Herbert J. Wunderlich papers, 1890-1999

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Wunderlich, Herbert J., 1906-2002
Title
Herbert J. Wunderlich papers
Dates
1890-1999 (inclusive)
Quantity
19.0 linear feet
Collection Number
Mss 238 (collection)
Summary
Herbert J. Wunderlich participated in the U.S. occupation of Japan after World War II; he developed standards for postwar Japanese textbooks. The collection centers on Wunderlich's time in Japan during World War II, his activities under General MacArthur, and his subsequent writings on these subjects.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana--Missoula.

Languages
English, Japanese
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho on May 9, 1906, Herbert John Wunderlich graduated from the University of Idaho in 1928 with a B.A. in U. S. History. He received an M.A. from Harvard University in 1934. From 1936 through 1938, Wunderlich was the Assistant Dean of Men at the University of Washington. Later, he was Executive Assistant to the President and the Dean of Men at The University of Idaho from 1938 to 1942. In 1942, Wunderlich joined the United States Navy, eventually attaining the rank of Commander. His last assignment, through 1946, was in Tokyo under General Douglas MacArthur where he became the Civil Information and Education Section officer in charge of textbook revision for the national schools of Japan.

The Potsdam Declaration of July 26, 1945, established that the Japanese government would remove all obstacles to the strengthening of democratic tendencies among the Japanese. Freedom of speech, religion, and thought were to be established. The United States Initial Post-Surrender Policy for Japan, August 29, 1945, further directed that militarism and ultra-nationalism should be eliminated from the educational system. On October 2, 1945, MacArthur ordered the General Education Section to make recommendations to insure the elimination of militarism and ultra-nationalism and to disseminate democratic principles. Wunderlich and his staff were to develop criteria for textbook and curriculum revision, a procedure for reviewing and approving national textbooks, staff study on Japanese morale (Shushin), Japanese history and geography texts and curriculum, interim textbooks and teaching materials, vocational and university textbooks, and the education mission to Japan.

Following his return stateside, Wunderlich was employed by Stanford University where he was in charge of Stanford Village, the University's veteran housing project. He received his Doctor of Education degree from Stanford in 1952. At the end of 1948, he took the position of Dean of Students and Professor of Education at Montana State University in Missoula (now known as The University of Montana-Missoula). Wunderlich left Montana in 1955 to pursue other interests, including positions as the Dean of Students at Kansas State University and as the Vice President of the University of South Florida at Tampa.

Wunderlich eventually returned to Idaho and lived there until his death in 2002.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection centers on Wunderlich's time in Japan during World War II, his activities under General MacArthur, and his subsequent writings on these subjects. Materials include correspondence, printed materials, clippings, maps, publications, a sculpture, photos, artwork, and other memorabilia. Many portions of the collection, particularly the publications, are in Japanese.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright transferred to The University of Montana.

Preferred Citation

[Name of document or photograph number], Herbert J. Wunderlich Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is divided into eleven series:

Series I: General Correspondence, 5 items, 1955-1988

Series II: Printed Materials, 0.25 linear feet, 1944-1946

Series III: School Notes/Records, 0.5 linear feet, 1944-1946

Series IV: Dissertation and Other Writings, 1.75 linear feet, 1945-1984

Series V: Clippings, 1.1 linear feet, 1943-1990

Series VI: Maps, 2.5 linear feet, 1943-1945

Series VII: The Wunderlich Collection, 1 linear foot and 3 microfilm reels, 1890-1946 and 1986

Series VIII: Publications, 1.5 linear feet, 1927-1999

Series IX: Artifacts, 9 linear feet, undated

Series X: Harry Wray Research Materials, 2 folders, 1945-1986

Series XI: Photographs, Art, and Memorabilia, 1.5 linear feet, 1945-1986 and undated

Custodial History

Wunderlich donated the first portion of the collection to The University of Montana in 1989. The bronze bust of Wunderlich was given to the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at The University of Montana. In 2004 additions to the collection were picked up at the Wunderlich home in Idaho and transferred to the Archives.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Herbert J. Wunderlich, 1989. Additional papers donated by his wife, Helen Wunderlich, in 2004

Processing Note

The actions of the original processors are unknown. In 1997, the collection was re-described, with the basic organization of previous processors retained. In 2008, the additional materials acquired in 2004 were integrated into the previously processed collection. In 2014, a box of Wunderlich's personal books and pamphlets, some with annotations, was added to the collection. Additional published materials and ephemera were added to the collection in 2016.

