Archival Collections

This World War II collection relates to Gertrude Margaritte Ivory Bertram, an African American nurse who served in the U.S. Army. The collection consists of letters, photographs (depicting herself and her fellow nurses in uniform, as well as African American G.I.s, and a few photographs from her time in West Africa), personal items, books, manuscripts, newspaper clippings, and interviews. The materials mainly document Bertram's time at Fort Bragg, NC, but there is some information concerning her life before enlistment, travels during enlistment, and life after enlistment. Most of her enlistment was spent in West Africa and at Fort Bragg, NC. This collection is important, as it covers the unique experiences of women and African Americans during World War II, and offers insight that differs from the majority white male G.I. perspective. It depicts African American nurses in both a professional setting and casual settings as Bertram enjoyed downtime with her friends.

Helen E. Walsh served in the Women's Army Corps from September 1942 to October 1945. She served as an artificer in Oran, Algeria, North Africa; Caserta, Italy; and Dijon, France. She earned three major battle stars for her service close to the front lines in three major battle areas of the European Theater, including Rome-Arno, North Apennines, and Rhineland. She was a Sergeant Major when she received an honorable medical discharge. Walsh remained active in the National Association of Women's Veterans, and kept extensive scrapbooks about her own service in the WAC, and of World War II in general. The collection contains 1 box of documents and clippings about Walsh during and after her Army service, 1/2 box of photographs Walsh took while serving overseas, 2 artifact boxes containing Walsh's Army equipment and items she collected overseas, and 4 Women's Army Corps uniform pieces.

Henry Louis Hill served as a captain with the U.S. Army's 97th Infantry, Field Artillery, S-3 Battalion during World War II. This collection contains a veteran's questionnaire from Louis Hill; a one-page faded cartoon of native women on Guadalcanal; and a brief (less than one page) recount of how Hill came upon a Japanese lantern, which is also part of the collection. The collection also contains a black and white photograph of the president of Florida State College for Women (FSCW), Dr. Edward Conradi, buying supposedly the first defense bond issued in Tallahassee, FL, from Miss Mart Pierson (later married to Henry Louis Hill). According to the inscription on the photograph, the date was 14 December 1941, the first day defense bonds were sold in the US. Miss Pierson was the president of the College Government and chairman of the College Student Defense Committee. Also, there is a book of war stories from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, but Hill is not represented.

This collection relates to Staff Sergeant Johnson Wood's experiences during World War II as a machine gunner in the 100th Infantry Division, 398th Regiment, Company K. His papers include a lengthy and detailed oral history transcript, poems, and a short manuscript. These materials focus on his actions and thoughts during the war, as well as World War II in public memory and his personal relationships with friends and family.

This collection relates to Staff Sergeant Philip Sperling who served with Headquarters Detachment, 325th Medical Battalion, which was assigned to the 100th Infantry Division during World War II. The collections primarily contain letters. Also included in the collection is currency, postcards, newspaper clippings, photographs, artifacts, and souvenirs. The collection also includes his government correspondence before and after his discharge from the Army.

This collection contains a transcript of an interview with Raymond F. Bricker conducted by David Gregory on April 17, 1999.  It details his time in the U.S. Army from 1941 through 1945. Raymond F. Bricker served with the 82nd Airborne Division during World War II.

This collection relates to Thurston Macon who served as a Corporal in the United States Army with 799th Military Police Battalion during World War II. Within this interview, Macon describes his basic training at Fort Custer in Battle Creek, Michigan, his trip to Australia on the USAT Willard A. Holbrook. He describes his guard detail for General MacArthur in Brisbane, Australia, and Manila, as well as his personal interaction with MacArthur. Macon was also chosen as an honor guard for the Yamashita trial in late 1945.

This collection relates to Walter A. Holle, Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army who served in the European Theater with 5th Army Headquarters and participated in the Battles of Salerno and Anzio. This collection contains a manuscript memoir, one laminated paper featuring text on one side and labeled photographs on the other that includes an account of Paul A. Holle (brother) and Walter A. Holle meeting during the war. Also included is a CD containing scans of the materials.

This collection relates to William V. Voss, Jr. who served with the U.S. Army, 11th Field Artillery, 24th Infantry Division, in New Guinea and the Philippines during World War II. This collection contains four copies of personal letters and two manuscripts, as well as letters and articles from a reunion magazine from Robert Dexheimer. In his manuscript on the "Return to Bataan," he recounts his experience and tells stories of men he knew and his interactions with local Filipinos. Included with the manuscript is a photograph of Voss. The letter from James L. Postma describes his time in the Philippines and experience with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and includes a photograph of him from 1945. There are three articles by men recounting their experiences in the Philippines. There is one copy of a photograph of the 21st Brigade at Schofield Barracks and copies of four images of Hawaii before World War II. There is also one article on the Korean War and two articles on incidents at Pearl Harbor after December 7, 1941.

This collection pertains to Corporal Wrightson Ely Clinton Sr., who served in the 116th Field Artillery Battalion of the United States Army National Guard's 31st Infantry Division. He served in the Netherland East Indies and the Philippines from 1944 to 1945 as a clerk of the Battery.