The Eugene Arthur Regnier Papers consist of correspondence, writings, reports, printed material, and photographs documenting Eugene A. Regnier's personal life and professional career. Regnier, a career army officer, was a friend of Henry L. Stimson, having served as Stimson's aide during his tenure as governor-general of the Philippines, secretary of state, and secretary of war (1940-1941). While the papers document Regnier's assignments and training, they focus primarily on Regnier's duties in the Philippines and the Department of State. The papers also highlight his work in developing better relations between the Department of State and the press. The papers complement the Henry L. Stimson Papers (Manuscript Group Number 445) and include many original letters in the handwritings of both Henry L. and Mabel Stimson.
The papers, given to the Yale University Library in 1985 by Regnier's four children, are arranged in three series: I. Correspondence, 1918-1956; II. Subject Files, 1921-1955; and III. Personal Papers, 1917-1956.
Series I is composed of personal correspondence with army friends, State Department associates, the Stimsons, and Regnier family members. Series II consists of correspondence, memoranda, records of conversations, clippings, photographs, travel memorabilia, and printed material concerning various military and diplomatic assignments and related topics. Series III includes such personal papers as financial and legal records, military orders, family photographs, and professional writings.
Series I contains correspondence with Henry L. and Mabel Stimson. These letters, which begin in 1928 and continue until a year before Mrs. Stimson's death (1955), are personal and reveal a great fondness and warmth between Regnier and the Stimsons. Many of these letters are handwritten, and copies are not located in the Stimson Papers. Various other letters concern Regnier's duties at the Department of State and the department's relations with the press. Files for George Harold Keatley, Allen Klots, John Van Antwerp MacMurray, and George Morelock contain information on these latter topics.
The series contains many notes of congratulation on appointments, marriage, and births of children; Christmas cards; and requests from friends for help in dealing with government bureaucracy. There are many family exchanges including those with Regnier's father-in-law Andrew Mcfarlane and sister Marie Louise Regnier. Letters to his wife Claire Janet Regnier date from his military service in America and in the European theater during World War II.
Series II, the largest series in the papers, is the major source of information on phases of Regnier's professional career. Folders 110-111 contain much briefing material on the Phillipine Islands. The folders refer to many of the issues that arose during Stimson's tenure as governor-general, and folders 118-20 include contemporary photographs. Topics relating to Regnier's work at the Department of State include: the London Conference of Ministers on Intergovernmental Debts in 1931; the General Disarmament Conference in Geneva in 1932; the crisis over Manchuria; and the Stimson press policy of educating members of the press corps with "background." Folders 112-113 contain briefing and organization notes for Stimson's press conferences. Regnier's military service is mainly represented by printed histories of World War II in folders 132-138. There are some mi1itary photographs in "Cavalry" files and in folder 149, reports on maneuvers and military training at Fort Bliss in folder 91, and a file on the work of the National Research Council Committee on Quartermaster Problems in folder 106. The series also includes memorabilia, photographs, and printed material about the Stimsons and their pets.
Series III consists of personal papers such as memorabilia from Regnier's military career, personal, finanical, and legal papers, military orders, family photographs, and professional writings. The series also includes obituary clippings and funeral remembrances.