Related Materials

Related Materials

Herbert Wunderlich's dissertation The Japanese textbook problem and solution, 1945-1946 is held by Stanford University.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I:  General Correspondence , 1955-1988Return to Top

5 items

Correspondence relates to recollections of Wunderlich's career and his donations of materials to the Hoover Library at Stanford University and to the Mansfield Center at the University of Montana-Missoula.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
1955-1988

Series II:  Printed Materials , 1944-1946Return to Top

0.25 linear feet

This series consists of printed materials produced by the U.S. government, mostly concerning civil affairs training for military personnel stationed in Japan.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/2
Civil Affairs Handbook, Japan
1944
1/3
Civil Affairs Staging Area-Staff & Plan, Japan
1944
1/4
Japanese Language Instruction
1944
1/5
Civil Affairs Handbook
1945
1/6
Normal School Statistics
1946
1/7
United States Military Government in Korea
1946

Series III:  School Notes/Records , 1944-1946Return to Top

0.5 linear feet

Includes course materials (syllabi, bibliographies, lists of films shown) for the Civil Affairs Training School at the University of Chicago. Most are concerned with practical subjects like economics and language, but there are also materials on the character of the Japanese people. Other materials are from the University of Michigan, the University of Wisconsin, and Columbia University; they were apparently used at the Civil Affairs Training School in Chicago. There are copies of four books: one on Chinese character writing, and three on Japanese language: Introduction to Japanese Writing, Japanese Language Handbook, and Introduction to Spoken Japanese.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/8
Civil Affairs Training School, University of Chicago
1944
1/9
Civil Affairs Training School, University of Chicago
1944
1/10
Civil Affairs Training School, University of Chicago
1944-1945
1/11
Civil Affairs Training School, University of Chicago
1944-1945
1/12
Civil Affairs Training School, University of Chicago
1944
1/13
Civil Affairs Training School (Bloch)
1944
1/14
Civil Affairs Training School, (Borton)
1944
1/15
Civil Affairs Training School, University of Chicago, (Buchanan)
1944
1/16
Civil Affairs Training School, University of Chicago, (Embree)
1944
1/17
Civil Affairs Training School, University of Chicago, (Embree)
1944
2/1
Civil Affairs Training School, (Jones)
1944
2/2
Civil Affairs Training School, University of Chicago, (McNair)
1944
2/3
Charts for the Writing of Chinese Characters
1943
2/4
Japanese Language books
1942-1945
2/5
Notes on Japanese Culture
1946

Series IV:  Dissertation and Other Writings , 1945-1984Return to Top

1.75 linear feet

This series includes two typescripts of Wunderlich's 1952 dissertation, The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946: one draft from June of 1952 and another, more complete draft from July of the same year, as well as additional materials related to his dissertation research. It also contains a typescript of the 1984 manuscript, Reminiscences of Occupation, in English, along with Gary Tsuchimochi's Japanese translations. Other materials include the transcript of a 1953 speech by Wunderlich, miscellaneous handwritten notes, and a ledger in which he kept his journal in 1945 and 1946.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/6
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Chapter I
1952
2/7
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Chapter II
1952
2/8
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Chapter III
1952
2/9
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Chapter IV
1952
2/10
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Chapter V
1952
2/11
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Chapter VI
1952
2/12
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Chapter VII
1952
2/13
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Chapter VIII
1952
2/14
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Chapter IX
1952
2/15
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Chapter X
1952
2/16
Dissertation research materials
1946 and undated
2/17
Reminiscences of Occupation, pp. 1-38
1984
2/18
Reminiscences of Occupation, pp. 39-77
1984
12/1
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Title Page, Table of Contents, and Chapter 1
July, 1952
12/2
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Chapter 2
July, 1952
12/3
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Chapter 3
July, 1952
12/4
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Chapter 4
July, 1952
12/5
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Chapter 5
July, 1952
12/6
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Chapter 6
July, 1952
12/7
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Chapter 7
July, 1952
12/8
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Chapter 8
July, 1952
12/9
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Chapter 9
July, 1952
12/10
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Chapter 10
July, 1952
12/11
The Japanese Textbook Problem and Solution, 1945-1946, Bibliography and Appendices
July, 1952
12/12
Miscellaneous dissertation materials
undated
12/13
Additional Writings: 1953 Phi Beta Kappa Address, various handwritten notes
1953-1983
Box
OS 13
Psychological Warfare Branch ledger (Wunderlich's journal)
1945-1946

