DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Robert J. Foster Papers,
1894-1958
6549
Foster, Robert J. (Robert Julian), 1880-1970
1.0 cubic ft.
correspondence, reports, newsclippings, ephemera, photographs
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
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.
Collection material in English
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Colonial Robert J. Foster was an esteemed veterinarian and military officer. He was born on September 27, 1880, in Youngstown, Ohio. He moved with his family to Ithaca, New York, and graduated from Ithaca High School in 1899. He went on to attend the New York State Veterinary College at Cornell University and graduated in 1902 with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation he taught veterinary science for three years. While teaching at the University of Missouri, he met Miss Alice Ewing Johnson, who was then a member of the freshman class. She was daughter of the late Colonel T.A. Johnson, president of Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri. Miss Johnson received her A.B. degree in 1908 and married Robert Foster in June, 1909.
On August 30, 1905, Foster enlisted in the Army as a veterinarian for 12th U.S. Cavalry. When the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps was established in 1916, he became one of the key officers in its development. He moved through the ranks and served in a variety of locales around the globe for nearly thirty years. His accomplishments include organizing veterinary training programs, assisting in the reorganization and refinement of the Veterinary Corps in its first 30 years, and establishing meat and dairy inspection plans for the Army as well as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps.
In 1944, Foster officially retired. Upon his retirement he and his wife settled in San Francisco and enjoyed traveling to such places as Alaska, Africa and Spain. In 1956, he received distinguished service awards from the California Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Col. Foster died in California in February 1970.
For more information on Col. Robert J. Foster, please see the "Biography" series in this collection.
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
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.
SUBJECTS
Names:
Foster, Robert J. (Robert Julian), 1880-1970
Dykstra, R. R. (Ralph Ralph), 1879-
Way, Cassius
Norden, Carl J.
Merillat, Louis A. (Louis Adolph), 1868-
American Veterinary Medical Association
United States. Army. Veterinary Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.)
Subjects:
Veterinary service, Military--United States
INFORMATION FOR USERS
Cite As:
Robert J. Foster Papers, # 6549. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
RELATED MATERIAL
For more biographical information, see Col. Foster's file in Cornell's
Deceased Alumni Files
SERIES LIST
Series I. Biography
Box 1, Folders 1-5
Box 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
CONTAINER LIST
Series I: Biography
1
1
Newsclippings
1926-1957
1
2
Education
1894-1902
1
3
Commendations
1910-1933
1
4
Commendations upon Retirement
1944-1946
1
5
Special Orders
1922-1935
3
Miscellaneous
ca. 1908-1920
3
Photographs
Series II. Lectures & Speeches
1
6
On Education
ca. 1922
1
7
"The Veterinary Service and Its Relation to Animal Management Instruction," Cavalry School, Fort Riley
1923
1
8
"Post War Development of the Veterinary Service," Minnesota State Veterinary Association
16 Jan 1924
1
9
"The Evacuation and Hospitalization of Animals in the Theatre of Operation," Cavalry School, Fort Riley
1925
1
10
"The Veterinary Service and Its Relation of the Line," Cavalry School, Fort Riley
1925
1
11
"A Modern Veterinarian's Place in a Community"
ca. 1920-1935
Series III. Chronological Files
1
12
Chron Files
1904-1915
1
13
Chron Files
1916-1920
1
14
Chron Files
1921-1922
1
15
Chron Files
1922-1926
1
16
Chron Files
1926-1929
1
17
Chron Files
1929-1931
1
18
Chron Files
1932-1934
1
19
Chron Files
1934-1938
2
1
Chron Files
1939-1944
2
2
Chron Files
1946-1948
Series IV: Subject Files
2
3
AVMA
1935-1936
2
4
AVMA
1937-1945
2
5
Examinations
1916-1925
2
6
Examinations
1926-1931, 1937, n.d.
2
7
Legislation
1912-1937
2
8
Legislation
1937
2
9
Legislation
1937-1938
2
10
Proposal to Discontinue the Veterinary Corps
1956-1957
2
11
Veterinary Corps Organization and Structure
1920, 1925, n.d.
2
12
Miscellaneous
1913-1935, n.d.