son in the U.S. Military Academy at West Point instead of the college of his choice, Yale University. Although he missed the deadline to apply for Congressional appointment, Stilwell was awarded entry through the use of family connections that knew President William McKinley. While a cadet at West Point, Stilwell introduced basketball to the academy and was the captain of the cross-country team in addition to playing varsity football. Ever the spirited fellow, he received two demerits for laughing during drill.

In 1904, he graduated 32nd in his class and was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant, stationed in the Philippines until 1906. He returned to West Point where he taught Spanish, French, and English, and coached basketball, baseball, track and football. In 1910, he married Winifred A. Smith, a boarding school classmate of his younger sister, Mary, and was sent back to the Philippines in 1911. He again returned to West Point until U.S. entry into World War I, when he served as an officer in the U.S. 4th Intelligence with which he helped to coordinate the St. Mihiel Offensive. 

Following the war, he returned to the U.S. having risen to the rank of Colonel and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his time in France. He was appointed to study Chinese at the University of California in 1919 in preparation for a station in Tianjin, China, where he served and lived with his family from 1926 through 1929; this would be the first of three tours in China. Colonel Stilwell was then assigned to command the tactical section of the Infantry School, where he acquired the nickname “Vinegar Joe” from a cartoon drawn by one of his students. From 1935 to 1939 he served as the military attaché to the U.S. Legation in Beijing, followed quickly by an assignment with the 2nd Infantry Division and then the 7th Infantry Division at Fort Ord, California; here he was awarded the softer nickname of “Uncle Joe” for his intimate leadership style. 

As the U.S. contemplated involvement in World War II, Stilwell was selected to plan and command the Allied invasion of North Africa, however, he was instead assigned—over his personal objections—to serve as Chief of Staff to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his old friend, Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall. In the China-Burma-India Theater, he command and was responsible for the Lend-Lease supplies going to China and later was assigned as Deputy Commander of the South East Asia Command. After a series of disagreements with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and other key officials, Stilwell was recalled from his command by President Roosevelt. He was promoted to the rank of General and served as the Commander of Army Ground Forces, U.S. 10th Army in the Pacific, from 1945 to 1946. 

His final appointment was as Commander of the Sixth U.S. Army at the Presidio of San Francisco. On 12 October 1946, General Stilwell died in his sleep following an operation for liver cancer at Letterman General Hospital. After a private funeral, he was cremated and his ashes scattered over the Pacific Ocean; Stilwell’s personal military airplane, assigned to him in Asia, dipped its wing in tribute as it flew over his home, Lianfair, in Carmel, California. During his distinguished career, General Stilwell was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star and the Command Infantryman Badge.

Preferred Citation
	“Golden Gate NRA, Park Archives, General Joseph W. Stilwell Papers, GOGA 26980.”

Index
	Cairo Conference (1943)
	Cartoons and caricatures.
	Chiang Kai-shek, 1887-1975
	Churchill, Winston, 1874-1965
	Clark, Mark W. (Mark Wayne), 1896-1984.
	Egypt
	Marshall, George C. (George Catlett), 1880-1959
	Mountbatten, Louis Mountbatten, Earl, 1900-1979
Presidio of San Francisco (San Francisco, Calif.)
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945
Stilwell, Joseph W. (Joseph Warren), 1883-1946
Stilwell, Winifred A.
United States. Army. Sixth
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945—Surrenders—Japanese.

Formats
	Bibles
	Copy photograph
	Copy negative
	Newspapers
	Newspaper clippings
	Photocopies
	Photograph

Processing Information
	Processed by Davis,
	Completed in 1998.
	Recataloged by Nicole Meldahl,
	Completed in April 2012.
	Recataloged in December 2012.
	Recataloged in July 2013.
	Recataloged in June 2014.
	Recataloged in July 2014.
	Updated in January 2015.
	Recataloged in April 2016.