Series V:  Clippings , 1943-1990Return to Top

1.1 linear feet

This series consists of clippings from popular magazines and newspapers on Japan, education, and Wunderlich himself.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/19
Clippings
1943-1990
Box
OS 14
Souvenir copy of Honolulu Star-Bulletin, December 7, 1941
circa 1987
OS 14
Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph
August 15, 1945

Series VI:  Maps , 1943-1945Return to Top

2.5 linear feet

This series is composed of maps of Japan, China, nearby areas, and Europe during the late years of World War II. Many are produced by the Japanese or American governments, and offer details of population, agricultural production, education, and roads and cities. One group of maps also details American military operations in both Japan and Europe between 1943 and 1945.

They are arranged chronologically.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/20
Japan & China
1945
2/21
China Coast & Japan
1945
OS 3/1
Newsmap, North Burma
1943
OS 3/2
Newsmap, Bismarck Sea
1944
OS 3/3
Southeast Asia
1944
OS 3/4
Population Map of Japan
undated
OS 4/1
Naval War Map, No. 2-South China Sea Area
undated
OS 4/2
Naval War Map, No. 4-The North Pacific Area
undated
OS 4/3
Planning Maps-Australasia
undated
OS 4/4
Target Tokyo Maps-Japan
undated
OS 4/5
The World At War
1943
OS 5/1
Light Tanks and Self-Propelled Weapons
February 1943
OS 5/2
Heavy, Medium, and Light Armored Cars
March 1943
OS 5/3
Gas
March 1943
OS 5/4
British Aircraft
April 1943
OS 5/5
Tunisia
April 1943
OS 5/6
Foxholes
April 1943
OS 5/7
Army Specialized Training Program
May 1943
OS 6/1
"Secret" Weapons (enemy agents)
June 1943
OS 6/2
Disease in the Tropics
June 1943
OS 6/3
Battle Area on the Eastern Front
July 1943
OS 6/4
Gas
July 1943
OS 6/5
The Pacific and Far East
July 1943
OS 6/6
Beyond Sunny Italy
August 1943
OS 6/7
Progress of the War
September 1943
OS 7/1
Typical German Infantry Regiment
October 1943
OS 7/2
Target Berlin
October 1943
OS 7/3
Northern Italy
November 1943
OS 7/4
Malaria
November 1943
OS 7/5
Southeastern Europe
April 1944
OS 7/6
Home Front Production
May 1944
OS 7/7
Four Approaches to Japan
May 1944
OS 7/8
New Guinea
May 1944
OS 7/9
New Guinea (overseas edition)
June 1944

