Samuel D. Rockenbach Papers 1889-1945

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
Preston Library
Virginia Military Institute
345 Letcher Ave.
Lexington, VA 24450-0304
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Jeffrey S. Kozak
Phone: (540) 464-7516
Phone: (540) 464-7566
Fax: (540) 464-7089
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Samuel D. Rockenbach Papers, MS 0001, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, VA.

Summary

Abstract:
Papers (1889-1945) of United States Army officer Samuel Dickerson Rockenbach, notable for his role in the establishment of the U.S. Army Tank Corps during World War I and his postwar work in the development of tank warfare.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Samuel D. Rockenbach Papers, MS 0001, Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of papers (1,000 items) documenting Rockenbach's career in the United States Army. Topics include his duties as Engineer officer in Cuba (1898-1902), the Philippines (1903- 1910), in France as Chief of the Tank Corps, American Expeditionary Forces, 1917-1919, and his postwar work with the Tank Corps until his retirement in 1933. The collection contains correspondence and memoranda (1889- 1945), military orders (1891-1933), photographs, and miscellaneous personal documents (certificates, travel souvenirs, etc.). Tank Corps material includes 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. Also included are 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.

Instructions, Reports, and miscellany

Minutes of the 1st session

Reports and Resolutions from the 1st session

Minutes of the 2nd session

Agenda and Minutes from the 3rd session

Minutes of the 4th session

Reports, including a report by Lt. Col. George S. Patton, Jr.

Misc. related documents

Operations Report, 1918 September-November

Operations Report, Appendix 1
Comparative Plan of Renault and Mark VIII Tank

Operations Report, Appendix 2
Organization Tank Corps AEF

Operations Report, Appendix 3
Organization Tank Corps 1st Army

Operations Report, Appendix 4
Operations Report 304th Tank Brigade, St. Mihiel Salient

Operations Report, Appendix 5
Report of Commander of 1st French Brigade, St. Mihiel operation

Operations Report, Appendix 6
Operations Report, 304th Tank Brigade, Meuse-Argonne offensive

Operations Report, Appendix 7
Report of Commander, 1st French Tank Brigade, Meuse-Argonne

Operations Report, Appendix 8
Report of Operations, 2nd Tank Brigade, 301st Battalion

Operations Report, Appendix 9
Commendations on Work of Tank Corps

Operations Report, Appendix 10
Position and duties of Chief of Tank Corps, AEF

Service Record, 301st Tank Battalion.

Casualties List

Personal Notes

Notes on tank economics

Organization proposal, 1921

Report on organization and objectives

Diagrams and Blueprints

Notes on the Class of 1889, letter of recommendation, order

Biographical / historical:

Samuel Dickerson Rockenbach, United States Army officer, was born on January 27, 1869 in Lynchburg, Virginia. He was graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1889 and in 1891 was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He married Emma Baldwin on October 19, 1898. Prior to World War I he saw tours of duty in Cuba, the Philippines, various U.S. 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 1917-1919 served as Chief of the newly formed Tank Corps, A.E.F. 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, DC.

Acquisition information:
The collection was received from the estate of Samuel D. Rockenbach in 1953.
Arrangement:

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

Chronological

Chronological

Alphabetical

Alphabetical

Physical description:
The collection consists of approximately 1000 items filed in 6 boxes.