Foster, Robert J. (Robert Julian), 1880-1970.

Veterinarian, military officer.

From the description of Robert J. Foster papers, 1895-1958. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 64035692

Colonial Robert J. Foster was an esteemed veterinarian and military officer. He was born on September 27, 1880, in Youngstown, Ohio. He moved with his family to Ithaca, New York, and graduated from Ithaca High School in 1899. He went on to attend the New York State Veterinary College at Cornell University and graduated in 1902 with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation he taught veterinary science for three years. While teaching at the University of Missouri, he met Miss Alice Ewing Johnson, who was then a member of the freshman class. She was daughter of the late Colonel T.A. Johnson, president of Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri. Miss Johnson received her A.B. degree in 1908 and married Robert Foster in June, 1909.

On August 30, 1905, Foster enlisted in the Army as a veterinarian for 12th U.S. Cavalry. When the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps was established in 1916, he became one of the key officers in its development. He moved through the ranks and served in a variety of locales around the globe for nearly thirty years. His accomplishments include organizing veterinary training programs, assisting in the reorganization and refinement of the Veterinary Corps in its first 30 years, and establishing meat and dairy inspection plans for the Army as well as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps.

In 1944, Foster officially retired. Upon his retirement he and his wife settled in San Francisco and enjoyed traveling to such places as Alaska, Africa and Spain. In 1956, he received distinguished service awards from the California Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Col. Foster died in California in February 1970.

For more information on Col. Robert J. Foster, please see the "Biography" series in this collection.

• 1880: Born on September 27 in Youngstown, Ohio.
• 1899: Graduated from Ithaca High School
• 1902: DVM, Cornell University
• 1902 - 1903 : Instructor of Veterinary Science, Clemson College.
• 1902 - 1903 : Assistant State Veterinarian, South Carolina
• May 1903: Not accepted into the Army, probably due to tuberculosis.
• 1903 - 1904 : Instructor, Veterinary Department, University of Missouri
• 1904: Worked "as a cowboy" on the M-Bar Ranch in Embar, WY, while recovering from tuberculosis
• 1904: Worked briefly as a BAI inspector in Denver Colorado
• 1904 - 1905 : Instructor of Veterinary Science, Kansas State Agricultural College
• 1905: Enlisted in the Army, appointed as Veterinarian, 12th U.S. Cavalry, on August 30
• 1906: Joined the American Veterinary Medical Association
• 1909: Married Alice Ewing Johnston in June.
• 1905 - 1916 : Served with the 12th U.S. Cavalry at Fort Oglethrope, GA; Fort William McKinley, Philippines; Fort Robinson, NE; Fort Meade, SD; and along the Mexican border.
• 1916: Transferred to 9th U.S. Cavalry in January, stationed at Camp Stotsenburg, Philippine Islands.
• 1916: U.S. Army Veterinary Corps established.
• 1918: Organized and commanded Veterinary Training School, Medical Officers Training Camp, Fort Riley, KS.
• 1918 - 1920 : Officer in charge of organization, training and instruction for Veterinary Corps, Surgeon General's Office, Washington, DC.
• 1920 - 1922 : Chief Veterinarian of the Army of Occupation, Coblenz, Germany.
• 1922 - 1926 : Station Veterinarian and officer in charge of veterinary instruction, Cavalry School, Fort Riley, KS
• 1926 - 1929 : Department Veterinarian, Panama Canal Department, Cordzal, Canal Zone.
• 1929 - 1931 : Corps Area Veterinarian, 7th Corps Area, Omaha, NE
• 1931: Achieved rank of Colonel
• 1931 - 1934 : Station and Division Veterinarian, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Bliss, TX.
• 1934 - 1938 : Chief of Veterinary Division, Surgeon General's Office
• 1936 - 1937 : President of the American Veterinary Medical Association
• 1938 - 1944 : Corps Area Veterinarian, 9th Corps Area, Presidio of San Francisco, CA.
• 1944: Retired from the Army
• 1970: Died in February in California

From the guide to the Robert J. Foster Papers, 1894-1958, (Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library)