James J. Robinson papers (Ms.2006.001)

The papers span the years 1930 to 1952, with the bulk falling between 1945 and 1950. The collection is arranged in six series and includes legal documents, manuscripts, notes on legal cases, speeches, and research and drafts of a published book.

The bulk of the collection pertains to the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE). This series, composed of 11 subseries, includes transcripts of the trial, legal documents, exhibits, research, correspondence, and administrative documents related to the trial of accused Japanese war criminals in Tokyo after World War II.

The National Archives maintains the official collection of transcripts, indexes, and documents affiliated with the IMTFE. The Robinson collection is unique in that it includes Robinson's research and correspondence files as well as administrative files of the International Prosecution Section.

The second series is legal research related to Robinson's publication Cases on Criminal Law and Procedure as well as research on a variety of legal subjects such as temperance, communism, and international law.

The third and fourth series relate to Robinson's employment, education, and membership affiliations. Robinson was an active alumnus of Indiana University and Harvard Law School. A significant portion of the third series is comprised of records and notes related to teaching at Indiana University and The George Washington School of Law. The United Nations group, within the fourth series, consists mostly of documents and correspondence related to the League of Lawyers. Robinsonson's membership in this group reflects his lifelong interest in international criminal law.

Correspondence and personal and miscellaneous records are encompassed in the fifth and sixth series. This general correspondence is mostly comprised of Christmas cards received in 1951. The notes within personal and miscellaneous records are difficult to ascribe to a particular subject.