Robert Joshua Gill Papers, 1856-1991
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MS-2009-068
Scope and Contents
This collection contains details of the life of General Robert J. Gill from 1886 to 1991. This collection is arranged into six series based on material format and further arranged chronologically as possible. The six main series include: paper manuscripts, photographs, scrapbooks, artifacts, books, and digital records. Paper manuscripts, series one, is broken into sub-series that include military records, Gill’s biographical information along with Keith Richwine’s research on Gill, newspapers and magazines, financial papers, Baltimore Orioles, Western Maryland College, and miscellaneous. Other series within this collection include Gill’s collection of photographs, scrapbooks, a photo album, artifacts, digital records, and books. The photograph collection displays General Gill’s hobbies, family and friends, time at the school, and military/professional career. The scrapbook pages highlight General Gill’s travels, contributions at the Nuremberg Trials, and college life at WMC. The artifacts include General Gill’s Army hats, uniform decorations from his service, his military uniform, jewelry, and philatelic awards. There is a digital repository including a floppy disc, and CDs with scans of some of the documents in Gill’s Papers. The books we have are those confirmed to be Gill’s or presumed to belong to him spanning topics from a 1910 yearbook from WMC to volumes on the International Military Tribunal: Nuremburg 1948. A record of the books believed to belong to Gill is available for review.
Dates
- 1856 - 1991
- Majority of material found within 1935 - 1946
Restrictions
Portions of the paper manuscripts are restricted, please contact the archivist with any questions.
Conditions Governing Use
Papers may be copied in accordance with the McDaniel College Archives' usual procedures.
Biographical / Historical
Robert J. Gill, a former United States Army General, was decorated by three governments in two world wars; with his legal background Gill aided the prosecution of Nazi Germany leaders at the Nuremburg Trials (1945-1946); he maintained a successful legal career; later serving as secretary of the Baltimore Orioles, and once won a pair of gold medals at an international stamp collecting exhibition in New York, New York.
General Gill graduated from Western Maryland College (WMC, now McDaniel College) in 1910, where he was captain of the basketball and football teams and a member of the tennis and track teams. Long after his playing days had ended, General Gill remained a keen WMC sports fan. Gill remained committed to supporting the WMC legacy as a donor and served as the president of the Board of Trustees. In the 1930s, Gill played a key role in bringing Richard C. Harlow, a coach for the football team, to WMC, leading them to an undefeated season and a Top 10 ranking. Gill was inducted into the WMC Sports Hall of Fame in 1978. The school gymnasium was named to honor General Gill.
After time spent studying at WMC, Gill obtained a law degree from the University of Virginia (UVA) law school. While attending UVA he continued his athletic career and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He then returned to Baltimore once he graduated as an attorney specializing in corporate law.
Gill originally enlisted as a private in the Maryland National Guard, but when the United States entered World War I, he went overseas as a captain, commanding the 117th Trench Mortar Battery (a unit attached to the 42nd Rainbow Division). He led the first Maryland unit to see action in World War I. On July 14th, 1918, his men withstood a heavy artillery barrage and then turned back a German tank and infantry attack at Chalons. For this action General Gill was awarded a Croix de Guerre with palms from the French government. By the war’s end, the young officer had attracted the attention of the division commander, Douglas MacArthur, and became a part of the general’s staff. He left the service as a lieutenant colonel and returned to his private practice of law in Baltimore.
In 1929 Gill was elected president of the Baltimore Stadium Association, a program made to promote sports activities at the old municipal facility. Shortly after the Orioles franchise was moved to Baltimore from St. Louis in 1953, Gill joined the board of directors and was elected secretary. He remained on the board until the team was sold to Edward Bennet Williams.
Gill returned to active duty in the military in 1942 with the outbreak of World War II. Gill oversaw 2.5 million prisoners of war in Europe. By the time the Germans surrendered, General Gill was supervising 23 Prisoners of War camps in France and 15 in Germany. At the war’s end, he controlled an army the size of 10 divisions, but all were enemy soldiers. Just before leaving the army, he was selected to become an executive officer to the Supreme Court Justice, Robert H. Jackson, the chief prosecutor at the Nuremberg war trial. His post with the War Crimes Commission brought with it a promotion to Brigadier General. For his role aiding in the prosecution of Nazi criminals at Nuremburg, Gill was awarded both the Distinguished Service Medal from the U.S. government and the Third Order of the White Lion from Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia).
