vilxv0003A Guide to the Samuel D. Rockenbach Papers, 1889-1945 MS.0001Virginia Military Institute Archives

2001

VMI ArchivesPreston LibraryLexington, VA 24450Business Number: 540-464-7516archives@vmi.eduURL:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-10-29 07:02:59 -0400.Description is written in: Undetermined, Code for undetermined script script.Describing Archives: A Content Standard Virginia Military Institute Archives Samuel D. Rockenbach papers Rockenbach, Samuel D. (Samuel Dickerson), 1869-1952 MS.0001 /repositories/3/resources/581 3 cubic feet 6 manuscript boxes and oversized material 1889-1945 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. Manuscripts stacks and Oversized Case 1, Drawer 5 English Scope and Contents

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.

 Biographical / Historical

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.

 Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions.

 Conditions Governing Use

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.

 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.

 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

 United States. Army—American Expeditionary Forces World War, 1914-1918—Tank warfare Philippines—History—1898-1946 Cuba—History—1899-1906 Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1889 Military records Orders (military records) Photographs Correspondence Memoranda Reports Speeches, Addresses, etc. World War, 1914-1918 Generals—United States United States. Army—Officers—Biography United States. Army—Division of the Philippines Philippines—History—Philippine American War, 1899-1902 Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945 Pershing, John J. (John Joseph), 1860-1948 MacArthur, Douglas, 1880-1964 Harbord, James G. (James Guthrie), 1866-1947 Summerall, Charles Pelot, 1867-1955 Wood, Leonard, 1860-1927 Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1471889-1945English1Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1551889-1896English11Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1561898English12Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1571899-1902English13Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1581903-1904English14Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1591905-1909English15Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1601910-1912English16Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1611913-1916English18Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1621917English18Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1631918 January-JuneEnglish19Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1641918 July-SeptemberEnglish110Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1651918 October-DecemberEnglish111Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1661919 January-FebruaryEnglish112Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1671919 March-AprilEnglish113Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1681919 May-DecemberEnglish114Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1691920English115Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1701921English116Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1711922 January-JuneEnglish117Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1721922 July-DecemberEnglish118Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1731923 January-JuneEnglish119Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1741923 July-DecemberEnglish120Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751924English121Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1761925English122Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1771926English123Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1781927-1928English124Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1791929English125Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/1801930-1945English126Correspondence and memoranda/repositories/3/archival_objects/181undatedEnglish127Military orders/repositories/3/archival_objects/1481891-1933English2Arrangement

Chronological

Military orders/repositories/3/archival_objects/1821891-1899English21Military orders/repositories/3/archival_objects/1831900-1903English22Military orders/repositories/3/archival_objects/1841904-1909English23Military orders/repositories/3/archival_objects/1851910-1912English24Military orders/repositories/3/archival_objects/1861913-1916English25Military orders/repositories/3/archival_objects/1871917English26Military orders/repositories/3/archival_objects/1881918English27Military orders/repositories/3/archival_objects/1891919English28Military orders/repositories/3/archival_objects/1901920-1933English29Index to World War I orders/repositories/3/archival_objects/191English210Subject files/repositories/3/archival_objects/1491914-1918English3Arrangement

Alphabetical

Baltic Society/repositories/3/archival_objects/192English31French Tank Service and School/repositories/3/archival_objects/193English32Germany military observation trip/repositories/3/archival_objects/1941914-1915English33Scope and Contents

Contains instructions, reports, and miscellany.

Inter-Allied Tank Committee first session minutes/repositories/3/archival_objects/1951918 May 6-7English34Scope and Contents

Minutes of the first session.

Inter-Allied Tank Committee first session reports and resolutions/repositories/3/archival_objects/1961918 May 6-7English35Scope and Contents

Reports and resolutions from the first session.

Inter-Allied Tank Committee second session minutes/repositories/3/archival_objects/1971918 June 5English36Scope and Contents

Minutes of the second session.

Inter-Allied Tank Committee third session agenda and minutes/repositories/3/archival_objects/1981918 July 8English37Scope and Contents

Agenda and imnutes from the third session.

Inter-Allied Tank Committee fourth session minutes/repositories/3/archival_objects/1991918 October 10English38Scope and Contents

Minutes of the fourth session.

Inter-Allied Tank Committee reports/repositories/3/archival_objects/200Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-19451918 MayEnglish39Scope and Contents

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

Inter-Allied Tank Committee documents/repositories/3/archival_objects/201English310George S. Patton, Jr. documents/repositories/3/archival_objects/202English310APatton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945St. Nazaire Association/repositories/3/archival_objects/203English311World War I Tank Corps operations report/repositories/3/archival_objects/2041918 September-NovemberEnglish312World War I Tank Corps operations report appendix 1/repositories/3/archival_objects/2051918English313 World War I Tank Corps operations report appendix 2/repositories/3/archival_objects/2061918English314World War I Tank Corps operations report appendix 3/repositories/3/archival_objects/2071918English315World War I Tank Corps operations report appendix 4/repositories/3/archival_objects/208Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-19451918English316Scope 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.

