Archival Collections

This collection pertains to Laura Mae Jackson DuFore who served with the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps during World War II. The collection contains four letters that she wrote to her sister and family while she was overseas, two letters from friends, a collection of black and white photographs mainly from New Guinea and the Philippines, foreign currency, various military documents, artwork created by DuFore, a metal bracelet with the name "Laura" etched in, a cigarette lighter made from a .50 caliber round, a Japanese fan, a Japanese cigarette, an Enlisted Infantry collar pin, photocopies of two scrapbooks, and various newsletters from air fields, ships, or other posts. The collection also contains a copy of DuFore's autobiography A Life So Full.

This collection pertains to Oliver "Bud" Anderson who served as a Ship Fitter Second Class aboard the USS Clifton (IX-184) during World War II. The collection contains letters Anderson sent to his mother, father, and brother Nolan while stationed in various locations in the United States, Australia, New Guinea, the Philippines, and Japan. Anderson's letters discuss mail, his high school sweetheart, Indigenous peoples, weather, entertainment, a furlough, rationing, and training. His government documents, several menus, and reflections from 2000 on his war experiences are also included. The collection also includes letters Anderson's brother-in-law, Boyd "Gene" Paradis, sent to his mother-in-law (Anderson's mother). Paradis was a decorated sergeant in the 158th Regimental Combat Team (the Bushmasters).

This forty page oral history interview transcript relates to Robert Mckay who was a student and interned by the Japanese at Baguio in the Philippine Islands during World War II.  The interview was conducted with McKay at a Baguio Internee reunion. The transcript covers McKay's experiences before, during, and after internment.

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.