Archival and Special Collections

The CARL archives contains a number of separate collections described below. Most materials do not circulate. Access to some collections is controlled for a variety of reasons.

The collections include:

• Rare Books - Approximately 108 linear feet/625+ titles. The collection dates from 1600 forward and includes works on all aspects of military art and science. Works are in English, French, and German.
• Special Collections Monographs - Approximately 415 linear feet, representing about 6,500 titles. Most of these works are out-of-print and in fragile condition and were published during the nineteenth or early twentieth centuries. Other items in the collection are autographed by the authors or are record copies of Fort Leavenworth publications.
• The CGSC Curriculum Archives - Approximately 1,420 linear feet. This collection dates from the Infantry and Cavalry School of the late 1880s to the present. The organization is by academic year and then by department of instruction/course numbers. Some of the items included in the instructional materials are college catalogs, programs of instruction, lesson plans, schedules, rosters, charts, maps, vu-graphs, handbooks, texts, etc. There are some restrictions on use of or access to these materials.  
• Infantry and Cavalry School Lectures. These were lectures given at the School for Infantry and Cavalry (now the Command and General Staff College) from 1902-1910. The lectures are interesting statements of Army doctrine in the time frame before World War I. Some of the lectures were given by young Captains and Majors who later became better known, including Douglas MacArthur and William "Billy" Mitchell. A set of lectures from 1904-1910 is available for online viewing.
• Individual and Group Reports - Approximately 33 linear feet. These are individual and group student reports. The Individual Reports were written between 1930 and 1936 and are organized by academic year and then alphabetically by the name of the student. There are lists of the papers for each class year at the beginning of that year's files. Group reports were written between 1930 and 1933 and are similarly organized. CARL is currently cataloging these student papers, which have not previously been visible in any catalog.
• The Combined Arms and Fort Leavenworth Archives (CAFLA) Collection - Approximately 866 linear feet and growing each year. This collection has non-record copies of documents (reports, correspondence, etc.) that detail the operations and activities of the Combined Arms Command (CAC) and its subordinate organizations and other agencies and organizations located at or reporting to Fort Leavenworth. There are some materials from the 1970s but the strength of the collection begins in 1980. Organization is chronological by fiscal year then alphabetical by agency/organization and subordinate groups. The CAC historians organize the materials and prepare annual print guides.
• VII Corps Gulf War Collection - Approximately 100 linear feet. The VII Corps collection contains records of operations, after action reports, lessons learned, etc., of units of the corps during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Many records are classified. CALL organized the materials and prepared a print and online detailed inventory/contents guide. The online version is searchable by key word(s). Organization of materials is hierarchical by unit. Files are numbered numerically.
• The Somalia Collection - Approximately 10 linear feet. This still growing collection contains classified and unclassified materials on U.S. Army operations in Somalia. CALL historians organized materials by an alpha-numeric system and prepared a detailed print/online inventory guide. The online version is searchable by keyword(s).
• Obsolete Authority Publications - Approximately 700 linear feet. This very diverse collection includes many subcollections of various types. The materials do not circulate and most bound volumes contain deteriorating paper. The Archives has a continuing program to microfiche post World War II Army Regulations, duplicate copies of Field Manuals, etc. Important subcollections include:
  1. Army Regulations (ARs) - This incomplete subcollection includes bound volumes arranged by year and modern era regulations arranged first by regulation number. Bound volumes cover the following year: 1779, 1821, 1825, 1841, 1847, 1857, 1861, 1881, 1889, 1895, 1896, 1901, 1904-5, 1908, 1910, 1913, and 1921-37. Some early volumes are in the Rare Books collection.
  2. Field Manuals (FMs) - Approximately 150 linear feet. This incomplete and small subcollection includes some early field service regulations from the early 1900s to 1939. Most FMs are from the World War II period with some Korean War period items. Some are available on microfiche.
  3. General Orders, Circulars, and Bulletins - War Department/Department of the Army. Approximately 33 linear feet of bound volumes. An incomplete set that spans from 1861 to 1973 and includes index volumes for some years/periods. There are volumes for the Army Expeditionary Force in World War I.
  4. General and Special Orders--Fort Leavenworth - This set of bound volumes spans the period from 1881 to 1945 and includes orders for the Infantry and Cavalry School, Army Service Schools, General Service Schools, and Command and General Staff School.
  5. Special Orders--HQ Fort Leavenworth and HQ Combined Arms Command - The bound volumes cover the period from January 1946 to 1978.
  6. Special Orders--War Department/Department of the Army - Incomplete set of bound volumes includes orders for 1882, 1884, and 1900-1970.
  7. Special Orders--Department of the Missouri - Archives has bound volumes for 1904, 1906, 1909 and 1910 only.
  8. Special Orders--HQ, Philippines Division - The bound volumes cover the period from 1910 to 1920 and 1922.
  9. Secretary of War Annual Reports - Removed from the regular collection for preservation purposes, this set of volumes is in fragile condition due to paper deterioration. The incomplete set covers the years from the Civil War period to the later 1930s. Only a few of the many volumes are missing.
• Guest Speaker Tapes - Approximately 173 linear feet/2,350 titles. Presentations by guest speakers at the Command and General Staff College have been taped since 1952. Most of the collection is in reel-to-reel format, but some have been converted to cassette. Recent tapes include audiocassettes and some videotapes. Graduation speakers are included. There is a name index file to the collection. CGSC's non-attribution policy places restrictions on access to this collection.
• Photograph Collection - The Archives has faculty, staff, and class photographs and some negatives from the first Infantry and Cavalry School class in 1883 to 1964 when yearbook photos replaced the old system. There are a few historical photos of buildings/scenes at Fort Leavenworth though most photos of this type are held by the Frontier Army Museum. Separate still photo collections fall into three sections: 1) topography and terrain photos of parts of various countries (from the World War II-1960s timeframe with many still classified); 2) World War II and Korean War era pictures of campaign scenes, weapons, etc., (including classified items); and 3) a small collection of photos of military and government personalities--mostly related to Fort Leavenworth.
• United States Disciplinary Barracks (USDB) Collection - The USDB collection is an unrestricted collection of material that includes topical files, annual reports, correspondence, histories, guides, photographs and ephemera pertaining to its organization, operations, and history as the oldest military prison in the United States.   Highlights of the collection include topical files on subjects ranging from the history, founders, prominent inmates, including some German POW's who were executed at the USDB.  There are several USDB histories and a correspondence file of Asa P. Blunt, who was the commandant of the USDB during 1877-1888.  The finder's guide for the collection is available online.
• 32nd Volunteer Infantry Association Collection - The 32nd Volunteer Infantry Association collection is an open, processed collection of letters, photos, bankbooks and ephemera used by the association during its years of operation.   (1934-1966).  There is also some material dating from the time of the 32nd Infantry's active duty service during the Philippine Insurrection, 1899-1901.   The finder's guide for the collection is also online.
• The Philippine Insurrection Diaries of Karl D. White Company K, 32nd Volunteer Infantry, 1899-1901. Private Karl D. White was a member of Company K of the 32nd. He served with the unit from its formation in 1899, until his discharge in 1901. He kept diaries of his service time in three small notebooks. The diaries begin in October 1899, when he left Honolulu on the transport ship Glenogle, and continue until May 6, 1901, when he was in San Francisco awaiting discharge. The diaries are available full text online.
• Hall of Fame - A processed, open collection containing file folders relating to the operation of the Memorial Hall Association and the Fort Leavenworth Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was created in 1969. It is cosponsored by the Memorial Hall Association, a private non-profit organization, the Henry Leavenworth Chapter of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) and the command of Fort Leavenworth. It's purpose is to honor outstanding members of the Army, who after being stationed at Fort Leavenworth significantly contributed to the history, heritage, and traditions of the Army. Consists of five boxes arranged by year and folder number.   The finder's guide is available online. 
• World War I Pamphlet Collection A collection of over 200 pamphlets covering various aspects of the U.S. Army's participation in World War I. These pamphlets date mainly from 1917-1918 and were issued as informational/instructional material during the war. The collection consists of 24 boxes broken down into 13 categories: Air Corps, Artillery, Balloons/Anti-aircraft, Cavalry/Tanks/Anti-tank, Chemical, Engineers, General, Infantry, Large Units, Machine Guns, Military vehicles, Signal, Trench mortars and Supply.
