Glenn C. Ames Collection, 1927-1986, undated

(Manuscript Collection #1158)

Accessions Information

December 7, 2009, (unprocessed) 598 items, 1.0 cubic feet; Collection (1927-1986, undated) compiled by Glenn Charles Ames, an intelligence officer, relating primarily to his service in the 41st Infantry Division, United States Army, during World War II, in Australia; Hollandia, New Guinea; Zamboanga, Mindanao, Philippines; Java, Shouten Island & Biak Island, & the Netherlands East Indies; also documenting his service as commanding general of the California National Guard, 1967-1975, including manuscripts, printed materials, & photographic prints & including two photographs of a Lockheed Explorer monoplane at the Douglas Aircraft Company, Santa Monica, Calif., in 1927, numerous scenes of combat during World War II, and of social events involving the National Guard. See preliminary inventory attached. 2 boxes. 598 items. 771 p. (ca. 1.0 cubic feet) Recd. 9/17/2009. Note: The donor received the collection as a gift from a descendant of Gen. Ames through the courtesy of his student Alex Jones, in Feb. 2004. After World War II, Ames (1913-1990) practiced law in California but remained an officer in the U. S. Army Reserve. In 1951, he switched to the California National Guard where he played an active role during the 1965 Watts riots. He retired in 1967 as a brigadier general but Gov. Ronald Reagan recalled him to duty four months later to head the California National Guard. He strengthened the Guard to control civil disturbances resulting from civil rights riots & protests against the war in Vietnam. He retired in 1975 with the federal rank of major general and the state rank of lieutenant general. Donor: William J. Rorabaugh

Access Restrictions

Researchers must obtain permission from the Assistant Director for Special Collections to access photographic prints in folder 2.d containing graphic images of enemy dead. Otherwise, no restrictions

Copyright Notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Preferred Citation

Glenn C. Ames Collection (#1158), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.

Acquisition Information

• Gift of William J. Rorabaugh

Processing Information

• Encoded by Jonathan Dembo, December 07, 2009

Glenn Charles Ames was born on 29 March 1913. A native of Wisconsin, Ames entered military service in 1935, when he received a commission as a second lieutenant in the Officers Reserve Corps on his graduation from the University of Illinois. After earning his law degree from the University of Southern California, in 1937, he served in what he termed "the old horse cavalry," patrolling the Mexican border. During World War II, he served as an intelligence in the 41st Infantry Division in the Pacific Theater. Ames served in Australia, New Guinea, the then Dutch East Indies and the Philippines, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. At the end of the war, he was the intelligence officer in a task force that occupied the Hiroshima-Kure area and accepted the surrender of the remaining Imperial Japanese Navy.

After occupation duty in Japan, he returned to the United States to practice law in Encino, California. He specialized in probate and corporate law. However, Ames remained an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. In 1951, he switched to the California National Guard. In 1965, Ames played an active part in the Guard's service during the Watts [Los Angeles, Ca.] riots. Ames also helped train Guard troops to assist local police officers if other civil disturbances erupted in California's major cities.

Gen. Ames retired from the California National Guard in 1966 with the rank of brigadier general. However, Gov. Ronald Reagan recalled him to duty in 1967 to serve as commander of the California National Guard with the rank of lieutenant general. Gen. Ames served to a tumultuous period in California history. He reorganized and strengthened the Guard, preparing troops to maintain order during demonstrations and civil disturbances. Ames retired from the Guard in 1975 with the federal rank of major general.

Gen. Ames died of heart failure on 2 October 1990 in Los Angeles, Ca. He was 77 years old. Gen. Ames left a wife, Maxine, a son, Glenn C. Ames Jr., a daughter, Jodi Ames Mulliniks, a sister, and two grandchildren.

Below is material taken from a preliminary inventory and represents content from the collection that is unprocessed.

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