Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Robert Townley Turner Papers, 1927-1972
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Turner, Robert Townley, 1917-1972
- Title
- Robert Townley Turner Papers
- Dates
- 1927-1972 (inclusive)19271972
- Quantity
- 4.5 linear feet
- Collection Number
- Mss 494
- Summary
- Robert Townley Turner was a history, political science, and international relations professor at Montana State University (now The University of Montana) in Missoula, Montana. The collection contains materials related to his teaching, research, education, and administrative work at the University.
- Repository
-
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana-Missoula.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for creating this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historic Publications and Records Commission. Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Robert Townley Turner was born July 8, 1917, in Eureka, Utah. He received his AB with honors (1939) , MA (1940), and Ph.D. (1945) from the University of California, Los Angeles; his doctoral dissertation was Europe and the Belgian Revolution, 1789-1790. In 1943 he accepted a position at Montana State University in Missoula, Montana (now The University of Montana), teaching history, political science, and international relations. In 1954 he became a full professor, and in 1955 became chairman of the Department of History and Political Science. His areas of specialization inluded european diplomacy, 1815 to the present; modern war, 1789 to the present; and geopolitics. From 1956 to1959 he was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. From 1956 to 1967 he was Director of the University Museum. During his teaching career at the University of Montana he sat on practically all University and Faculty committees. He co-authored, with Dorothy M. Johnson, the Bedside Book of Bastards, and also published articles on military affairs. Dr. Turner died in June, 1972.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection contains the personal and professional papers of Robert Turner. It begins with his personal and academic life prior to his academic career with school papers, his Ph.D dissertation, and a very complete diary he kept as a civilian during World War II. The collection offers extensive documentation of his career at Montana State University (The University of Montana), including his own writing, committee assignments, governance, and teaching. In particular, the collection offers insight into important changes at the University: the rise of faculty governance, changes in teaching and students, and the development of new academic programs on campus.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana.
Preferred Citation
[Name of document or photograph number], Robert Townley Turner Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in five series:
Series I: Personal, 0.5 linear feet, 1939-1972
Series II: Correspondence, 0.5 linear feet, 1927-1972
Series III: Writings, 2.0 linear feet, 1937-1956
Series IV: University of Montana, 1.5 linear feet, 1952-1972
Series V: Photographs, 5 items, undated
Custodial History
The materials in the collection were in Turner's office at the university until his sudden death in 1972.
Acquisition Information
The materials were transferred directly from Turner's office after his death in 1972. Additional letters were donated by Jack Holland in 1996.
Processing Note
The original processors numbered the collection UM 12, arranged the collection and separated photographs. In 2004, the collection was substantially rearranged and re-described and was renumbered Mss 494. One box of grade books, 1943-1972, and a number of student seminar papers were removed from the collection and destroyed.
Separated Materials
During original processing, five photographs were separated from the collection and placed in the photo archives. Though their exact location could not be determined during 2004 processing, their descriptions have been retained here in series V.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: Personal, 1939-1972Return to Top
This series contains personal materials produced or collected by Turner. A folder of biographical materials, and the certificates, concern his degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles. The bulk of the series contains the diary he began keeping in 1941 "to portray the life of a civilian during this war [World War II]." There is a gap in the diary between 1943 and 1947, when he resumed it, recording the daily details of teaching at Montana State University (The University of Montana). A folder of documents relating to his university service contains his loyalty oaths from 1947 to 1952 and contract agreements that specify his yearly salary.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | Biographical |
1945 |
| 1/2 | Diary |
December 7, 1941-March 12, 1942 |