Series VII:  The Wunderlich Collection, 1890-1946 and 1986Return to Top

1.0 linear foot and 3 reels of microfilm

This series includes working papers, records of meetings, staff studies, Mombusho Horei and reports, Japanese historical documents, personal letters, observations and speeches of Japanese scholars and leaders, digests and clippings of Japanese newspapers from the period, and Wunderlich's personal journal. Entitled the "Wunderlich Collection" (either by Wunderlich himself, or by National Institute of Educational Research of Japan, which microfilmed the documents in 1986 in an effort to re-construct the history of postwar education in Japan), the documents were compiled by Wunderlich during the first six months (1945-1946) of the occupation of Japan. Wunderlich used these materials to produce both his 1952 dissertation and his Reminiscences of Occupation (See Series IV). This series includes a copy of the microfilm produced by the National Institute of Educational Research of Japan.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
8/1
Background / Introduction to the microfilm of The Wunderlich Collection of Documents
undated
8/2
A-Civil Information & Education Section
1945-1946
8/3
B-Japanese Textbooks
1945-1946.
8/4
C-Suspension of Morals (Shushin) Japanese History and Geography
1945-1946
8/5
D-Charts in Color Code Used in Screening Japanese Textbooks
1945-1946
8/6
E- Kokutai No Hongi (Fundamental Principles Of National Structure)
1945-1946
8/7
F-Democratization of Education
1945-1946
8/8
G-Japanese Opinion
1945-1946
8/9
H-Translations of Japanese Press on Education Reform
1945-1946
8/10
I-Newspaper Clippings
1945
8/11
J-Mombusho Reports and Surveys
1945-1946
8/12
K-Japanese Textbook Regulations
1945-1946
9/1
L-Japanese School Regulations
1935-1943
9/2
M-Japanese School Regulations
1914-1944
9/3
N-Mombusho Course Regulations and Objectives
1937-1944
9/4
O-Japanese School Discipline
1902-1938
9/5
P-Japanese Civil Service
1898-1941
9/6
Q-Japanese Historical Documents
1890-1946
9/7
R-U.S. Education Mission
1946
9/8
S-Japanese Universities
1897-1946
9/9
Excerpts from Textbooks
undated
9/10
T-Personal Memorabilia
1944-1990

Series VIII:  Publications , 1927-1999 Return to Top

1.5 linear feet

This series consists of publications in English and Japanese, most of which regard Japanese education. They range from a student paper from the University of Florida to copies of the Research Bulletin of Educational History of the Allied Occupation of Japan. There are also numerous military and civil affairs manuals dating from 1940 to 1944, several pamphlets and several books. There is also one linear foot of unsorted books, pamphlets, and ephemera including Japanese travel books, educational manuals, Japanese language books,

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
10/1
Publications
Articles in Japanese and English. Authors include Hideo Sato, Gary Tsuchimochi, George Stoddard, Mark T. Orr, and J. Owen Gauntlett.
1962-1990
10/2
Research Bulletin of Educational History of the Allied Occupation of Japan
June 1986
10/3
List of Titles of Civil Information & Education Bulletin
undated
10/4
[publication in Japanese]
undated
10/5
The staffs rosters and organization charts of Civil Information and Education Section
undated
10/6
[publication in Japanese]
undated
10/7
Fukuzawa Yukichi on Education
1985
10/8
[publication in Japanese]
undated
10/9
[publication in Japanese]
undated
10/10
Civil Affairs Manual
1944
10/11
Basic Field Manual: Rules of Land Warfare
1940
10/12
Standard Policy and Procedure for Combined Civil Affairs Operations in North West Europe (2 copies)
1944
10/13
United States Army and Navy Manual of Military Government and Civil Affairs
1943
10/14
Civil Affairs Studies: Illustrative Cases from Military Occupations
1944
10/15
Manual for Officer Students of the United States Naval Reserve
1943
10/16
Suye Mura: A Japanese Village
1939
10/17
Symbols Appearing on Original Japanese Maps of All Scales and on AMS Publications of Japanese Areas
1944
Box
26
Unsorted books, pamphlets, and ephemera
1927-1991