Into his late 80s, General Gill remained active in sports and business affairs. His death followed a brief illness and he passed on his 94th birthday on June 22, 1983, in Baltimore's Washington Apartments.
General Gill was survived by cousin, Edith F. Dykes, of Baltimore. He was honored in Little Baker Chapel at Western Maryland College and interred in a family lot at Westminster Cemetery.
General Gill graduated from Western Maryland College (WMC, now McDaniel College) in 1910, where he was captain of the basketball and football teams and a member of the tennis and track teams. Long after his playing days had ended, General Gill remained a keen WMC sports fan. Gill remained committed to supporting the WMC legacy as a donor and served as the president of the Board of Trustees. In the 1930s, Gill played a key role in bringing Richard C. Harlow, a coach for the football team, to WMC, leading them to an undefeated season and a Top 10 ranking. Gill was inducted into the WMC Sports Hall of Fame in 1978. The school gymnasium was named to honor General Gill.
After time spent studying at WMC, Gill obtained a law degree from the University of Virginia (UVA) law school. While attending UVA he continued his athletic career and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He then returned to Baltimore once he graduated as an attorney specializing in corporate law.
Gill originally enlisted as a private in the Maryland National Guard, but when the United States entered World War I, he went overseas as a captain, commanding the 117th Trench Mortar Battery (a unit attached to the 42nd Rainbow Division). He led the first Maryland unit to see action in World War I. On July 14th, 1918, his men withstood a heavy artillery barrage and then turned back a German tank and infantry attack at Chalons. For this action General Gill was awarded a Croix de Guerre with palms from the French government. By the war’s end, the young officer had attracted the attention of the division commander, Douglas MacArthur, and became a part of the general’s staff. He left the service as a lieutenant colonel and returned to his private practice of law in Baltimore.
In 1929 Gill was elected president of the Baltimore Stadium Association, a program made to promote sports activities at the old municipal facility. Shortly after the Orioles franchise was moved to Baltimore from St. Louis in 1953, Gill joined the board of directors and was elected secretary. He remained on the board until the team was sold to Edward Bennet Williams.
Gill returned to active duty in the military in 1942 with the outbreak of World War II. Gill oversaw 2.5 million prisoners of war in Europe. By the time the Germans surrendered, General Gill was supervising 23 Prisoners of War camps in France and 15 in Germany. At the war’s end, he controlled an army the size of 10 divisions, but all were enemy soldiers. Just before leaving the army, he was selected to become an executive officer to the Supreme Court Justice, Robert H. Jackson, the chief prosecutor at the Nuremberg war trial. His post with the War Crimes Commission brought with it a promotion to Brigadier General. For his role aiding in the prosecution of Nazi criminals at Nuremburg, Gill was awarded both the Distinguished Service Medal from the U.S. government and the Third Order of the White Lion from Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia).
Into his late 80s, General Gill remained active in sports and business affairs. His death followed a brief illness and he passed on his 94th birthday on June 22, 1983, in Baltimore's Washington Apartments.
General Gill was survived by cousin, Edith F. Dykes, of Baltimore. He was honored in Little Baker Chapel at Western Maryland College and interred in a family lot at Westminster Cemetery.
Extent
34.83 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Overview
This collection contains the personal papers, photographs, scrapbooks, artifacts, books, and digital records that belonged to Robert Joshua Gill, related to his life, role in the United States Army, his law career, and as Western Maryland College alumnus.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by series and subseries, as detailed below:
Series 1: Paper Manuscripts - arranged chronologically housed in folders.
Military Records (Sub-series 1)
Biography (Sub-series: 2)
Newspapers/Magazines (Sub-series: 3)
Financial Papers (Sub-series: 4)
Baltimore Orioles (Sub-series: 5)
Western Maryland College (Sub-series: 6) Gill Miscellaneous (Sub-series: 7)
Series 2: Photographs - arranged topically housed in folders and photograph sleeves.
Series 3: Scrapbooks and Photo Album - arranged chronologically housed in acid free scrapbook boxes.
Series 4: Artifacts - housed in acid free boxes.
Series 5: Gill Books
Series 6: Digital Records
Series 1: Paper Manuscripts - arranged chronologically housed in folders.
Military Records (Sub-series 1)
Biography (Sub-series: 2)
Newspapers/Magazines (Sub-series: 3)
Financial Papers (Sub-series: 4)
Baltimore Orioles (Sub-series: 5)
Western Maryland College (Sub-series: 6) Gill Miscellaneous (Sub-series: 7)
Series 2: Photographs - arranged topically housed in folders and photograph sleeves.
