The US Navy Japanese/Oriental Language School Archival Project
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The US Navy Japanese/Oriental Language School Archival Project The Interpreter Archives, University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries Number 237 Remember September 11, 2001 [email protected] November 1, 2017 Our Mission the University of Colorado, returned to Hawaii where he consultant for the Council on Boulder, where he received his remained at least until March. International Educational In the Spring of 2000, the certification in Japanese on April Since we are missing letters Exchange (1970, 1973). Archives continued the origi- 15, 1944, and then attended the from April and May 1945 his Burks supported many nal efforts of Captain Roger Advanced Naval Intelligence whereabouts during this time are endeavors related to Japanese Pineau and William Hudson, School in New York City. not known. However in June studies, such as the Japan and the Archives first at- Afterwards, he was 1945 he arrived in Guam where Society in New York and the tempts in 1992, to gather the commissioned as a lieutenant he remained until October 1945. International House of Japan in papers, letters, photographs, (junior grade) in the U. S. Naval Later that same month he Tokyo. He was also heavily and records of graduates of Reserves, and served as a traveled to Shanghai, China, involved in the Association for the US Navy Japanese/ Language Officer during World Jinsen, Korea and Sasebo, Japan. Asian Studies, serving on its Oriental Language School, War II in the Pacific Theater. By October 29, he was back at Board of Directors (1972-1975) University of Colorado at In June 1944 Burks reported sea aboard the USS Blackford, a and as the Chairman for the Boulder, 1942-1946. We for passage on the U.S.S. self-propelled barracks ship with Northeast Asia Regional Council assemble these papers in Barnes, 14th Naval District. He a troop capacity of 990. (1972-1973). He participated in recognition of the contribu- worked as a language officer for After the war, Burks the prestigious Columbia tions made by JLS/OLS Commander in Chief, Pacific immersed himself in academia. University Seminar on Modern instructors and graduates to (CINCPAC) and Joint In 1948 he began his career at East Asia: Japan, from its the War effort in the Pacific Intelligence Center, Pacific Rutgers as a professor of inception in 1963, serving as its and the Cold War, to the Ocean Areas (JICPOA). Burks' Political Science, serving as its chairman on two occasions: creation of East Asian assignments took him to islands chairman from 1962 through 1966-1967 and 1987-1988. From language programs across that saw significant battles 1965. In 1966 he accepted a 1956 to 1964, Burks was the the country, and to the during the war including Leyte position as a visiting professor director of various summer development of Japanese- and Biak. He also served aboard for the East Asian Institute at institutes for secondary school American cultural rec- U.S.S. Young America during Columbia University. He teachers dedicated to raising onciliation programs after this time and had 240 enlisted returned to Rutgers in the fall of interest in Asian Studies in pre- World War II. men under his command. His 1966, moving into administrative college students. The first of Ardath W. Burks active duty ended in September duties as the Director of these institutes was held at the 1946. Lt. Burks supplied International Programs until University of Delaware in 1956; (1915-2015) intelligence information directly 1973. In 1973 Burks joined the later ones took place at Temple JLS 1944 to Lieutenant Colonel John Haas. formal administration of Rutgers University, the University of Hass forwarded reports to as the Associate Vice President Hawaii, and Rutgers University. Ardath Walter Burks was born Commander J. W. Steele, who in for Academic Affairs. His efforts From the beginning of his May 1, 1915 in Covington, turn forwarded them to General to establish a Department of tenure at Rutgers, Burks devoted Kentucky to Alonzo Edwin Joseph Twitty, JICPOA San Asian Studies culminated in his his energies to reviving interest Burks, an assistant freight agent Francisco, California appointment as the first in Japan and renewing ties for the C & O Railroad, and Only vague hints are provided Professor of Asian Studies in between Rutgers and Fukui Clara Grace McCracken Burks. as to Burks' location and exact 1977. He formally retired in University which had originated He married Virginia Jane Lyle duties during his service, but the 1981, and was subsequently in the mid-nineteenth century. Burks on November 15, 1941; following timeline was created recognized as a Professor With his enthusiastic promotion their son, Stephen Riki Burks, from information extracted from Emeritus of Asian Studies. and participation, Rutgers was born in 1954. Ardath