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Dee Walker Leavitt Papers, 1940-2006

Overview of the Collection

Title
Dee Walker Leavitt Papers
Dates
1940-2006 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.75 linear feet, (3 boxes)
Collection Number
MSS 404
Repository
Boise State University Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
1910 University Drive
Boise ID
83725
Telephone: 2084263990
archives@boisestate.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is available for research

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Esther Dee Walker Leavitt was the granddaughter of Forrest Packard who was a former prisoner of war on Wake Island during WWII. She became interested in Wake Island when learning about her family ancestry and her grandfather's experiences. She met with multiple POWs who shared their stories with her and became inspired by pictures drawn by other former POW Joe Astaria while Wake was under siege and while he was also a prisoner in Shanghai, China. Encouraged by her family to write detailed commentary about the illustrations and how they may have connected to her grandfather, Leavitt began the process of writing her book. "They Never Wavered: Forrest and Esther Packard During War Years" shares the experiences of her grandparents, Forrest and Esther Packard during WWII and contains copies of original documents from the National Archives in Washington D.C. as well as memories from other former POWs.

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Content Description

Files, journals, and newspaper articles from Wake Island and the Idahoan prisoners of war who lived there during WWII.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item description], [Dee Walker Leavitt Papers], Box [number] Folder [number], Boise State University Special Collections and Archives.

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Donated by Dee Walter Leavitt in 2022

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Wake Island, 1940-2006

    • Description: "They Never Wavered: Forrest and Esther Packard During war Years" By Ellen Dee Walker Leavitt
      Dates: 2005
      Container: Box 1, Folder 1
    • Description: Wake Island
      Container: Box 1, Folder 2
    • Description: "The Defense of the Wake"
      Container: Box 1, Folder 3
    • Description: The Em Kayan Magazine - Wake Island
      Dates: 1945
      Container: Box 1, Folder 4
    • Description: Wake Island
      Dates: 1998-2003
      Container: Box 1, Folder 5
    • Description: Wake Island
      Container: Box 1, Folder 6
    • Description: "Prisoner of Wake" By Glenn Newell
      Dates: 1997
      Container: Box 1, Folder 7
    • Description: "The War Diary of Leal Henderson Russell"
      Dates: 1940-1945
      Container: Box 1, Folder 8
    • Description: Packard Personal Papers
      Dates: 1943-1945
      Container: Box 1, Folder 9
    • Description: Packard Personal Papers
      Dates: 1941-1988
      Container: Box 1, Folder 10
    • Description: Niigata
      Dates: 1944-1946
      Container: Box 1, Folder 11
    • Description: Fengtai Camp, Sendai, Langtaii Camp
      Dates: 1945-2003
      Container: Box 1, Folder 12
    • Description: Camp Reports
      Dates: 1943-2003
      Container: Box 1, Folder 13
    • Description: Woosung Camp
      Dates: 1942-2003
      Container: Box 1, Folder 14
    • Description: Wake Island
      Dates: 1942-1984
      Container: Box 1, Folder 15
    • Description: Prisoners of War
      Dates: 1959
      Container: Box 1, Folder 16
    • Description: Correspondence
      Dates: 1942-2006
      Container: Box 1, Folder 17
    • Description: General Pictures
      Dates: 1943-2003
      Container: Box 1, Folder 18
    • Description: National Archives Information
      Dates: 1992-2003
      Container: Box 1, Folder 19
    • Description: Prisoners of War Personal Card Info
      Dates: 2003
      Container: Box 1, Folder 20
    • Description: Prisoners of War
      Dates: 1940-1988
      Container: Box 2, Folder 1
    • Description: Wake Island
      Dates: 1941-2002
      Container: Box 2, Folder 2
    • Description: Wake Island
      Dates: 2000-2004
      Container: Box 2, Folder 3
    • Description: Prisoners of War
      Dates: 1946-2003
      Container: Box 2, Folder 4
    • Description: Ending of War
      Dates: 1945-2003
      Container: Box 2, Folder 5
    • Description: Lists of Info of Japanese POW Camps
      Dates: 1945-2003
      Container: Box 2, Folder 6
    • Description: Camp Rules and Punishment
      Dates: 1942-2002
      Container: Box 2, Folder 7
    • Description: Other Camp Information
      Dates: 1942-2001
      Container: Box 2, Folder 8
    • Description: Wake Island Newspaper Articles
      Dates: 1943-1955
      Container: Box 3

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Subject Terms

  • Prisoners of war
  • World War, 1939-1945

Geographical Names

  • Boise (Idaho)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Diaries
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