| 1/3 | Diary |
March 13, 1942-June 30, 1942 |
| 1/4 | Diary |
July 1, 1942-February 5, 1943 |
| 1/5 | Diary |
February 6, 1943-March 28, 1948 |
| 1/6 | University of Montana
documents |
1943-1972 |
| 1/7 | Certificates |
1943-1954 |
| 12OS | Certificates |
1939-1945 |
Series II: Correspondence, 1927-1972Return to Top
This series contains Turner's personal and professional correspondence. Much of the correspondence, and particularly the memos at the end of the series, concern internal business at Montana State University (The University of Montana) and Turner's considerable committee work for the institution. Other exchanges focus on Turner's publications, other teaching assignments, and letters of recommendation for former students.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/8 | 1927, 1940-1950 | |
| 1/9 | 1951 | |
| 1/10 | 1952 | |
| 1/11 | 1953 | |
| 1/12 | 1954 | |
| 1/13 | 1955 | |
| 1/14 | 1958-1959 | |
| 1/15 | 1961-1962 | |
| 1/16 | 1963-1964 | |
| 1/17 | 1966 | |
| 1/18 | 1967 | |
| 1/19 | 1968 | |
| 1/20 | 1969 | |
| 2/1 | 1970 | |
| 2/2 | 1971 | |
| 2/3 | 1972 | |
| 2/4 | Memos |
1952-1955 |
| 2/5 | Memos |
1964-1966 |
| 2/6 | Memos |
1967 |
| 2/7 | Memos |
1968 |
| 2/8 | Memos |
1969 |
| 2/9 | Memos |
1970 |
| 2/10 | Memos |
1971 |
| 2/11 | Memos |
1972 |
| 2/12 | Memos |
undated |
Series III: Writings, 1937-1956Return to Top
This series contains Turner's academic writings, beginning with his undergraduate work at the University of Calfornia, Los Angeles, up to his time as a professor at Montana State University (The University of Montana). His Ph.D thesis and a later book on geopolitics form the bulk of the series. There are also later published and unpublished essays, book reviews, and one speech.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/13 |
Europe and the Belgian Revolution, 1789-1790, Ph.D
thesis, final copy |
1944 |
| 3/1 |
Europe and the Belgian Revolution, 1789-1790,
manuscript, chapter 1: The System of 1783 |
undated |
| 3/2 |
Europe and the Belgian Revolution, 1789-1790,
manuscript, chapter 2: Enlighted Despotism in Belgium, 1780-1787 |
undated |
| 3/3 |
Europe and the Belgian Revolution, 1789-1790,
manuscript, Chapter 3: The Disturbances of 1787 |
undated |
| 3/4 |
Europe and the Belgian Revolution, 1789-1790,
manuscript, Chapter 4: Interlude |
undated |
| 3/5 |
Europe and the Belgian Revolution, 1789-1790,
manuscript, Chapter 5 and 6: Prelude to Intervention |
undated |
| 3/6 |
Europe and the Belgian Revolution, 1789-1790,
manuscript, Chapter 7: The Failure of a Plan |
undated |
| 3/7 |
Europe and the Belgian Revolution, 1789-1790,
manuscript, Chapter 8: Recognition or Non-Recognition |
undated |
| 3/8 |
Europe and the Belgian Revolution, 1789-1790,
manuscript, Chapter 9: War or Peace |
undated |
| 3/9 |
Europe and the Belgian Revolution, 1789-1790,
manuscript, Chapter 10: War or Peace II |
undated |
| 3/10 |
Europe and the Belgian Revolution, 1789-1790,
manuscript, Chapter 11: The Hell of Reichenbach |
undated |
| 3/11 |
Europe and the Belgian Revolution, 1789-1790,
manuscript, Chapter 12: Post-Reichenbach Interlude |
undated |
| 3/12 |
Europe and the Belgian Revolution, 1789-1790,
manuscript, Chapter 13: The Conference of the Hague |
undated |
| 3/13 |
Europe and the Belgian Revolution, 1789-1790,
manuscript, Bibliography and Maps |
undated |
| 3/14 |
Geopolitics and Power: An Essay in Geopolitics,
original |
1954 |
| 4/1 |
Geopolitics and Power: An Essay in Geopolitics,
rough draft, Chapter 1: The Geopoliticians |
undated |
| 4/2 |
Geopolitics and Power: An Essay in Geopolitics,
rough draft, Chapter 2: That Which is Ceasar's |
undated |
| 4/3 |
Geopolitics and Power: An Essay in Geopolitics,
rough draft, Chapter 3: A World Divided |
undated |
| 4/4 |
Geopolitics and Power: An Essay in Geopolitics,
rough draft, Chapter 4: Geopolitical Location |
undated |
| 4/5 |
Geopolitics and Power: An Essay in Geopolitics,
rough draft, Chapter 5: Topographical Unity |
undated |
| 4/6 |
Geopolitics and Power: An Essay in Geopolitics,
rough draft, Chapter 6: Adequate National Space |
undated |
| 4/7 |
Geopolitics and Power: An Essay in Geopolitics,
rough draft, Chapter 7: A National Population |
undated |
| 4/8 |
Geopolitics and Power: An Essay in Geopolitics,
rough draft, Chapter 8: Natural Resources |
undated |
| 5/1 |
Geopolitics and Power: An Essay in Geopolitics,
rough draft, Chapter 9: Industrial Strength |
undated |
| 5/2 |
Geopolitics and Power: An Essay in Geopolitics,
rough draft, Chapter 10: Science and Technology |
undated |
| 5/3 |
Geopolitics and Power: An Essay in Geopolitics,
rough draft, Chapter 11: A Balanced Economy |
undated |
| 5/4 |
Geopolitics and Power: An Essay in Geopolitics,
rough draft, Chapter 12: A Historical Paattern |
undated |
| 5/5 |
Geopolitics and Power: An Essay in Geopolitics,
rough draft, Chapter 13: Internal Political Stability |
undated |
| 5/6 |
