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John Robert Carter papers, 1913-1924

MS 326

Biographical Note

John Robert Carter was born November 18, 1890 in Petersburg, Indiana. In 1913, he enlisted in the United States Army at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Carter was a member of the African-American Company C of the 25th Infantry, organized in 1869, which was stationed at Oahu, Hawaii from 1913 to 1918. In 1918, the 25th was transferred to Arizona where its companies were divided among camps in Yuma, Ajo, and Nogales. After a brief stay in Yuma, Carter and Company C moved on to Camp Stephen D. Little in Nogales from 1919 to 1920. He served in Company C and southeastern Arizona for the remainder of his military career. Carter is identified on Company C muster rolls taken periodically at Camp Harry J. Jones in Douglas, Arizona and Fort Huachuca, Arizona from 1922 until his retirement in 1943. Carter died in January, 1949. He last known residence was Douglas, Arizona.

Scope and Content Note

Collection consists of the personal and professional papers of John Robert Carter.

Military Records and newspaper clipping consist of muster rolls, a copy of the general orders for the 25th Infantry, and a single newspaper article on the military execution of thirteen African American soldiers in the early 1940s. The muster rolls are photocopies of the rosters of Company C of the 25th Infantry from approximately 1914-1928 and 1931-1940. The copy of general orders is a 1920 facsimile of the document officially forming the 25th Infantry in 1869. This was Carter's personal copy, issued to him at Camp Steven D. Little, Nogales, Arizona in 1920 and bearing his signature. The newspaper clipping describes the hanging of thirteen African-American soldiers of the 24th Infantry for mutiny at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. Carter saved this article and may have known some of the condemned men, who were guarded by Company C during their trial.

The Correspondence folder consists of postcards written from relatives and friends to Carter from 1916-1926.

The Military Photographs are almost entirely of African-American soldiers, both in uniform and off duty. A few of the photographs have notes written on the back. The Non-Military Photographs are mostly of African-American civilians, including many women. Some of the photographs have notes written on the back.

The Sandbur is a 1924 yearbook of Camp Harry J. Jones, Douglas, Arizona, where Carter's Company C was posted at various times. This book includes rosters, descriptions of activities at the Camp, and many photographs.

Photographs and Postcards of Nogales, Arizona and Mexico are mostly of buildings, but some include people. None of the photographs or postcards are written upon. Postcards from Hawaii and the Philippines are on a variety of subjects. None of the postcards are written upon.

Scenes Taken in the Philippines, China, Japan, and On the Pacific is a photograph book published in 1912. Captions describe each photograph and Carter pasted a list of Hawaiian terms and their English equivalents inside the back cover.

Restrictions

Restrictions

None.

Copyright

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Arizona Board of Regents for the University of Arizona, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Access Terms

Administrative Information

Credit Line

John Robert Carter papers (MS 326). Special Collections, University of Arizona Libraries.

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