The William J. Donovan papers, ca. 1910-1960.

ArchivalResource

Donovan, William J. (William Joseph), 1883-1959. The William J. Donovan papers, ca. 1910-1960.

The William J. Donovan papers, ca. 1910-1960.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/46734355

Contains the following types of materials: correspondence, organizational documents, unit histories, reports / studies, diary / journal. Contains information pertaining to the following wars and time periods: Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War. Contains information pertaining to the following military units and organizations: 165th Infantry Regiment; 42d Division; Office of Strategic Services; US Embassy, Thailand. General description of the collection: The Donovan papers consists of materials reflecting his service with the Office of Special Services (OSS) in WWII, but also includes materials from his earlier career as a lawyer and politican, his service in the 42nd Division in WWI, his civilian career after WWII, his tenure as Ambassador to Thailand, and research notes compiled by authors who attempted to write a biography of his life and times. The format of this material is predominantly paper, although there is a coordinate collection of microfilm known as the "Director's Files" predominantly from his service with the OSS. A limited number of microfilm reels have been redacted and off prints made of cleared material for the use of researchers. That portion of the collection which deals with the OSS is predominantly concerned with the Research and Analysis Branch, a group which works preparing analyses of regions of critical strategic concern, largely from information contained in open-source documentation. Other branches of the OSS are also represented, though not to the same extent, also other interagency committees of the war effort, such as the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) and the Joint Army-Navy Intelligence Service (JANIS). Donovan papers as a whole represent a remarkable cross section the concern of the United States, or at least the OSS in WWII. As a result, there is a great deal of attention paid to Germany, occupied Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Yugoslavia. It should be noted however, that the National Archives holdings on the OSS itself dwarf MHI's holdings of Donovan Papers.

318 boxes, 6 ring binders, 2 folders, shelf list, 22 binders, card index: 9 drawers.

U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center