Geopolitics and Power: An Essay in Geopolitics,
rough draft, Chapter 14: Military Strength |
undated |
| 5/7 |
Geopolitics and Power: An Essay in Geopolitics,
rough draft, Chapter 15: Leadership |
undated |
| 5/8 |
Geopolitics and Power: An Essay in Geopolitics,
rough draft, Chapter 16: Elan |
undated |
| 5/9 |
Geopolitics and Power: An Essay in Geopolitics,
rough draft, Chapter 17: National Prestige |
undated |
| 5/10 |
Geopolitics and Power: An Essay in Geopolitics,
rough draft, Chapter 18: Alliances |
undated |
| 5/11 |
Geopolitics and Power: An Essay in Geopolitics,
rough draft, Bibliography and Miscellaneous |
undated |
| 6/1 | "The Influence of the Patronato
Real on the Suppression of Independent Activity of the Clergy in the Spanish
Colonies" |
1937 |
| 6/2 | Translation: Correspondence of
Louis Philippe Joseph D'Orleans |
1938 |
| 6/3 | Opinionaire: "Concerning the
Foreign Policy to be Followed by the United States in Relation to the Far
East" |
1938 |
| 6/4 | "British Diplomacy and the
Belgian Crisis, 1830-1833" |
1941 |
| 6/5 | "Egalite: Ambassador to
London" |
1942 |
| 6/6 | "Tithe Reform in the English
Church, 1830-1836" |
1954 |
| 6/7 | "Irregular Shrinkage on the
Eastern Front" |
1955 |
| 6/8 | "Dunkirk from the German
Side" |
1956 |
| 6/9 | "Hitler's Prestige Evaluations in
World War II" |
1956 |
| 6/10 | "Indices of Power" |
undated |
| 6/11 | "Queen Elizabeth and the
Absent-Minded Professor" |
undated |
| 6/12 | "Hume the Historian" |
undated |
| 6/13 | "The Franco-Austrian Treaty of
Partition, 1668" |
undated |
| 6/14 | "Hitler, Britain, and the
Invasion of Russia, 1941" |
undated |
| 6/15 | "Mackinder's
Heartlands" |
undated |
| 6/16 | Book reviews |
undated |
| 6/17 | Notes |
undated |
| 6/18 | Speech: "Know your
Enemy" |
undated |
Series IV: University of Montana, 1952-1972Return to Top
This series contains materials related to Turner's work at Montana State University (The University of Montana). The materials are divided into two subseries.
The first, Governance and Commitee Work, contains meeting minutes and other documents from Turner's work on university committees. Major committees represented include the Budget and Policy Committee, Nominations Committee, Faculty Senate, Library Building, and Faculty Council. There are also minutes from the History Department's meetings. Last, a diary documents his meetings with university president Carl McFarland as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
The second, Teaching, contains undated outlines for lectures.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
Subseries 1: Governance and Committee
Work |
1952-1972 | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 7/1 | Minutes, Budget and Policy Committee |
1952 |
| 7/2 | Minutes, Budget and Policy Committee |
1953 |
| 7/3 | Minutes, Budget and Policy Committee |
1954 |
| 7/4 | Minutes, Budget and Policy Committee |
1955 |
| 7/5 | Minutes, Budget and Policy Committee |
1966-1968 |
| 7/6 | Minutes, Budget and Policy Committee |
1969 |
| 7/7 | Minutes, Budget and Policy Committee |
1970 |
| 7/8 | Faculty Senate |
1952-1967 |
| 7/9 | Minutes, History Department |
1970-1972 |
| 7/10 | Minutes, Nominations Committee |
1966-1968 |
| 7/11 | Minutes, various |
1953-1970 |
| 7/12 | College of Arts and Sciences, Notes on Conferences
with President |
1958 |
| 7/13 | Reports |
1952-1954 |
| 7/14 | Reports |
1964-1969 |
| 7/15 | Reports |
1970-1971 |
| 7/16 | Reports |
undated |
Subseries 2: Teaching |
undated | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 7/17 | Lecture outlines |
undated |
Series V: Photographs, 1959 Return to Top
This series contains photographs of Dr. Turner in London, on the Montana State University campus, and in the University Museum.
| Description | Dates |
|---|---|
Robert Turner in
London |
undated |
Robert Turner and unknown women
on Montana State University campus |
undated |
Robert Turner and unidentified
man in the University Museum |
1959 |
Robert Turner and Carling Malouf
at archaeology site |
undated |
Four participants in the General
Electric College Bowl: Jim Curry, Robert Blair, Bill Larson, Scot
Wheeler |
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- College museums--Montana--Missoula
- History--Study and teaching--Montana--Missoula
- International relations--Study and teaching--Montana--Missoula
- Political science--Study and teaching--Montana--Missoula
- World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
Corporate Names
- University of California, Los Angeles--Students
- University of Montana--Missoula--Administration
- University of Montana--Missoula--Faculty
- Montana State University (Missoula)--Administration
- Montana State University (Missoula)--Faculty
Occupations
- College teachers--Montana--Missoula
- Deans (Education)--Montana--Missoula
- Museum directors--Montana--Missoula
Finding aid prepared by Jodi
Allison-Bunnell
2004
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
