John R. White papers , 1879-1961

Overview of the Collection

Creator
White, John Roberts, 1879-1961
Title
John R. White papers
Dates
1879-1961 (inclusive)
Quantity
21.25 linear feet, (34 containers)
Collection Number
Ax 192
Summary
John Roberts White (1879-1961), an English soldier who served with the Philippine Constabulary, was also superintendent of the Iwahig Penal Colony, and served in the U.S. National Park Service. The collection includes biographical material, diaries, correspondence, publications, clippings and ephemera, scrapbooks, and photographs.
Repository
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.

Additional Reference Guides

Paper finding aid with additional information is available in Special Collections and University Archives.

See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for production of this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Historical NoteReturn to Top

John R. White (1879-1961) was born in Reading, England and educated in private schools. He served with the Greek Foreign Legion in 1897, went to Alaska and the Yukon (1897-1899), and enlisted in the 4th U.S. Infantry in 1899, serving in the Philippines.

He joined the Philippine Constabulary in 1901, and rose to rank of colonel, retiring in 1914. He was superintendent of the Iwahig Penal Colony, 1906-1908. Between 1916 and 1917, he was in Europe working with the Red Cross and the Rockefeller Foundation. He joined the American Expeditionary Force as a Signal Corps pilot.

Beginning in 1920 White was with the National Park Service as Ranger, Chief Ranger, or Park Superintendent at Grand Canyon, Sequoia, and General Grant National Parks, Death Valley National Monument, and as Director of Regions 3 and 4 from 1940 to 1941.

[Source: http://socialarchive.iath.virginia.edu/ark:/99166/w6zm7zbf]

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of an autobiography, diaries and notebooks for 1897, 1906-1916, 1920-1948 (52 volumes), outgoing and incoming correspondence, military documents, manuscripts, scrapbooks and photographs.

Correspondence contains both personal and professional. A portion of the personal correspondence is alphabetically organized by recipient and includes family, military, and subject correspondence. There is considerable correspondence on national park policy and conservation, especially about Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Documents include official orders, reports, and papers of the Philippine Constabulary.

Manuscript material includes writings on U.S. national parks and the Philippine Constabulary.

Photographs include prints, slides, negatives and photograph albums, and primarily document White's professional work for both the Philippine Constabulary and the National Park Service.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • National parks and reserves--California
  • National parks and reserves--United States
  • Park rangers--California
  • Park rangers--United States
  • Police--Philippines

Personal Names

  • White, John Roberts, 1879-1961
  • White, John Roberts, 1879-1961

Corporate Names

  • Philippine Constabulary
  • United States. Army
  • United States. National Park Service

Form or Genre Terms

  • Correspondence
  • Diaries
  • Negatives
  • Notebooks
  • Photograph albums
  • Scrapbooks
  • Slides (photographs)