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Edwin C. McNeil Papers, 1915-1991

Overview of the Collection

Creator
McNeil, Edwin C.
Title
Edwin C. McNeil Papers
Dates
1915-1991 (inclusive)
Quantity
4.55 cubic ft. (6 boxes)
Collection Number
12602
Summary
Brigadier General Edwin C. McNeil was a military lawyer for the United States Army. Collection contains correspondence, military records, and photographs regarding his military career.
Repository
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions
Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

Brigadier General Edwin Colyer McNeil was born in Alexandria, Minnesota, on November 13, 1882. He attended the University of Minnesota for one year, before being appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated in 1907. He served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 14th Infantry until 1910 when he went back to West Point to teach law until 1912. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and sent by the military to law school at Columbia University Law School from 1914-1916 (he was one of the first of four officers ever sent to law school by the military). After law school he was promoted to Captain in the 35th Infantry and sent to the Mexican border as the Judge Advocate for the 11th Division. In May of 1917 he was promoted to Major Judge Advocate, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, in the office of the Judge Advocate Southern Department. During WWI McNeil served one and half years in France as Section Chief and Assistant Judge Advocate General of the American Expeditionary Forces under General Bethel. He graduated from the General Staff School, at Langres, France in 1918 and the Army War College in 1923. After WWI he was again professor of law at West Point, serving from 1923 to 1929. Then he served six years as Chairman Board of Review, Office of the Judge Advocate General; three years as Judge Advocate, First Division; and starting in September 1937, was the Assistant Judge Advocate General, as well the Chairman of the Board of Review. Upon America entering WWII, he was appointed as the Judge Advocate General of the European Theater from June 1943 to March 1946. From 1936-1947 he was liaison officer with the War Department's Advisory Committee on Military Justice (appointed from the American Bar Association). Besides the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM), McNeil was awarded the Legion of Merit, French Legion of Honor, French Order of University Palms, Officer d'Academie with Silver Palms, and Member of the American Legion, Phi Delta Theta. He belonged to the Chevy Chase Club and the Army & Navy Club. He made his home in Washington D.C. after the war. He died there on October 1, 1965.

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Content Description

The collection contains McNeil's personal correspondence to and from his family, military correspondence, military records regarding McNeil's work in the Judge Advocate's Office and on the War Department Advisory Committee on Military Justice from 1946-1947, personal and military photographs from 1920s to 1970s, and McNeil's personal records such as bills, sympathy cards, and invitations.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

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Administrative Information

Related Materials

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Brigadier General Edwin C. McNeil at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

This material was purchased from Michael Brown Rare Books in November 2014.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Jamie J. Greene in September 2015.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Container List

Processed by Jamie J. Greene
2015

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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