W. Burks Papers, 1928- During his academic career, University and Fukui University Burks received his B.A. from 1996: Burks remained active in built a collaborative relationship the University of Cincinnati in Burks left for sea in June research and writing and made manifested in various activities 1939, his M.A. from the 1944 and in July returned to numerous research trips. such as: the formation of University of Minnesota in 1941, Hawaii. By October 1944 he was Amongst other positions, he was Rutgers-kai, the Rutgers and his Ph.D. from the School of writing home from "somewhere a Research Associate and the Association of Fukui (1978); the Advanced International Studies in the Pacific" and on November Acting Field Director for the establishment of the Griffis- at Johns Hopkins University in 7, 1944 referenced his location University of Michigan Center Kusakabe Fund (1978); and the 1949. However, World War II "somewhere in the Philippines." for Japanese Studies in Okayama creation of a formal exchange interrupted his progress towards In mid-November Burks (1952-1953); a Senior Research program between Rutgers and his doctorate. He served as an describes visiting a primitive Fulbright Fellow for Humanistic Fukui University (1981). Burks Associate Economic Analyst for village that he describes as "one Studies at Kyoto University also actively supported positive the Office of Naval Intelligence generation out of headhunting." (1958-1959); a recipient of the relations between the United from 1941 to 1943. In 1943, On November 23 he indicates Ford Travel-Study Grant, States and Japan on local and upon obtaining a release from his that he moved to a new island representing Rutgers and acting national levels. Due in part to his deferment, Burks enlisted in the twenty-five miles from the as a liaison with Tokyo enthusiasm, New Brunswick United States Navy. He pursued former location. By December Metropolitan University (1962); signed a Sister Cities agreement intensive language training 1944 he had docked in Brisbane, a Resident Consultant of the with the city of Fukui in 1982, through the Naval Training Australia. In January 1945 he International House of Japan, and New Jersey entered into a School (Oriental Languages) at Inc., in Tokyo (1965); and a sister state agreement with Fukui Prefecture in 1990. In 1982, and University Archives, Rutgers the Japanese felt very area. But it was quite a feat. We Burks was recognized as an University Libraries, told me comfortable with just got a lot of information out of honorary citizen of Fukui. that Professor Burks died on broadcasting, without encoding the prisoners of war. They felt Burks was in many ways January 10, 2015.] anything: just their own language disgraced because they were responsible for promoting the because they knew nobody could captured rather than killed. They William Elliot Griffis Collection, Fernanda Perrone & Marci Cook understand them. had not given up their lives for held by Special Collections and Guide to the Dr. Myers: Was it your job to their Emperor. They got over Ardath W. Burks Papers, 1928-1996 University Archives, Rutgers listen to broadcasts and read that feeling because we treated 2004 & 2006 University Libraries. The Griffis Special Collections and University newspapers? them pretty well with cigarettes Collection documents the life of Archives, Rutgers University Dr. Chaffin: That was some of and some food. We got a lot of Griffis, who was one of the first Libraries it, yes, as well as interrogation of information from them. They oyatoi gaikokujin (foreign Finding aid encoded in EAD, version prisoners of war. We would would break down and talk. employees) serving in the Meiji 2002 by Kristy S. Buchalla, 2005, translate captured documents. On Dr. Myers: Did they teach you government. Griffis was also Ami DiPasquale, 2006, and Leah the battlefield. We would get how to do an interrogation? Gass, 2006 involved in tutoring a number of ________________ radio transmissions, and had Dr. Chaffin: Yes, we had a lot ryûgakusei (overseas students) some people who knew how to of training on that, and then who studied at Rutgers in the An Interview with decode. That was not part of my being a lawyer helped me, too. mid to late nineteenth century. Dr. Verner Chaffin job at the time, but I did a lot of Dr. Myers: Did you take more Burks's later research centered interrogation of prisoners of war. of a friendly approach? on March 16, 2012 on the yatoi and ryûgakusei. He One of our most valued Dr. Chaffin: Yes, I did. I had a helped organize two major (Cont’d from Issue #236, p. 4) documents was a diary, and very disarming approach and not conferences on the yatoi, one at Dr. Myers: What was the almost every Japanese soldier at aggressive at all. No blame; no Rutgers in 1967 and one at Fukui dropout rate? that time had his own personal nothing. We treated them with University in 1985, which were Dr.