Item List

Collection Number:	GOGA 26980
Collection Title:	General Joseph W. Stilwell Papers

Box	Folder	Image #	Item Description	
1	1	.01	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white portrait (copy print) of Joseph W. Stilwell in U.S. Military Academy Cadet uniform, 1904. With one [1] copy negative.	
		.02	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph (copy print) depicting the wedding party of the Joseph W. Stilwell-Winifred A. Smith marriage at the Presidio of San Francisco, 1910. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.03	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph (copy print) depicting Joseph W. Stilwell as a young Major, 1917. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.04	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph (copy print) depicting Joseph W. Stilwell as a young Major, 1917. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
	2	.05	One [1] black and white photograph (copy print) depicting General Stilwell with Generalissimo and Mrs. Chiang Kai-shek, c. 1943. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.06	One [1] black and white photograph (copy print) depicting General Stilwell with Generalissimo, c. 1943. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.07	One [1] black and white photograph (copy print) depicting General Stilwell with Generalissimo and Mrs. Chiang Kai-shek, c. 1943. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.08	One [1] black and white photograph (copy print) depicting General Stilwell with Generalissimo and Mrs. Chiang Kai-shek, c. 1943. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		09	One [1] black and white photograph (copy print) depicting General Stilwell with Generalissimo and Mrs. Chiang Kai-shek, c. 1943. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.10	One [1] black and white photograph (copy print) depicting General Stilwell with Generalissimo and Mrs. Chiang Kai-shek, c. 1943. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.11	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph (copy print) depicting General Stilwell with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Generalissimo and Mrs. Chiang Kai-shek, Lord Louis Mountbatten, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and other unidentified officers at the Second Cairo Conference in Egypt, 1943. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.12	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph (copy print) depicting General Stilwell with Lord Louis Mountbatten at the Second Cairo Conference in Egypt, 1943. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.13	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph (copy print) depicting General Stilwell, Lord Louis Mountbatten and unidentified officers at the Second Cairo Conference in Egypt, 1943. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.14	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph (copy print) depicting General Stilwell, Lord Louis Mountbatten, Generalissimo and Mrs. Chiang Kai-shek and other unidentified officers at the Second Cairo Conference in Egypt, 1943. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.15	One [1] black and white photograph (copy print) depicting General Stilwell with an unidentified officer smoking a pipe. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.16	One [1] black and white photograph (copy print) depicting General Stilwell and unidentified officers observing maneuvers in the field. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.17	One [1] black and white photograph (copy print) depicting General Stilwell and unidentified officers observing maneuvers in the field. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.18	One [1] black and white photograph (copy print) depicting Japanese surrender in the Ryukyu Islands, September 1945. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.19	One [1] black and white photograph (copy print) depicting Japanese surrender in the Ryukyu Islands, September 1945. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
	3	.20	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph (copy print) depicting a group of unidentified officers, with General Stilwell seated in the front next to General George C. Marshall, c. 1933. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.21	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph, “General Joseph W. Stilwell and dog ‘Gary’ (gian Schnauzer) at Carmel beach Nov. 15, 1944.”	
		.22	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white Signal Corps photograph depicting General Stilwell and an unidentified officer proceeding past the 6th Army Color Guard and followed by members of the 6th Army Band at the Presidio of San Francisco, 1946. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.23	One [1] 8”x10” black and white Signal Corps photograph depicting General Stilwell with three unidentified officers and a member of the 6th Army Pipe Band in front of Sixth Army Headquarters on the Main post in the Presidio. 	
		.24	One [1] 8”x10” black and white Signal Corps photograph depicting General Stilwell with three unidentified officers and a member of the 6th Army Pipe Band in front of Sixth Army Headquarters on the Main post in the Presidio.	
		.25	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white Signal Corps photograph depicting General Stilwell with Major General Frank Merrill, and Lieutenant Colonel Frank Hubbard at Fort Mason, 22 March 1946.	
	4	.26	One [1] black and white photograph (copy print) depicting General Stilwell. Also has one [1] small and one [1] large copy negative.	