Series 3: Scrapbooks and Photo Album - arranged chronologically housed in acid free scrapbook boxes.
Series 4: Artifacts - housed in acid free boxes.
Series 5: Gill Books
Series 6: Digital Records
Box List
Box 1
- Papers: Military, Biography, Newspapers
Box 2
- Papers: Military, Biography, Newspapers
Box 3
- Papers: Financial Papers, Baltimore Orioles, Misc.
Box 4
- Papers: Western Maryland College
- Photographs
Box 5
- Photo Album
Box 6
- Military Pins & Decorations
- Deposit Only Stamp
- Gavel
- Transit Tokens
- Douglas Paper Weight
- Plate
- Phi Beta Kappa Pendant
Box 7
- Shillings
- Teeth Caps
- Stamplift
- Gill "Note"
- Jewelry Boxes
- Watch
- Music Box
- Cartier Stamp Awards
- Pencil
- Postage Paper Weight
- Magnifying Glass
- Scarab
Box 8
- Evening Star Newspaper June 1944
- Graduation Hood
- Stockbook
Box 9
- Pages from Scrapbooks: Gill Military, 1915-1920 & Gill Military & Legal Career, 19171-1924
Box 10
- Gill Scrapbook, 1906-1917
Box 11
- Photocopies of Yad Veshem Materials, Scrapbooks 7-9
Box 12
- Scrapbook: Gill Military, WMC, Legal Career, 1918-1925
Box 13
- Scrapbook 5: WMC Sports, Late 1920s-Early 1930s
Box 14
- Scrapbook: Military and Legal Career, 1917-1924
Box 15
- Gill WMC Diploma and Scrapbooks 2 & 6
Box 16
- Scrapbook 8: World War II
Box 17
- Oversized Photographs & Alumni Award
Box 18
- Scrapboo 7: Gill Military, 1944-1946
Box 19
- Scrapbook 9: Book #2 World War II
Box 20
- Disks, Cassette Tapes and Vale Slide
Box 21
- Orioles Signed Baseball
- Watch
- 2 Pins
Box 22
- Army Hats
Box 23
- Military Medals and Decorations
Box 24
- Gill Glass Bowl
Textile Box
- Graduate Hoots
- Military Uniform
Flag Box
- American Flag
Accruals
New items added to the Robert Joshua Gill Papers were donated to the McDaniel College Archives April 2024 from accession 2024-004.
Disclaimer
The McDaniel College Archives’ collections contain records that are historical in nature and products of the time and society under which they were created. Some materials within our collections contain language or images that users could find inappropriate, offensive, or troubling. McDaniel College does not endorse the views expressed in these materials, which are inconsistent with the College’s commitment to creating an inclusive, open, and accessible learning community. These items have been retained as they originally existed to preserve the integrity of the historical record and to foster accountability for individual's and institution’s actions and decisions.
Processing Information
Processed by Lauren Portis, Hoover Library Student Worker, 2024.
- 117th Trench Mortar Battery, 1917-1919
- Baseball
- Jackson, Robert H., Justice
- Military Citations, WWII
- Nuremberg War Crime Trials, Nuremberg, Germany, 1946-1948
- Prisoners of war, German.
- Rainbow Division, 1917-1919
- Scrapbooks
- Stamp Collecting 1956-1968, New York, Europe
- World War One 1914-1919
- World War Two 1939-1945
- Title
- "Robert Joshua Gill Papers, 1856-1991"
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Lauren Portis
- Date
- 2024-05-09
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 1 (Text)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 2 (Text)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 3 (Text)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 4 (Text)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 5 (Graphic Materials)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 6 (Realia)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 7 (Realia)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 8 (Mixed Materials)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 9 (Mixed Materials)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 10 (Mixed Materials)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 11 (Mixed Materials)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 12 (Mixed Materials)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 13 (Mixed Materials)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 14 (Mixed Materials)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 15 (Mixed Materials)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 16 (Mixed Materials)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 17 (Mixed Materials)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 18 (Mixed Materials)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 19 (Mixed Materials)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 20 (Computer Disks)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 21 (Realia)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 22 (Realia)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Textile Box (Mixed Materials)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 23 (Realia)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Flag Box (Realia)
- Container: MS.2009.068 Box 24 (Realia)
Repository Details
Part of the McDaniel College Repository
Contact: