Inventory of the Frank Parker Papers, 1890-1946

Collection Number 1516

unc seal
Manuscripts Department, Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Collection Information
block Descriptive Summary
block Administrative Information
block Online Catalog Headings
block Biographical Note
block Collection Overview
plus Detailed Description of the Collection
block Items Separated
Contact Information:
Manuscripts Department
CB#3926, Wilson Library
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890
Phone: 919/962-1345
Fax: 919/962-3594
Email: mss@email.unc.edu
URL: http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/
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Descriptive Summary

Repository
Southern Historical Collection
Creator
Parker, Frank, 1872-1947.
Title
Frank Parker Papers, 1890-1946
Call Number
1516
Language of Materials
Materials in English, French, Spanish
Extent
Items: About 8000
Linear Feet: 14.0
Abstract
Major General Frank Parker, a native of South Carolina, graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1894; served in the United States Army, 1894-1936; and was director of the Illinois War Council, 1942-1945.
The collection includes correspondence and other papers, volumes, and pictures, semi-official, and personal, of Frank Parker, documenting his career as a student at the United States Military Academy at West Point, 1890-1894; as a United States Army officer at Tampa during the Spanish-American War; as a military attaché in Venezuela, Argentina, and Cuba, 1904-1908; as an instructor and organizer of cavalry in Cuba, 1909-1912; as an observer in France before the United States entered World War I, as commander of the 1st Division of the American Expeditionary Forces, and chief American officer at French headquarters during the war; as assistant chief of staff of the army, 1927-1929; as commander of the 6th Corps, 1929-1932, of the 2nd Army, 1932-1933, and of the Philippines Department, 1933-1935; and, after his retirement in 1936, as director of the Illinois War Council during World War II. Much of the correspondence is in French or Spanish. Topics of correspondence include military affairs (including cavalry in the early days and aviation later), sport and social life, army and national politics, the American Legion, personal experiences, and official activities. Correspondents include Douglas MacArthur, Robert T. McCormick, George C. Marshall, Charles P. Summerall, and Henry C. Wilbur. Volumes include a small 1897 diary kept by Parker's wife while a college student; diaries and notebooks relating to Parker's World War I service; and post-war and undated manuals, scrapbooks, and other volumes relating to Parker's army activities, including some about the Philippines and others about his studies in French military schools. Pictures include photographs of army activities before and after World War I, including several relating to airplanes and pilots. There are also about 500 lantern slides from Parker's service in the Philippines, 1933-1935; service in World War I; and travels in China, Indonesia, and the Malay Peninsula, 1934-1935.

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Administrative Information

Restrictions to Access
No restrictions.
Acquisitions Information
Received from Katherine Parker of Chicago, Ill., in July 1948, and from George F. Hofmann of Cincinnati, Ohio, in July 2002 (Acc. 99292).
Processing Information
Processed by: Library Staff, 1948-2004
Encoded by: Linda Sellars, June 2004
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Other Finding Aid

A more detailed list of selected correspondence is available at the repository.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Frank Parker Papers #1516, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
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Online Catalog Headings

These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

American Legion.
China--Photographs.
Cuba--History--1909-1933.
Diaries.
Illinois War Council.
Indonesia--Photographs.
Lantern slides.
MacArthur, Douglas, 1880-1964.
Malay Peninsula--Photographs.
Marshall, George C. (George Catlett), 1880-1959.
McCormick, Robert T.
Military art and science--France.
Military attachés--Argentina--History.
Military attachés--Cuba--History.
Military attachés--Venezuela--History.
Philippines--Photographs.
Summerall, Charles Pelot, b. 1867.
Spanish-American War, 1898.
United States--Politics and government--1919-1933.
United States. Army--Aviation--History.
United States. Army. Cavalry--History.
United States. Army--History--Spanish-American War, 1898.
United States. Army--History--World War, 1914-1918.
United States. Army--Officers--History--20th century.
United States. Army--Photographs.
United States. Army. American Expeditionary Forces.
United States. Army. Infantry Division, 1st.
United States. Army. Army, 2nd--History.
United States. Army. Corps, 6th--History.
United States. Army. Philippines Dept.
United States Military Academy--Students--History--19th century.
Wilbur, Henry C.
Women college students--Diaries.
World War, 1914-1918--France.
World War, 1914-1918--Photographs.
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Biographical Note

1872 Born, Georgetown County, S.C., son of Arthur Middleton and Emma Izard Middleton Parker
1894 Graduated from United States Military Academy, West Point
1898 Served in Tampa, Fla., during Spanish-American War
1898-1900 Puerto Rico
1900-1903 Instructor, United States Military Academy
1903-1904 Student, French Cavalry School, Saumur, France
1904-1905 Military attaché, Caracas, Venezuela
1905-1906 Buenos Aires, Argentina
1906 Married Katherine Hamilton Lahm
1906-1908 With regiment in Cuba
1909-1912 Instructor and organizer of cavalry, Cuba
1912 Ecole Superieure de Guerre, France
1913-1914 Member, Cavalry Board
1914-1915 Ecole Superieure de Guerre, France
1916-1917 Observer with French armies in field, then chief of American Military Mission at French General Headquarters
1918 Commander, 18th Infantry and 1st Infantry Brigade, then commander, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Force
1920 Graduate, Ecole Superieure de Guerre, France
1920-1921 Assistant professor, Ecole Superieure de Guerre, and student in Centre des Hautes Etudes
1923 Graduate and instructor, Command and Staff School, Leavenworth, Kan.
1923-1924 Graduate and instructor, Army War College
1925-1927 Commander, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division
1927-1929 Assistant chief of staff, United States Army
1929-1932 Commander, 6th Corps Area
1932-1933 Commander, 2nd Army
1933-1935 Military commander, Philippines Department
1936 February-March Commander, 1st Division, New York
1936 March-September Commander, 8th Corps Area, Fort Sam Houston, Tex.
1936 September 30 Retired
1942-1945 Executive director, Illinois War Council
1947 March 13 Died in Chicago, Ill.
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Collection Overview

Correspondence and other papers, volumes, and pictures, official, semi-official, and personal, of Major General Frank Parker, native of South Carolina, documenting his career as a student at the United States Military Academy at West Point, 1890-1894; as a United States Army officer at Tampa, Fla., during the Spanish-American War; as a military attaché in Venezuela, Argentina, and Cuba, 1904-1908; as an instructor and organizer of cavalry in Cuba, 1909-1912; as an observer in France before the United States entered World War I, as commander of the 1st Division of the American Expeditionary Forces, and chief American officer at French headquarters during the war; as assistant chief of staff of the army, 1927-1929; as commander of the United States Army 6th Corps, 1929-1932, 2nd Army, 1932-1933, and Philippines Department, 1933-1935; and, after his retirement in 1936, as director of the Illinois War Council during World War II. Much of the correspondence is in French or Spanish. Topics of correspondence include military affairs (including cavalry in the early days and aviation later), sport and social life, army politics, national politics, the American Legion, personal experiences, and official activities. Correspondents include Douglas MacArthur, Robert T. McCormick, George C. Marshall, Charles P. Summerall, and Henry C. Wilbur, as well as officers of every rank in the Army, officers in the United States Navy, former friends in foreign countries, members of Congress, and members of organizations in his various places of residence. Volumes include a small 1897 diary kept by Parker's wife while a college student; diaries and notebooks relating to Parker's World War I service; and post-war and undated manuals, scrapbooks, and other volumes relating to Parker's army activities, including some about the Philippines and others about his studies in French military schools. Pictures include photographs of army activities before and after World War I, including several relating to airplanes and pilots. There are also about 500 lantern slides from Parker's service in the Philippines, 1933-1935; service in World War I; and travels in China, Indonesia, and the Malay Peninsula, 1934-1935.

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Arrangement of Collection

Series 1. Correspondence and Other Papers
Series 2. Volumes
Series 3. Photographs
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Items Separated

Oversize papers (OP-1516)
Oversize volume (V-1516/S-19)
Pictures (P-1516)
Oversize pictures (OP-P-1516)
Photograph album (PA-1516)
Lantern slides (SF-P-1516)
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Detailed Description of the Collection

1. Correspondence and Other Papers, 1890-1946.

About 7500 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Folder 1-17
1890-April 1918
Folder 18-136
May 1918-January 1924
Folder 37-58
24 January 1924-12 January 1929
Folder 59-78
13 January 1929-14 March 1930
Folder 79-97
15 March-10 December 1930
Folder 98-119
11 December 1930-19 April 1931
Folder 120-140
20 April-18 August 1931
Folder 141-160
19 August-31 December 1931
Folder 161-182
1 January-25 April 1932
Folder 183-199
26 April-11 August 1932
Folder 200-218
12 August 1932-22 January 1933
Folder 219-241
23 January-10 July 1933
Folder 242-260
11 July-10 November 1933
Folder 261-279
15 November 1933-30 September 1934
Folder 280-299
1 October 1934-31 May 1935
Folder 300-317
June 1935-18 February 1935
Folder 318-336
19 February-21 May 1936
Folder 337-359
22 May-December 1936
Folder 360-365
January 1937-1946
Folder 366
Undated, Chicago, 1929-1933
Folder 367
Undated, Philippines, 1933-1935
Folder 368
Undated, Fort Sam Houston, Tex., 1936
Folder 369
Genealogy: Parker and Middleton families
Folder 370
Army and war records
Folder 371
Efficiency record
Folder 372
Miscellaneous, undated

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2. Volumes, 1897-1942.

