Robert J. Foster papers

Collection

Identifier: 6549

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COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

This collection includes correspondence, military documents and photographs relating to Col. Robert J. Foster's career as a veterinarian and as an officer in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps. Special orders, lecture notes, legislation, photographs, tables, charts and commendations are included. Of particular note, is material relating to Foster's meat inspection work, which became part of the mission of Veterinary Corps as the Army replaced animal-based transportation with automobiles. As well as formulating inspection procedures for the Army, Foster also worked on sanitary food systems for the Civilian Conservation Corps. There are also files relating to his membership in the American Veterinary Medical Association. AVMA correspondents include Carl J. Norden, R.R. [Ralph Ralph] Dykstra, Cassius Way, L.A. Merillat.

Dates

1895-1958.

Creator

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

Language of Materials

Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

CHRONOLOGY

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

Extent

1.0 cubic feet. (1.0 cubic feet.)

Additional Description

Abstract

Correspondence, military documents, newsclippings and photographs relating to Col. Robert J. Foster's career as a veterinarian and as an officer in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps.

SERIES LIST

Series I. Biography Box 1, Folders 1-5Box 3

Series II. Lectures & Speeches Box 1, Folders 6-11

Series III. Chronological Files Box 1, Folders 12-20 Box 2, Folders 1-2 These files were organized by Robert J. Foster in chronological order, roughly relating to distinct periods in his military career (please refer to the chronology in the Biographical Note). The files contain correspondence, some ephemera, reports, orders, and other military documents. Foster also wrote explanatory notes about the certain records and included them in the files.

Series IV. Subject Files Box2, Folders 3-12

RELATED MATERIAL

For more biographical information, see Col. Foster's file in Cornell's Deceased Alumni Files

Physical Description

correspondence, reports, newsclippings, ephemera, photographs

General

Contact Information:: Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections 2B Carl A. Kroch Library Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 (607) 255-3530 Fax: (607) 255-9524 rareref@cornell.edu http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:: Sarah E. Keating
Date completed:: June 2003
EAD encoding:: Sarah E. Keating, June 2003