Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Robert J. C. Butow papers, approximately 1950-2001
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Butow, Robert J. C. (Robert Joseph Charles), 1924-
- Title
- Robert J. C. Butow papers
- Dates
- approximately 1950-2001 (inclusive)19502001
- Quantity
- 41.67 cubic feet (37 boxes including textual materials, sound cassettes, floppy and zip disks, and video cassettes)
- Collection Number
- 5978 (Accession No. 5978-001)
- Summary
- Research materials and drafts of books and articles of a history professor at the University of Washington
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Paper-based materials are open to all users. Digital and analog media is closed until processed/evaluated. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Records stored off-site; advance notice required for use.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Robert Joseph Charles Butow (born March 19, 1924) is a professor emeritus of history at the University of Washington. Robert Butow was born in San Mateo, California. He attended college at Stanford University, where he was a member of the Army Reserve, and a student of the Japanese language. He received his A.M. in 1948 and Ph.D. in 1953, both from Stanford. Butow was an instructor in history from 1954 to 1959, and an Assistant Professor from 1959 to 1960 at Princeton University in New Jersey. He joined the faculty of the University of Washington as an associate professor in 1960, then became a full professor in 1966 and professor emeritus in 1990. He held a joint appointment with the UW's Jackson School of International Studies.
When his Army Reserve unit was activated, Butow was selected to attend the Army Japanese Language School. He served in the United States Army during the early months of the occupation of Japan in 1945 and 1946, and became interested in Japanese history and culture. Upon his discharge as a second lieutenant, he returned to Stanford. His doctoral thesis on the Japanese surrender (Japan's Decision to Surrender) was subsequently published as his first book. His next book, Tojo and the Coming of the War, was a biography of Hideki Tōjō, the prime minister of Japan during most of World War II. His third book (The John Doe Associates: Backdoor Diplomacy for Peace, 1941) was about a small group of Americans who, without diplomatic authority, tried to promote peace with Japan before 1941, but only ended up worsening relations between the two nations. Butow worked for many years on a history of Franklin Roosevelt and the war in the Pacific, but was unable to complete the book due to illness.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection primarily consists of research materials and drafts for Butow's books and articles. A large proportion of the collection consists of research files and drafts for Butow's unpublished history of Franklin Roosevelt and the Asia Pacific War. Included are copies of the "FDR tapes" from the Roosevelt Presidential Library that Butow is credited with bringing to light.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
1 | "FDR Tapes" | |
1 | Japan/FDR Research Materials | |
1 | John Doe Associates Materials | |
1 | "Thar She Spaouts..." Materials | |
2 | FDR/Japan Research Material | |
2 | Misc Research Materials | |
3 | FDR Materials | |
3 | "Surprise" Research Materials | |
3 | Misc Research Materials | |
4 | "A Notable Passage to China" Papers | |
4 | "A Notable Passage to China" Research Materials | |
5 | Research & Course Materials | |
6 | Research & Course Materials | |
7 | Research Materials | |
7 | "Death of an Emperor" Papers | |
8 | Research & Course Materials | |
9 | Research Materials | |
10 | Research Materials | |
10 | Naval History | |
10 | PHA Papers | ` |
11 | Military Testimonies | |
11 | Japan Research Materials | |
12 | Course Materials | |
12 | Whaling & "Thar She Spaouts..." Materials | |
13 | Course Materials | |
13 | Japan Research Materials | |
14 | Bibliographic Information Japan/FDR | |
15 | Tojo Correspondence | |
15 | Japan Research Materials | |
16 | Tojo Research Materials | |
16 | John Doe Associates Manuscripts | |
17 | John Doe Associates Illustrations | |
17 | "A Notable Passage to China" Correspondence | |
17 | The Surrender of Japan Research Materials | |
17 | Course Materials | |
18 | Navy and the Sea | |
18 | Oral Histories | |
18 | Pearl Harbor Attack Materials | |
18 | FDR Research Materials | |
19 | FDR Research Materials | |
20 | FDR Manuscripts & Materials | |
21 | FDR Materials & Correspondence | |
22 | FDR Manuscripts & Materials | |
22 | "A Notable Passage to China" Papers | |
23 | "The 'Magic' Road to Pearl Harbor" Materials | |
23 | FDR Research Materials | |
24 | FDR Research Materials | |
25 | FDR Research Materials | |
25 | FDR Photos & Illustrations | |
26 | FDR/Japan Research Material | |
27 | FDR Research Materials | |
27 | FDR/Japan Chronological Files | |
27 | FDR/Japan Alphabetical Files | |
28 | FDR/Japan Alphabetical Files | |
28 | FDR Research Materials | |
29 | FDR Research Materials | |
29 | "FDR Tapes" on Cassette Tapes | |
29 | "FDR Tapes" on VHS Tapes | |
29 | Floppy Disks of Manuscripts | |
30 | FDR Research Materials | |
30 | Pearl Harbor Attack Materials | |
30 | Research Materials | |
30 | "A Notable Passage to China" Research Materials | |
31 | FDR Research Materials | |
31 | "Thar She Spaouts..." Galley Proofs & Working Copies | |
31 | Whaling Ships Log Books | |
31 | Japan/Pearl Harbor Research Materials | |
31 | "The 'Magic' Road to Pearl Harbor" Materials | |
32 | National Archives Research Materials | |
32 | "The 'Magic' Road to Pearl Harbor" Materials | |
32 | FDR Research Materials | |
32 | Delano family/Fairhaven research materials | |
33 | FDR Research Materials | |
33 | "A Notable Passage to China" Research Materials | |
33 | FDR Research Materials | |
33 | Groton School Archival Materials | |
33 | "The 'Magic' Road to Pearl Harbor" Materials | |
33 | Drafts of FDR Manuscript Chapters | |
34 | Japan Research Materials | |
34 | "Surprise" Research Materials | |
34 | FDR Research Materials | |
34 | Groton School Archival Materials | |
34 | "Surprise" Research Materials | |
35 | Bibliographies, references, and index | |
36 | FDRL | 2000-2002 |
37 | FDRL Research visit | 2000-2001 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Armed Forces--Officers--Archives
- Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941--Sources
- University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington)
- World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Ocean--Sources
- World War, 1939-1945--Japan--Sources
Personal Names
- Butow, Robert J. C. (Robert Joseph Charles), 1924- --Archives
- Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945--Archives
Corporate Names
- University of Washington. Department of History--Faculty--Archives
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- University of Washington. University Archives (host institution)