34 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Folder 373
1897
Small diary, apparently kept by Katherine Lam (later Mrs. Frank Parker) at Smith College, Northampton, Mass., while with relatives in the East during summer and vacations, and at the University of Chicago, October-December.
Folder 374-376
1904-1906
Three volumes containing notes and brief entries, apparently kept by Parker while in South America.
Folder 377
1912
Scattered diary entries, some notes on works of art, and military notes, in French.
Folder 378
1917
Notebook of military entries, written in French, marked "from G.Q.C., 12-16-17."
Folder 379-381
Undated
Notebooks as above, undated.
Folder 382
1917-1918
"An Argonne Cross," by Edith and Marjorie Beats, Alton, Ill., typed copies of letters from their brother, 1st Lieutenant Alden Sprague Betts.
Folder 383
April 1917-March 1920
Record of Frank Parker, AEF, in World War. Printed sheets, clipped.
Folder 384
1918 June-November
Summary of Operations Reports, Headquarters, 1st Army Corps, AEF. Mimeographed.
Folder 385
1918 July-November
Field Orders, 1st Army Corps. Mimeographed.
Folder 386
1918 July-November
Summaries of Intelligence, 1st Army Corps, USA. Mimeographed.
Folder 387
1990-1922
"La Guerre de Sécession des Etats-Unis". Portfolio of mimeographed pages of text and maps.
Folder 388
1928 September 27
Individual Record of Decorations and Citations. Brigadier General Frank Parker.
Folder 389
1928 September 27
Individual Record of Decorations and Citations. Brigadier General Frank Parker.
Folder 390
1929 August 20
Manual for Commanders of Large Units. Typed sheets in folder.
Folder 391
1920-1930
Training of Large Units, Documents 1, 2, and 3 mimeographed and clipped together.
Folder 392
1932 February-October
Scrapbook of newspaper clippings. Activities of General Parker and family, Sixth Corps Area, Headquarters, Chicago, Ill.
Folder 393
1933 April 6
Second Army Tactical Exercises, Sixth Corps Area, Chicago, Ill. "Detailed Critique of Corps and Division Orders," by Major General Frank Parker. Mimeographed and clipped
Folder 394-395
1929-1933
Albums of photographs and Kodak pictures taken at Fort Sheridan, Ill.
Folder 396-399
1933 December 16-1935 January
Newspaper clippings, Philippine Islands, Volumes I-IV.
Folder 400
1935 January 4-23
Rough notes of air trips. Philippine Islands.
Folder 401
1935 May-June
Notes of trips by air and boat, Philippine Islands.
Folder 402
1939 August 11
Digest of service of Major General Frank Parker, USA, 1894-1939 and 2nd copy, brought up to date, 30 June 1945. Mimeographed and clipped.
Folder 403
1941 November 14-1942 March 4
Notebook containing notes on mission to Great Britain for American Legion, sketchy diary entries.
Folder 404
Undated
"Organization and Conduct of Field Forces" and "Notes on Combat Psychology," both by Frank Parker. Mimeographed.
Folder 405-407
Undated
Three notebooks, written in French, dealing with military subjects. Apparently made at some time during Parker's studies at military schools in France.

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3. Pictures, 1918-1935.

About 600 items.
Arrangement: by format.
Photograph Album PA-1516/1
Photograph Album
Photographs of various aspects of military life at Fort Sheridan, Ill., ca. 1927.
Image Folder P-1516/1-2
Photographs
Photographs of Frank Parker, 1927-1930; a photograph of Parker with General C. P. Summerall, 1918; a photograph of General C. P. Summerall, ca. 1928; photograph of John J. Pershing, ca. 1925; photographs of airplanes equipped for winter conditions, ca. 1920-1930; photograph of group of airmen dressed for winter conditions, ca. 1920-1930; and photographs of airplanes, pilots, and crews, ca. 1920-1930.
Image Folder P-1516/3
Photographs (Acc. 99292)
Photographs of Frank Parker with manufacturer Louis Renault, viewing demonstration of Renault's Type FT 17 tanks in 1917. Also included is a brief article from the SAH Journal (Society of Automotive Historians), July-August 2002, about the tanks and the photographs and about how the American Army officer in the pictures was identified as Parker.
Oversize Image Folder OP-P-1516/1
Oversize photographs
Photographs of airplanes and pilots, 1920s; aerial photograph of San Francisco focusing on Crissy Field, 1927; and aerial photograph of Crissy Field, ca. 1930.
Box SF-P-1516/1-3
Slides
About 500 3-1/4 inch by 4 inch lantern slides, mostly relating to Parker's service in the Philippines, 1933-1935. Included are a set of post-battle scenes associated with Parker's service in France in World War I, and sets from Parker's travels in China, Indonesia, and the Malay Peninsula, 1934-1935. The travel slides principally show native people, local scenery, and historical and cultural sites.

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