World War II Collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: SCA-0067

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains items used and created by American soldiers stationed abroad during World War II, as well as domestic printed materials related to the War effort. Included are photographs issued by the United States Marine Corps depicting soldiers in combat, including images from the Nagasaki bomb aftermath and US troops in battle at Saipan, Tinian, and Tarawa. Illustrated maps printed in the New York Sunday News depict the advances and movements of the Allied forces, informing the public of progress within the war effort. Foreign war-time currency, and pieces of fabric from Japanese uniforms serve as an example of personal items collected by American soldiers during their time of service. Correspondance between Colonel Park and Nancy Watson inform on the quotidian aspects of life in America and in service of the infantry division of the US army in the Phillipines (1945-1946). Also included are Armed Services Edition paperbacks (1943-1947) of popular and classic American fiction that were freely distributed to American troops to boost the morale of homesick soldiers and foster post-war habits of book reading. Finally, civilian defense and Queens College materials demonstrate how the American public and Queens College campus mobilized to support the war effort.

Dates

circa 1938-1950

Conditions Governing Access

Appointments to examine materials must be made in advance. Please e-mail QC.archives@qc.cuny.edu for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Conditions Governing Use

Reproductions may be provided to users to support research and scholarship. However, collection use is subject to all copyright laws. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Extent

8 Linear Feet (9 boxes: 6 flat boxes of various sizes; 2 standard document cases, 1 half document case. One oversized map in flat file drawer. )

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection consists of a variety of materials relating to World War II from the American perspective including photographs, correspondence, illustrated maps, Armed Services Edition paperback books, civil defense literature, and Queens College materials.

Arrangement

The is an "artificial" collection (compiled from various sources and donors) and is arranged based on provenance and type of material.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Photographs, Correspondence, Maps, Newsletters, and Art Work by R.W. Hill were donated to Queens College by William Asadorian, who collected them from estate sales (November 2019 and November 2022). Based on stamps and other evidence on the leaflets, it appears that the Civil Defense literature was part of the Paul Klapper Library's collection. The Queens College series consists of research and original primary sources that were collated by Bob Weller for the College's 50th anniversary. The provenance of the Armed Services Editions is unclear.

Related Materials

The Queens College World War II Veterans Project Libguide compiles and makes public the currently known names and service records of the roughly 1,900 Queens College students and staff who served in some capacity during the Second World War: https://qc-cuny.libguides.com/WorldWarTwoVetsProject. Professor Bobby Wintermute (History) also conducted extensive oral histories with Queens College World War II veterans.