Archival Collections

Letters and research materials of Barbara McCrimmon, Florida State University alumna, mainly concerning her time spent drafting the biography of Dr. Richard Garnett.

Photostats of the Civil War letters by B.F. Hammond written during 1863 and 1864 from various camps in Virginia to members of his family in South Carolina. All letters were written on battlefields and contain vivid descriptions of "the bloody struggle." Also known as MSS 0-135.

Charlotte Mansfield enlisted in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (W.A.A.C.) in 1942 to pursue work in photograph processing for the military. She was part of the first all-women graduating class from Lowry Field Photo School in Colorado, where she was trained to be a photo technician that developed primarily aerial shots in photography labs. Mansfield was stationed at various locations throughout the United States before being transferred to lab work overseas in England and Germany. By this time, W.A.A.C. had transitioned to Women's Army Corps (W.A.C.). Throughout her military service, Mansfield took numerous personal photographs that featured her friends and surroundings. They provide an unparalleled amount of insight into the private lives of W.A.C.s as they negotiated what it meant to serve in World War II. Mansfield reenlisted after the war, eventually becoming part of the Women in the Air Force (W.A.F.), and retired in 1973. Photography remained her passion until her death in 2007.

This collection relates to Staff Sergeant Warren R. MacInnes (part of the 834th) in Italy. The box contains letters and photographs sent to him from his wife while he was stationed on the Italian front in Europe. In addition, there are periodicals and pamphlets related to the reintroduction of soldiers from the Italian front back into civilian life Stateside.  This collection also contains documents related to Private Gerald Greenbaum who served with 1560th Service Unit, Medical Section-Station Complement, Camp Atterbury, Indiana.

This collection relates to Janet C. Bryan who was married to a U.S. Army Field Artilery officer who was stationed at various posts in the U.S. during World War II. This collection is composed of the correspondance from Janet C. Bryan to her parents, addressed as Mr. and Mrs. Raymond G. Williams, residing in Barrington and Providence, Rhode Island. Janet C. Bryan's 145 letters, postcards, and telegrams document the social activities and personal impressions of army life, train travel, and the Western U.S, including visits to San Fransisco and Oakland, San Luis Obispo, and Los Angeles. She also mentions people and family members from Providence including actor Sonny Tufts, a cousin of Janet C. Bryan.

The items in the Janet MacGowan West Collection contain a scrapbook related to her years as a student at Florida State College for Women as well as miscellaneous items including correspondence, a luggage tag, and newspaper clippings.

This item is an original letter bearing the signature of John D. Gray, Tallahassee, Florida, March 24, 1836, addressed to Philip Ford. The letter discussed "End Plates" and "Spikes;" evidently to be used in the construction of the St. Joseph-Lake Wimico Railroad, the first railroad built in Florida.

Photostats of Civil War letters by John M. House written from a U.S. Military Prison, Feb. 24, 1865 to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel C. House, Knoxville, Tenn.; John and his brother Samuel were in U.S. Military prisons at different locations (John at Johnsons Island and Samuel at Castle William, Governors Island, New York Harbor): John's letter mentions his brother and other members of the family, but he wrote chiefly about an exchange of prisoners which was taking place at Johnsons Island. Also in Special Collections are letters by Samuel House to his parents (MSS 1965-142).

Mary Monroe was a theatre student at FTU in the 1970s. Her collection of photographs, news clippings, and programs document the theatre performances during that time.