• Combined Arms Research Library Collection.   This is an unrestricted collection documenting the history and administration of the Command and General Staff College library with material from 1910 to the present. It contains eight boxes of items such as annual reports, handbooks and guides, general histories, correspondence, policies, bibliographies, catalogs, and photographs. The collections also includes three boxes of material on the planning, construction, and relocation to the new Combined Arms Research Library (CARL) facilities at Eisenhower Hall in 1994.  The finder's guide is available online.
• S.L.A. Marshall Lectures in Military History Files-This is a collection containing files folders relating to the planning and administration of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College yearly lectures on military history as well as some audio tapes of the actual lectures.  This lecture series was given annually from 1982 until 1990. Some of the lectures available on tape are by speakers such as Robert Utley, Edward Coffman and General Dave Palmer.  This is an open collection with no restrictions.  The finder's guide is available online. 
• Army General Staff College Collection-This open collection consists of materials used at the Army General Staff College (AGSC) in Langres, France from 1917- 1918.  The AGSC was founded to meet the need for trained staff officers during World War I.  Four courses were held during the school's operation.  This collection includes material from the first, second and fourth courses.  It includes lectures, maps, photos and miscellaneous material including a yearbook.  The finder's guide is available online. 
• Architectural Drawings and Maps - This historical collection includes oversized architectural drawings of Fort Leavenworth buildings from the nineteenth century to modern times, organized by building number. There is also a subcollection of historical maps of Fort Leavenworth from the nineteenth century to the present.  The finder's guide is available online.
• Microforms - The Archives has microfilm of some World War II after action reports, Center of Military History studies, etc. A growing collection of microfiche includes CGSC instructional materials, obsolete official publications, and related materials.
• Miscellaneous Collections Including Personal Papers - These materials include:
  1. CGSC (and predecessor school) Annual Reports from 1882 to 1940.  The annual reports from 1882 -1936 are available online.
  2. Combined Arms Command and Fort Leavenworth telephone directories from 1913 to 1981 (an incomplete collection).
  3. Bruce Cooper Clarke. Papers, 1940-1985, with the bulk of the collection from the period of 1983-1985. 1.5 linear feet. The collection includes magazine and newspaper articles, papers (published and unpublished), notes, correspondence (to and from General Clarke), pamphlets, maps, photographs, instructional material, graphic training aids, audio tapes, transcripts of speeches, and a copy of the book Clarke at St. Vith: The Sergeants' General. General Clarke is the author of most items. General Clarke was consulted during the establishment of the Center of Army Leadership (CAL) at CGSC and supplied the materials in this collection.
  4. MAJ Earl and Florence Hallgren Collection. The papers of MAJ Earl and Florence Hallgren is an open, processed collection of a journal, official papers, letters, photos and medals saved by Mrs. Hallgren. The material is organized in one box in a loosely chronological order.  The journal details the first three months of MAJ Hallgren's service in the Philippines prior to America's entry into World War II. The official papers and letters record what occurred to Florence Hallgren, Earl's wife, after the invasion of the Philippines by Japan in December 1941.  The journal and selected papers and photos are available online, as is the complete finding aid.
  5. The Omer A. Heacox Slide Collection. This collection is an open processed collection of 78 slides taken between 1942 and 1945, while Mr. Heacox served as Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Military Police Corps. The slides show scenes related to 2LT Heacox's service during World War II in Florida and India. The slides of India show the outpost of Jackal Junction in Assam, India, some shots of work done on the Ledo road, pictures of the areas of Assam, Darjeeling, and Karachi, as well as a group of unlabeled slides of India. The slide list descriptions below are taken from the notes written on the slides. NOTE: The slides of Karachi all say Karachi, India. Since 1947 Karachi has been part of Pakistan.  Finder's guide available online.
  6. William M. Hoge. GEN William M. Hoge Collection, 1942-1955. 1 box (5 in.) The collection contains correspondence, papers, pamphlets, maps, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, photographs, and items related to the ALCAN Highway and Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen. The paper, "The Engineers in the Crossing of the Meuse River," by then Captain Hoge is included.
  7. International Officers' Collection.  The International Officers' collection is a small collection of official papers and journal articles of the USACGSC Allied Officer program.  Finder's guide available online.
