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Watson Family Papers, 1937-1980

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Watson family.
Title
Watson Family Papers
Dates
1937-1980 (inclusive)
Quantity
2.7 cubic ft. (6 boxes)
Collection Number
11738
Summary
Correspondence and personal papers of four African-American brothers who served in the United States military during World War II.
Repository
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions
Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

The Watson family was an African-American family composed of Paul and Millie Watson and their sons, who lived in Philadelphia. Four sons served in the United States military during World War II. LeRoy Watson joined the Navy and served on the USS Mason. This ship was one of two US Navy ships with largely African-American crews. William Watson was a gunnery sergeant in the Army Air Force, serving at Tuskegee, Alabama, and Fort Myers, Florida. Jack Watson served in the Army, and Thomas (Buddie) also served in the Navy. James Watson, the youngest, remained at home.

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Content Description

The Watson family papers include correspondence among family members and with friends. The bulk of the correspondence is from March 1942, when Thomas Watson joined the US Navy, through early 1946, when the four brothers were discharged from the military. Also included are postcards, greeting cards, photographs, report cards, certificates of service, newspaper clippings, and programs.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

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Administrative Information

Related Materials

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by the Watson family at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

The collection was purchased from Elliott Mittler in 2010.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was arranged and described by Daniel Riedel and D. Claudia Thompson in 2020.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Container List
  • Description: Certificates and Diplomas - Watson Family
    Dates: 1938-1977
    Container: Box 1
  • Description: Church and School Records - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1937-1941
    Container: Box 1
  • Description: Correspondence - Watson Family/James Watson
    Dates: 1940s
    Container: Box 1
  • Description: Correspondence - Watson Family
    Dates: 1952-1980
    Container: Box 1
  • Description: Correspondence - Jack Watson
    Dates: 1942, November-December
    Container: Box 1
  • Description: Correspondence - Jack Watson
    Dates: 1943, January
    Container: Box 1
  • Description: Correspondence - Jack Watson
    Dates: 1943, February-June
    Container: Box 1
  • Description: Correspondence - Jack Watson
    Dates: 1943, July-September
    Container: Box 1
  • Description: Correspondence - Jack Watson
    Dates: 1943, October-December
    Container: Box 1
  • Description: Correspondence - Jack Watson
    Dates: 1944, January-March
    Container: Box 1
  • Description: Correspondence - Jack Watson
    Dates: 1944, May-December
    Container: Box 1
  • Description: Correspondence - Jack Watson
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 1
  • Description: Correspondence - LeRoy "Grubb" Watson
    Dates: 1942, November-December
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - LeRoy "Grubb" Watson
    Dates: 1943, August-October
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - LeRoy "Grubb" Watson
    Dates: 1943, November
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - LeRoy "Grubb" Watson
    Dates: 1943, December 1-19
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - LeRoy "Grubb" Watson
    Dates: 1943, December 20-31
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - LeRoy "Grubb" Watson
    Dates: 1944, January
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - LeRoy "Grubb" Watson
    Dates: 1944, February
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - LeRoy "Grubb" Watson
    Dates: 1944, August-December
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - LeRoy "Grubb" Watson
    Dates: 1945, January-May
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - LeRoy "Grubb" Watson
    Dates: 1945, July-August
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - LeRoy "Grubb" Watson
    Dates: 1945, September-December
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - LeRoy "Grubb" Watson
    Dates: 1946, January
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - LeRoy "Grubb" Watson
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - Millie Watson
    Dates: 1943
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - Millie Watson
    Dates: 1944, January-June
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - Millie Watson
    Dates: 1944, July-December
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - Millie Watson
    Dates: 1945
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - Paul Watson
    Dates: 1943
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - Paul Watson
    Dates: 1944, January-May
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - Paul Watson
    Dates: 1944, June-December
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - Paul Watson
    Dates: 1945
    Container: Box 2
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1939
    Container: Box 3
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1940-1941
    Container: Box 3
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1942
    Container: Box 3
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1943, January-May
    Container: Box 3
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1943, June
    Container: Box 3
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1943, July
    Container: Box 3
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson - from Ruth Mitchell
    Dates: 1943, August 1-10
    Container: Box 3
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson - from Ruth Mitchell
    Dates: 1943, August 11-20
    Container: Box 3
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson - from Ruth Mitchell
    Dates: 1943, August 21-30
    Container: Box 4
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson - to Millie and Paul
    Dates: 1943, August
    Container: Box 4
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson - from Ruth Mitchell
    Dates: 1943, September
    Container: Box 4
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson - to Millie and Paul
    Dates: 1943, September
    Container: Box 4
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson - from Ruth Mitchell
    Dates: 1943, October 1-20
    Container: Box 4
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson - from Ruth Mitchell
    Dates: 1943, October 21-30
    Container: Box 4
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson - to and from Millie and Paul
    Dates: 1943, October
    Container: Box 4
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson - from Ruth Mitchell
    Dates: 1943, November
    Container: Box 4
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson - to Millie and Paul
    Dates: 1943, November-December
    Container: Box 4
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1944, January-February
    Container: Box 4
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1944, March
    Container: Box 4
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1944, April
    Container: Box 4
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1944, May
    Container: Box 4
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1944, June-July
    Container: Box 5
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1944, August-September
    Container: Box 5
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1944, October-December
    Container: Box 5
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1945, January-February
    Container: Box 5
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1945, May-August
    Container: Box 5
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1945, September
    Container: Box 5
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1945, October-December
    Container: Box 5
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1946, January-February
    Container: Box 5
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1950-1953
    Container: Box 5
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1954
    Container: Box 5
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1955
    Container: Box 5
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1956
    Container: Box 5
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1957, January-June
    Container: Box 6
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1957, July-December
    Container: Box 6
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1957, unknown month
    Container: Box 6
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: 1958-1959, 1963
    Container: Box 6
  • Description: Correspondence - Thomas "Buddie" Watson
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 6
  • Description: Correspondence - William "Bill" Watson
    Dates: 1942, August-December
    Container: Box 6
  • Description: Correspondence - William "Bill" Watson
    Dates: 1943, January-September
    Container: Box 6
  • Description: Correspondence - William "Bill" Watson
    Dates: 1943, October-December
    Container: Box 6
  • Description: Correspondence - William "Bill" Watson
    Dates: 1944, January-June
    Container: Box 6
  • Description: Correspondence - William "Bill" Watson
    Dates: 1944, July-December
    Container: Box 6
  • Description: Correspondence - William "Bill" Watson
    Dates: 1945-1946
    Container: Box 6
  • Description: Newspaper Clippings
    Dates: 1940-1958
    Container: Box 6
  • Description: Photographs (mainly unidentified)
    Dates: 1940s, undated
    Container: Box 6
  • Description: Printed Material (menu, religious and patriotic pamphlets, post cards of Ft. Bragg, concert program)
    Dates: 1940s
    Container: Box 6
  • Description: Printed Material - Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
    Dates: 1954, 1967
    Container: Box 6

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Subject Terms

  • World War, 1939-1945 -- African Americans.
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Participation, African American.
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American.

Corporate Names

  • Mason (Destroyer escort)
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