United States. -- Army. -- Tank Corps. -- 304th BrigadeWorld War I Tank Corps operations report appendix 5/repositories/3/archival_objects/2091918English317World War I Tank Corps operations report appendix 6/repositories/3/archival_objects/2101918English318World War I Tank Corps operations report appendix 7/repositories/3/archival_objects/2111918English319Scope and Contents

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

World War I Tank Corps operations report appendix 8/repositories/3/archival_objects/2121918English320World War I Tank Corps operations report appendix 9/repositories/3/archival_objects/2131918English321World War I Tank Corps operations report appendix 10/repositories/3/archival_objects/2141918English322World War I Tank Corps 301st Tank Battalion service record/repositories/3/archival_objects/2151918English323United States. -- Army. -- Tank Battalion, 301stWorld War I Tank Corps casualties list/repositories/3/archival_objects/2161918English324World War I Tank Corps Samuel D. Rockenbach personal notes/repositories/3/archival_objects/2171918English325World War I Tank Corps notes on tank economics/repositories/3/archival_objects/2181918English326Tank Corps organization proposal/repositories/3/archival_objects/2191921English327Tank School at Camp Meade report/repositories/3/archival_objects/220English328Scope and Contents

Report on organization and objectives.

Tank diagrams and blueprints/repositories/3/archival_objects/2211918English329Samuel D. Rockenbach VMI subject file/repositories/3/archival_objects/222English330Scope and Contents

This folder contains notes on the Class of 1889, a letter of recommendation, and an order.

Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1889Articles/repositories/3/archival_objects/1501922-1934English4The Tank School at Camp Meade/repositories/3/archival_objects/2231922English41American Tanks/repositories/3/archival_objects/2241923English42Weight and Dimensions of Tanks/repositories/3/archival_objects/2251923English43General Pershing's Influence in Connection with My Work in the AEF/repositories/3/archival_objects/2261934English44American Tanks Since the World War/repositories/3/archival_objects/227English45The Tank Corps of the AEF/repositories/3/archival_objects/228English46Miscellaneous articles/repositories/3/archival_objects/229English47Speeches and lectures/repositories/3/archival_objects/1511919-1923English4The Tank Corps - What the General and General Staff Officers Should Know/repositories/3/archival_objects/2301919English48The Tank Corps - A Talk to the General Staff/repositories/3/archival_objects/2311919English49Remarks at the Conference of Department and Division Commanders/repositories/3/archival_objects/2321920English410Tanks in the World War/repositories/3/archival_objects/2331922English411Tanks/repositories/3/archival_objects/2341923English412Tanks: Functions in Relation to Design/repositories/3/archival_objects/235undatedEnglish413Personal file/repositories/3/archival_objects/152English4Certificates of Award for war service/repositories/3/archival_objects/236English414Certificates/repositories/3/archival_objects/237English415Service records and efficiency reports/repositories/3/archival_objects/238English416Postcards/repositories/3/archival_objects/2391914-1915English417Scope and Contents

Souvenir postcards from Europe.

Postcards -- EuropeParis trip mementos/repositories/3/archival_objects/2401926English418Invitations/repositories/3/archival_objects/241English419Christmas Cards/repositories/3/archival_objects/242English420Clippings about Samuel D. Rockenbach/repositories/3/archival_objects/243English421Miscellaneous/repositories/3/archival_objects/244English422Bound volumes and printed material/repositories/3/archival_objects/1531888-1920English5Reports and orders/repositories/3/archival_objects/2451888-1920EnglishThe Final Report of General John J. Pershing/repositories/3/archival_objects/246Pamphlets and miscellany/repositories/3/archival_objects/247EnglishPhotographs/repositories/3/archival_objects/154English6Arrangement

Alphabetical

Baltic Club/repositories/3/archival_objects/248English61Calvin Coolidge/repositories/3/archival_objects/249English62E. Robert Cotesworth/repositories/3/archival_objects/250English63San Juan Hill, Cuba/repositories/3/archival_objects/251English63AAdmiral Albert Gleaves/repositories/3/archival_objects/252English64James G. Harbord/repositories/3/archival_objects/253English65Charles Lindbergh/repositories/3/archival_objects/254English65AParade/repositories/3/archival_objects/255English66George S. Patton Jr./repositories/3/archival_objects/256English66AGeneral John J. Pershing/repositories/3/archival_objects/257English67Philippines/repositories/3/archival_objects/258English68Emma Rockenbach/repositories/3/archival_objects/259English68ASamuel D. Rockenbach/repositories/3/archival_objects/260English69Samuel D. Rockenbach and Emma Rockenbach/repositories/3/archival_objects/261English610Spanish American War artillery/repositories/3/archival_objects/262English611Spanish American War memorial/repositories/3/archival_objects/263English612Tank Corps soldier and officer/repositories/3/archival_objects/264English613Tanks Corps basketball and football team/repositories/3/archival_objects/265English614Tank Corps maneuver/repositories/3/archival_objects/266English615Tank Corps 16th Tank Battalion/repositories/3/archival_objects/267English616Tank School at Camp Meade/repositories/3/archival_objects/268English617Tanks/repositories/3/archival_objects/269English618Tanks/repositories/3/archival_objects/270English619Tanks/repositories/3/archival_objects/271English620World War I American Expeditionary Force arrive in Paris/repositories/3/archival_objects/2721917 JulyEnglish621World War I American Expeditionary Forces officer/repositories/3/archival_objects/273English622World War I St. Nazaire cemetery/repositories/3/archival_objects/274English623Lynchburg, Virginia World War I memorial/repositories/3/archival_objects/275English624World War I French farmers, countryside/repositories/3/archival_objects/276English625World War I troop ship/repositories/3/archival_objects/277English627Miscellaneous and unidentified/repositories/3/archival_objects/278English627