Records, 1941-1984 and undated

This series consists of four groupings: "Academic," "Literary, " "Military," and "Personal." While primarily administrative material from Whittemore's military life and academic career, the contents also include contracts, course materials, evaluations, meeting minutes, memos, notes, orders, reports, schedules, and some printed matter. Within each grouping, all files are organized alphabetically by folder heading.

Notable records among the "Academic" subheading include those from the Carleton College English Department; conference notes and materials from the National Institute of Public Affairs; materials from Whittemore's involvement with the Phi Beta Kappa lecture tour as well as other public appearances; and course evaluations, course materials, and University of Maryland English Department committee records.

Highlights in "Literary" include those documenting aspects of Whittemore's involvement with "Artists of Conscience" (protesting U. S. participation in the Vietnam War); his application and other materials relating to his 1973-1974 Guggenheim Fellowship application to complete his biography of William Carlos Williams; and records covering his position as Poetry Consultant at the Library of Congress.

"Military" most notably contains Whittemore's army orders, citations, various service records, and professional contracts.