  8. COL Edmund J. Lilly.  This collection of 4 boxes contains diaries and material relating to the time COL Lilly spent as a Prisoner of War in World War II.  COL Lilly was captured by the Japanese in 1942 and spent the next three years as a POW.   To keep his sanity, he maintained a diary in tiny notebooks.  In addition to the diary he wrote down poems, songs, recipes, rules for Bridge and everything he could remember.  The finder's guide for this collection is online.
  9. The Kermit Roosevelt Lecture collection is a processed, restricted collection containing audio tapes, video tapes, transcripts and programs relating to the annual Kermit Roosevelt lecture held at the Command and General Staff College. The collection is contained in two boxes.  The collection is incomplete. Audio tapes, videotapes and typed transcripts are available for approximately 2/3 of the lectures given at CGSC by the lecturer from the United Kingdom. The text of the United States lecturer's speeches are available only in one or two cases. The collection also contains lecture programs, which give background information on the lecture series and biographical information on both the U.S. and U.K. lecturers. Access to this collection is restricted to staff, faculty and students of the Command and General Staff College.  Finding aid available online.
  10. Brigadier General Wilson A. Shoffner. Papers. 1 box (6 in.). Includes speeches, trip reports, memorandums, letter of instruction, briefings, letters of appreciation, incoming and outgoing correspondence, equipment requests, and a talking paper--mostly as related to BG Shoffner's duties in connection with the Deep Attack Programs Office.
  11. George Steuber Cambodia, Haiti and Somalia Collection. The George Steuber papers is a partially open, processed collection of paper material collected by Mr. Steuber while he was involved in several U.S. Army operations. The material is organized in three boxes by country of the operation (Cambodia, Somalia, Haiti) If the folders were labeled by Mr. Steuber, the title of the folder was retained. The folders containing the Haiti material were regrouped into a loose subject arrangement, maintaining the original folder labeling. Most of the material is declassified, some is restricted because of classification. Other materials cannot be reproduced because of privacy act considerations. Consult the archivist for more detailed information. Finder's guide available online.
  12. 1st Lieutenant Maxwell D. Taylor.  Notebooks, 1935. One box.
  13. 20th Century United States Army Spouse Interview Collection. The Army Family Oral History Project is a collection of interviews conducted with the spouses of career 20th century United States Army soldiers. Recording the activities, experiences and memories of Army spouses helps complete the story of the United States Army. The aim is to interview spouses who have shared a career with service members for at least fifteen years (exceptions to this policy have been made and are identified in the Researcher's Guide Summary). Initially, interviews have been conducted with the wives of men who made the Army their career. After women were integrated into the regular Army in 1973, the number of married women making the Army their career increased. Eventually, this collection will include interviews conducted with their spouses.  Finder's guide available online.
  14. BG Alan D. Warnock. The BG Alan D Warnock collection is an open, processed collection of material collected by BG Warnock during his military career.  The material is organized in one box by year.  BG Warnock served in the U.S. Army from 1913 until 1946. The material in the collection does not cover his entire career, but is fragmentary. It begins with his attendance at the Company Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, GA in 1920 and ends in 1946.  The bulk of the collection deals with his time in Hawaii from 1931-1935. The finder's guide for this collection is online.
  15. Pvt Ernest Woodcock Collection.  The Ernest Woodcock Collection is an open, processed collection containing photographs, letters, newspaper clippings and ephemera pertaining to the World War I military service of Ernest E. Woodcock of Topeka, Kansas.  The finder's guide is available online.
  16. World War I Peace Conference Documents. This small collection of documents contains various papers relating to the Versailles and Paris Peace conferences held after World War I. The collection is not a complete record of the peace conferences. The material was donated to the Combined Arms Research Library by the Liberty Memorial Musuem in Kansas City, Missouri. Finder's guide available online.
  17. World War II Personal Collections.  This very small collection contains some memorabilia and recollections of people who served in World War II.   One folder contains the written recollections of Don E. Westmoreland, a tail gunner assigned to the 413th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force.  He served in the European theater.  The second collection contains memorabilia of a member of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment Combat Team.  This unit served in the Pacific Theater in World War II.  Included are 2 unit diaries with hand drawn maps.  One unit diary covers the Driniumar Rive Campaign in Burma, the other the Mindano campaign.  There are also copies of some personal memorabilia of the donor, Joachim Freudenberger.

Archival Collection Online