Roebling family papers

Descriptive Summary
Title: Roebling family papers
Creator: Roebling family
Inclusive Dates: 1930-2010
Language(s): English
Extent: 11 Linear Feet 4 boxes
Collection Number: ms4329
Repository: Hargrett Library

---

Collection Description

Historical Note

Donald Roebling (1908-1959) was an engineer, philantropist, and inventor who created the Alligator, a tracked vehicle to be used for rescues after hurricanes in Florida. This vehicle was tested by and developed for the United States Marine Corps to be used as an amphibious assault vehicle during World War II. His great grandfather John A. Roebling designed the Brooklyn bridge and died early in the building process, and his grandfather Washington Roebling and his wife Emily oversaw and completed it. Donald Roebling built his mansion, Spottis Woode, in Clearwater, Florida in 1929, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Karl "Bucky" Roebling (1929-1009) was an author of several books on military history.

Scope and Content

This collection contains family clippings, photographs and correspondence; materials regarding the development of Donald Roebling's amphibious vehicle, The Alligator; and W.R. Roebling's efforts to record memories and organize reunions of veterans who served in the 2nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps. It also contains manuscripts and research for several of Karl Roebling's military pubications.

---

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Roebling family papers, ms4329, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

---

Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Related Collections in this Repository

The audiovisual materials related to this collection are housed in the Walter J. Brown Media Archives.

Though the collection is open for research, the audiovisual recordings do not have reference copies; however, reference copies are available upon request. Audiovisual research requests are dependent upon the format and condition of the recordings.

---

Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

1. Family
box	folder
Request box
1	1	History
1	2	Clippings, photographs (copies)
1	3	John A. Roebling
1	4	Donald Roebling
1	5	Reade Tilley, Mary Tilley Bessemer
1	6	Family history - William and Gloria Bruckart
1	7	Family history - printed material
1	8	Spottiswoode
1	9	Spottiswoode - Rosalie Morris
1	10	Spottiswoode - Pam, Elliott Rubinson
1	11	Belleview Biltmore
1	12	Morton Plant Mease Foundation
1	13	Heritage Village - The Roeblings - Four Generations of an Illustrious Family
item
Request item
1		DeRenne wooden wine box

 

2. Correspondence
box	folder
Request box
1	14	Donald Roebling from John A. Roebling (photocopies), 1918-1940
1	15	John A. Roebling from Donald Roebling (photocopies), 1935-1939
1	16	W.R. "Rip" Roebling - various people
1	17	W.R. Roebling - Karl Roebling
1	18	W.R. Roebling - Jim Cecil
1	19	W.R. Roebling - Rick Graham
1	20	W.R. Roebling - Col. Martin Johnson
1	21	W.R. Roebling - Vincent Luisi, Dunedon Historical Museum
1	22	W.R. Roebling - Meldon, David Laury
1	23	W.R. Roebling - Roger Smith
1	24	W.R. Roebling - Bing Swain
1	25	W.R. Roebling - Jim Thompson
1	26	W.R. Roebling - Mary, Bob Yeomans
1	27	W.R. Roebling - Clifford Zink
1	28	W.R. Roebling - Skidaway
1	29-32	2nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion Reunions, 2000-2005
box	folder
Request box
2	1	2nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion Reunions, 2006
2	2	Marine Corps Heritage Museum [missed 2007 reunion], 2007
2	3-4	2nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion Reunions, 2008-2009
2	5	2nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion Reunions - photographs, 2009
2	6	2nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion Reunions - photo album, notes
2	7	2nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion Reunions - souvenir coins, badges
2	8	Christmas cards, 2002-2003
2	9	Christmas cards to send, 2004

 

3. Writing
box	folder
Request box
2	10	W.R. Roebling - Alligator presentations
2	11	W.R. Roebling - Donald Roebling presentation, Savannah, Georgia, 2015
2	12	W.R. Roebling - slides from presentations
2	13	W.R. Roebling - notes
2	14	W.R. Roebling - Carl Wise
2	15-17	Karl Roebling - working papers
2	18-19	Karl Roebling - rough drafts
box	folder
Request box
3	1	Karl Roebling - drafts
3	2	Karl Roebling - drafts, notes
3	3	Karl Roebling - Assault Wave drafts
3	4	Karl Roebling - Florida's Alligator-LVT in WWII
3	5-6	Karl Roebling - Great Myths of WWII - research notes
3	7	Karl Roebling - Great Myths of WWII - backup papers
3	8	Jim Boring - war memoir
3	9	Richard Roan - Roebling's Amphibian
3	10	Richard "Buck" Sommerville - One Man's War
3	11	Jim Thompson - Memories of WWII
3	12	Everett "Bill" Daniel - FMC - interview, 2002
3	13	Jim Jenkins - FMC - interview
3	14	John Moore - memories, photographs
3	15	Don Phillips - interview, 2002
3	16	Mike Sanders - interview, 2002
3	17	Leonard Wilson - notes

 

4. Alligator, AMTRAC
box	folder
Request box
3	18	Photographs - Test run of Alligators, McDill AFB - Carl Wise
3	19	Photographs - First mechanics to Marine barracks, 1942
3	20	Photographs - 2nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion
3	21	Photographs, copies - Alligator, LVT
3	22	Photographs (photocopies) - amphibious crafts
3	23	Alligator brochure (2), 1940
3	24	The Alligator - photo album of development
box	folder
Request box
4	1-2	The Alligator - photo album of development (scanned selections)
4	3-4	Donald Roebling - Catalog 18 - Alligator development file (Photocopies with notes)
4	5	USMC Amphibious Warfare School - LVT history, development, 1948-1950
4	6	Tarawa by Charles Gregg - photocopy selection with notes
4	7	Assault from the Sea by J.D. Ladd - with notes, 1976
4	8	Amphibious Warfare Development in Britain and America from 1920-1940 by Kenneth Clifford - photocopy with notes, 1983
4	9	COMPHIBPAC Operations Plan A11-45 by James Davis - photocopy
4	10	WWII book catalog, Seapower Almanac
4	11	WWII Books, booklets
4		Roebling's "Alligator" for Florida Rescues - article in Life Magazine, 1937 October 4