		.27	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph (copy print) depicting a candid image of General Joseph W. Stilwell, 1946. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.28	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph (copy print) depicting a candid image of General Joseph W. Stilwell, 1946. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.29	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph (copy print) depicting General Joseph W. Stilwell, 1946. Also has one [1] copy negative. 	
		.30	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph (copy print) depicting a candid image of General Joseph W. Stilwell laughing, 1946. Also has one [1] copy negative, and one [1] cropped enlargement of his face.	
		.31	One [1] black and white portrait (copy print) of General Stilwell, c. 1946. Also has one [1] copy negative. 	
		.32	One [1] black and white portrait (copy print) of General Stilwell, c. 1946. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.33	One [1] black and white photograph (copy print) of a Sam Berman cartoon depicting General Stilwell, 1944. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
		.34	One [1] black and white photograph of a Sam Berman cartoon depicting General Stilwell, 1944. Also has one [1] copy negative.	
	5	.35	One [1] 7.5” x 9.25” black and white photograph depicting wounded soldiers with Mrs. Winifred Stilwell, 1946. 	
		.36	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph depicting Mrs. Winifred Stilwell hosting an outdoor barbeque, at which General Joseph W. Stilwell is eating with other soldiers, 1946. 	
		.37	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph depicting Mrs. Winifred Stilwell hosting an outdoor barbeque, at which General Joseph W. Stilwell is eating with other soldiers, 1946.	
		.38	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph depicting General Joseph W. Stilwell as he is served by his wife, Winifred, at an outdoor barbeque, 1946. 	
		.39	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph depicting Mrs. Winifred Stilwell and a young soldier grilling hamburger patties at an outdoor barbeque, 1946.	
		.40	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph depicting Mrs. Winifred Stilwell hosting an outdoor barbeque, at which General Joseph W. Stilwell is eating with other soldiers, 1946.	
		.41	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph depicting soldiers playing cards at an outdoor barbeque hosted by Mrs. Winifred Stilwell, 1946.	
		.42	One [1] black and white Associated Press photograph depicting General Stilwell’s dog, Gary, after Stilwell’s death; captioned “Dads not coming home anymore.”	
		.43	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph, “STILWELL HALL DEDICATION, 18 October 1947, Presidio of San Francisco. Among the speakers during the ceremony are left to right: Major General E.S. Bres, Executive Reserve and ROTC Affairs, Department of the Army Special Staff; General Mark W. Clark, Commanding Sixth Army; Mrs. Joseph W. Stilwell; Governor Earl Warren of California. Other distinguished guests were seated on the platform during the ceremony and witnessed Mrs. Stilwell unveil the plaque in the foyer of Stilwell Hall.”	
		.44	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white photograph, “STILWELL HALL DEDICATION, 18 October 1947, Presidio of San Francisco. Mrs. Joseph W. Stilwell (left) and General Mark Clark, Commanding Sixth Army, following the dedication ceremonies. General Clark delivered the welcoming address during the ceremony and introduced the main speakers.”	
		.45	One [1] 8” x 10” black and white Signal Corps photograph, “Standing beside Plaque erected in Stilwell Hall, Presidio of San Francisco, in the memory of General Joseph W. Stilwell, are left to right – Mrs. Joseph W. Stilwell, Mrs. Ernest F. Easterbrook, formerly Miss Nancy Stilwell, Miss Alison Stilwell, Mrs. William E. Cox, formerly Miss Winifred Stilwell, General Mark F. Clark, Commanding General Sixth Army, and Benjamin Stilwell, son of General Stilwell, 20 Oct. 47. (9166-1242-2/AM-47-757)”	
		.46	One [1] black and white copy negative depicting the Stilwell Hall Dedication program.	
	6		Eight [8] photocopied photograph captions for unidentified images.	
			Two [2] photocopies of a program for the Dedication of Stilwell Hall. Also has one [1] copy negative and one [1] copy print.	
			One [1] clipping, San Francisco Chronicle, “‘Vinegar Joe’ and the ‘--- Little Dummy’” by Seymour Korman, 3 March 1963.	
			OVERSIZE	
2 (20x24)	1	.47	One [1] black and white du Charme photograph depicting Mrs. Stilwell, General Mark Clark, and an unknown man standing beside the plaque which formally dedicated Stilwell Hall at the Presidio of San Francisco in his memory.	
			One [1] clipping, front page of The San Francisco News, “Stilwell Dead,” 12 October 1946.	
			One [1] clipping, “General Stilwell Dies: Sixth Army Commander Succumbs at 12:48 P.M.—Funeral is Private; Ashes to Be Scattered Over the Sea at Carmel”	
			One [1] newspaper, The Star Presidian, Vol. 7, No. 39, 6 March 1959 featuring an article titled “‘Vinegar’ Was Misnomer Says Famous General’s Widow”. 	
3			One [1] “The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments translated out of the Original Tongues being the version set fort A.D. 1611 Compared with the Most Ancient Authorities and Revised A.D. 1881-1885” (NY: Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1901). The front cover is embossed “Joseph W. Stilwell” in gold, and a plate on the front page reads, “This volume is presented to Joseph W. Stilwell In Memory of the One who greatly desired to promote the happiness and spiritual welfare of the Young Officers of the U.S. Army and Navy.” [PAM 657]