Overview

Robert Wolfe (March 2, 1921 – December 10, 2014) was an American historian and archivist best known for his long career at the United States National Archives and for his background as a World War II U.S. Army officer. Born in Burlington, Vermont, Wolfe combined field experience from military service with archival practice to assist scholars, legal investigators, journalists and family researchers working with twentieth‑century records.

Career and scholarship

Wolfe spent much of his professional life at the National Archives, where he developed a reputation as an expert in wartime documentation, captured enemy records, and the organization and description of government files. He helped make complex collections more accessible by advising on provenance, preparation of finding aids, and proper handling of delicate material. Colleagues and researchers valued his practical knowledge about how records had been created, stored and transferred during and after the war.

Military service

As a young man Wolfe served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was wounded while deployed in both the European and Pacific theaters of operations. His experience as a veteran informed his later archival work: he understood military terminology, unit structures, and the kinds of reports and orders that appear in service records and intelligence files. Wolfe's dual perspective—veteran and archivist—made him a frequent point of contact for inquiries about operational records and wartime documentation.

Contributions and legacy

Wolfe's contributions were practical and cumulative rather than concentrated in a single publication. He assisted countless researchers in tracing individual and unit histories, identified important series within captured and federal records, and offered guidance on interpreting primary sources from the mid‑twentieth century. His efforts helped preserve fragile materials and improve researchers' ability to reconstruct events from archival evidence.

Notable facts

  • Born in Burlington and later based in Washington, D.C., he bridged regional roots and a national archival role.
  • Wounded in both principal theaters of World War II service, bringing firsthand perspective to his archival stewardship.
  • Died in Washington, D.C., on December 10, 2014, at the age of 93; his passing was noted by colleagues and institutions that relied on his expertise.

For further context on the institutions and subjects connected to Wolfe's work, consult institutional guides and archival finding aids or reach out to archival professionals. Wolfe's career illustrates how wartime experience and archival practice can combine to preserve and illuminate complex historical records for a wide range of users. Location of death and obituary references

Additional reading and resources may be found via archival centers and research libraries that hold twentieth‑century government collections; institutions often provide online descriptions and staff contacts to help navigate those materials. Burlington remains the city of his birth and part of his biographical identity. Vermont shaped his early life before his military and archival careers brought him to the nation's capital. Historians and researchers continue to rely on foundational archival work like Wolfe's when studying World War II and its documentary legacy.