Guide to the The John R. Wilhelm Papers

Biography of John R. Wilhelm

John. R. Wilhelm was dean emeritus of the College of Communication at Ohio University and a war correspondent who covered the Allied landing on Omaha Beach in Normandy. After graduating from the University of Minnesota School of Journalism, Mr. Wilhelm was a reporter for The Chicago Tribune and a correspondent in Britain, Argentina and Mexico. He was appointed dean in 1968 and dean emeritus in 1981. Wilhelm was the author of several books on Mexico and foreign correspondents. He was also friends with journalist and author Cornelius Ryan.

Scope and Content

The John R. Wilhelm papers span from the 1940s-1980s. This collection includes papers from his time as a journalist during WWII, his journalism within US boarders, his time as a professor at Ohio University as well as his time as Dean of the College of Communication. John R. Wilhelm was a foreign correspondent during WWII over in Europe. Within these papers includes articles, photographs, and documents of his experience. He was also a reporter in the United States boarders. There are also articles, photographs, and documents of this time as well. During his time as a foreign correspondent, Wilhelm met Cornelius Ryan (for whom the Ryan Room is named). The two became close friends and Ryan donated memorabilia he retrieved as WWII correspondent to the University and also set up an internship for aspiring journalists during Wilhelm's time with the university. After John R. Wilhelm's time as a journalist, he came to Ohio University to teach Journalism. As a professor he taught four classes: Journalism 105, Journalism 412, Journalism 432, and Journalism 467. This collection contains information about the classes he taught including: syllabi, homework assignments, class projects, quizzes, and exams. Wilhelm also was actively involved with finding foreign correspondent internships for students within the College of Communication. There are folders in the collection that has the students he sponsored internships for, where they went, and their experiences. John R. Wilhelm's internship is still continued today and helps journalism students become foreign correspondents across the globe. John R. Wilhelm was fluent in Spanish and traveled to Mexico during his time here at he created guidebooks several editions of guidebooks to Mexico. These were published by McGraw-Hill. This collection also contains many of his speeches he gave at Ohio University and beyond. There are some he gave in Mexico that were written and delivered in Spanish. During the late 1980s, John R. Wilhelm held a WWII correspondents reunion. He had his fellow WWII correspondents come to Athens and they had a ceremony in their honor. The collection includes RSVPs, publicity documents, mailing materials and speeches.

Statement of Arrangement

Subject Terms

Ohio University

Subjects:

Preferred Citation

Researchers are requested to cite John R. Wilhelm Papers, Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries in all footnotes and bibliographical references.

Detailed Description of the Collection