3 cubic feet, 6 manuscript boxes and oversized material
Creator
Rockenbach, Samuel D. (Samuel Dickerson), 1869-1952
Location
Manuscripts stacks and Oversized Case 1, Drawer 5
Language
English
.
Abstract
This collection consists of papers (1889-1945) related to United States Army officer Samuel Dickerson Rockenbach who is notable
for his role in the establishment of the United States Army Tank Corps during World War I and his post-War work in the development
of tank warfare.
Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be
cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from
our collections may
not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional
information.
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions.
Preferred Citation
Samuel D. Rockenbach Papers, 1889-1945. MS 0001. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was received from the estate of Samuel D.
Rockenbach in 1953.
Samuel Dickerson Rockenbach was born on January 27, 1869 in Lynchburg, Virginia. He graduated from VMI in 1889 and commissioned
as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army in 1891. He married Emma Baldwin on October 19, 1898.
Prior to World War I, Rockenbach saw tours of duty in Cuba, the Philippines, various United States posts, and served as a
military observer in Germany in 1914.
He arrived in France in June 1917 with the American Expeditionary Force, and from 1917 to 1919 served as Chief of the newly
formed Tank Corps. He was notable for his role in the establishment of the Tank Corps and for his work in the development
of tank warfare.
At the end of the War, Rockenbach continued his work with
tanks, serving as the Army's Chief of the Tank Corps and as Commander of the Tank School at Camp Meade, Maryland. He
retired to Brownsville, Texas in 1933 and died in 1952 at the Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C.
The Samuel D. Rockenbach papers consist of papers (1,000 items) that document Rockenbach's career in the United States Army.
Topics include:
His duties as Engineer officer in Cuba (1898-1902)
His duties in the Phillippines (1903-1910)
His duties France as Chief of the Tank Corps, American Expeditionary Forces (1917-1919)
His postwar work with the Tank Corps until his retirement in 1933
The collection contains the following:
Correspondence and memoranda (1889-1945)
Military orders (1891-1933)
Photographs
Miscellaneous personal documents (certificates, travel souvenirs, etc.)
Tank Corps material, including operations reports (1918), numerous photographs of early tank designs and tank maneuvers, drawings
of tank designs, and reports and minutes of the Inter-Allied Tank Committee.
Letters and photographs documenting the early army career of George S. Patton, Jr., who served under Rockenbach during World
War I (ca. 15 items). Other notable correspondents are John J. Pershing, Leonard Wood, Douglas MacArthur, James G. Harbord,
and Charles P. Summerall.
The collection is divided into 8 series:
1. Correspondence and memoranda, 1889-1945
2. Military orders, 1891-1933
3. Subject files
4. Articles by Rockenbach
5. Speeches and lectures
6. Personal file
7. Bound volumes and printed material
8. Photographs
Inter-Allied Tank Committee first session reports and resolutions
1918 May 6-7English.
Scope and Contents
Reports and resolutions from the first session.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 6
Inter-Allied Tank Committee second session minutes
1918 June 5English.
Scope and Contents
Minutes of the second session.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 7
Inter-Allied Tank Committee third session agenda and minutes
1918 July 8English.
Scope and Contents
Agenda and imnutes from the third session.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 8
Inter-Allied Tank Committee fourth session minutes
1918 October 10English.
Scope and Contents
Minutes of the fourth session.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 9
Inter-Allied Tank Committee reports
Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-19451918 MayEnglish.
Scope and Contents
Reports, including a report by Lt. Col. George S.Patton, Jr.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 10
Inter-Allied Tank Committee documents
English.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 10A
George S. Patton, Jr. documents
English.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 11
St. Nazaire Association
English.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 12
World War I Tank Corps operations report
1918 September-NovemberEnglish.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 13
World War I Tank Corps operations report appendix 1
1918English.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 14
World War I Tank Corps operations report appendix 2
1918English.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 15
World War I Tank Corps operations report appendix 3
1918English.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 16
World War I Tank Corps operations report appendix 4
Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-19451918English.
Scope and Contents
Operations report, appendix 4 titled "Operations of the 304th Tank Brigade, September 12th to 15th, 1918. St. Mihiel Salient."
Written by Colonel George S. Patton, Jr., Brigade commander.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 17
World War I Tank Corps operations report appendix 5
1918English.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 18
World War I Tank Corps operations report appendix 6
1918English.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 19
World War I Tank Corps operations report appendix 7
1918English.
Scope and Contents
Operations Report, Appendix 7
"Report of Commander, 1st
French Tank Brigade, Meuse-Argonne "
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 20
World War I Tank Corps operations report appendix 8
1918English.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 21
World War I Tank Corps operations report appendix 9
1918English.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 22
World War I Tank Corps operations report appendix 10
1918English.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 23
World War I Tank Corps 301st Tank Battalion service record
1918English.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 24
World War I Tank Corps casualties list
1918English.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 25
World War I Tank Corps Samuel D. Rockenbach personal notes
1918English.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 26
World War I Tank Corps notes on tank economics
1918English.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 27
Tank Corps organization proposal
1921English.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 28
Tank School at Camp Meade report
English.
Scope and Contents
Report on organization and objectives.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 29
Tank diagrams and blueprints
1918English.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 30
Samuel D. Rockenbach VMI subject file
English.
Scope and Contents
This folder contains notes on the Class of 1889, a letter of recommendation, and an order.
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