Series IX:  Artifacts , undatedReturn to Top

9 linear feet

This series includes a bronze bust of Wunderlich sculpted by George Carlson and given to the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at The University of Montana. Other materials are mostly from Wunderlich's time in Japan, including art and craft items, military artifacts, and a kimono.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
11
Bronze bust of Wunderlich
Carlson, George
undated
17
Painting on square wooden tray of Onnagata, female impersonator, by Sharaku.
undated
18
Samurai Short Sword and Stand
undated
OS 19
Black Kimono
undated
20
Black vase, irregular oval shape; surface finish dulled and scratched
undated
OS 21
Cloth artifacts (possibly belong with kimono)
undated
22
Naval Epaulette - Gold and Red; Japanese script on underside
undated
23
Paper, Wood and Plastic Fan - Silver with red, blue, green, and pink leaf and floral design
undated
23
Paper and Wood Fan - Green with pink floral design
undated
OS 24
Paper and Wood Fan with wooden stand, Red and Gold Floral design, in box labeled Mitsukishi
1993
OS 24
Paper and Wood Fan with brown, black, and red floral design; with pair of black and gold chopsticks
1993
OS 24
Cloisonne dish with gold background and image of two white and black cranes
undated
OS 24
Green cloth with rural scene; cloth envelope with pink floral design; green envelope labeled "Cara"
undated
OS 24
Miscellaneous artifacts - Black and brown chopsticks, some with gold designs; brown card with script; military uniform insignia
undated

Series X:  Harry Wray Research Materials and Correspondence , 1945-1986Return to Top

2 folders

In the 1980s, Professor Harry Wray, then Associate Professor of East Asian History at Illinois State University, was researching post-war Japan, focusing especially on education. As part of this research he interviewed American staff who worked in or with the Education Section, including Wunderlich. He also later corresponded with Wunderlich. This series consists of documents related to his interactions with Wunderlich. Most of the materials in this series include handwritten notations by Wunderlich.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
12/14
Interview Transcript
Wray's 1980 interview with Wunderlich and Mark Orr. The transcript is interspersed with copies of documents from the occupation period and excerpts from Wunderlich's "Reminiscences" (see Series IV).
1945-1980
12/17
Correspondence
Contains Wray's 1986 letter to Wunderlich, with additional questions for Wunderlich pertaining to Wray's research. Wray included copies of documents from the occupation period and excerpts of his interviews with Don Nugent, Joe Trainor, Eileen Donovan, and Robert Hall (all colleagues of Wunderlich during the occupation in Japan).
1945-1986

Series XI:  Photos, Memorabilia and Art , 1945-1986Return to Top

1.5 linear feet

This series consists mostly of photos, postcards, and artwork from Wunderlich's time in Japan. Also included is an official copy of the Japanese Surrender Document from WWII. (Titles for the artwork were designated by the processor and are not official.)

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
15/1
Official Japanese Surrender Document and postcard of MacArthur signing
September 2, 1945
15/2
Photos - Japan and Japanese art
1945-1946
15/3
Photos, photo negatives, and postcards from Japan
1945-4946
Box
15/4
Photos - Gary Tsuchimochi and Wunderlich; Tsuchimochi, Mitsuhiko Sampa, Soji Katakami, and Hideo Satow during microfilming
1984, 1986
15/5
"To Kay" - poem by Nabaru Takahasi
April, 1946
OS 16
Painting - Six Warriors
unknown
OS 16
Painting - Snowstorm
unknown
OS 16
Painting - Woman Walking
unknown
OS 16
Painting - Woman with Fan
unknown
OS 16
Painting - Woman sitting
unknown
OS 16
Photograph - "W.B.L. Boston"
1934
OS 16
Watercolor Portrait
1945
OS 16
Pencil Portrait
unknown
OS 16
C.M. Russell print - "The Buffalo Hunt"
1898
OS 16
C.M. Russell print - "Jerked Down"
1907
OS 16
Painting - Woman on silk
unknown
OS 24
Six paintings on white cardboard with gilt edges, various floral, landscape, and portrait scenes
undated
25
Fabric art design, cardboard backing - Red, orange, pink, and gold on a white background
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Americans--Japan
  • Democracy--Japan
  • Education and state--Japan
  • Militarism--Japan
  • Nationalism and education--Japan
  • Reconstruction (1939-1951)--Japan
  • Textbooks--Censorship--Japan

Corporate Names

  • Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. Civil Information and Education Section
  • United States. Navy--Foreign service--Japan
  • United States. Navy--Officers
  • University of Idaho--Alumni and alumnae

Geographical Names

  • Japan--History--Allied occupation, 1945-1952

Form or Genre Terms

  • Artifacts
  • Maps