View XML QR Code

War Records Committee military personnel files, 1941-1956

Overview of the Collection

Creator
University of Idaho. War Records Committee
Title
War Records Committee military personnel files
Dates
1941-1956 (inclusive)
Quantity
9.5 cubic feet
Collection Number
UG 026
Summary
Case files containing clippings, letters, and photographs, of university students, alumni and staff serving in World War II and the Korean conflict; also committee correspondence and newsletter Letter from the Idaho Camps.
Repository
University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
University of Idaho Library
875 Perimeter Drive
MS 2350
Moscow, ID
83844-2350
Telephone: 2088850845
libspec@uidaho.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Return to Top

Historical Note

Prior to the formation of the War Records Committee in September 1943, information on former students, alumni, and staff serving in World War II accumulated in the office of the Dean of Men, the Publications Department, and the Alumni Office. O.A. Fitzgerald, director of publications was asked to head the War Records Committee, whose purpose was to maintain contact with military personnel formerly associated with the university, and to preserve data needed for writing a history of the university and the war. At the end of the war the committee disbanded and a separate War Records Division was established in the Alumni Office, and James Lyle assumed the responsibility for record keeping.

Return to Top

Content Description

The papers of the War Records Committee span the years 1941 to 1956, with the bulk of the material covering the years 1941-1945.

The papers include all 15 issues of the publication "Letters from the Idaho Campus," a newsletter for and about military personnel, and some committee correspondence and memorandums. The bulk of the material consists of newspaper articles, letters, address cards, and photographs, all pertaining to men and women formerly connected with the university who were later serving in the military. There is also a small section devoted to civilian prisoners of war.

The Records of the Alumni Office (UG 25) contain 4x6 cards for MIAS, women in the military, and the Gold Stars.

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Arrangement

The material in this archival group was originally in several alphabetical sections. Each individual had his or her own folder. Although folders were combined, the original order was kept. Each series is in alphabetical order, the only filing anomaly being that Mc and Mac are filed at the end of the M's. The women in series IIB are filed under maiden name. The individual folders for military men and women were followed by folders containing alphabetical lists of individuals and material on individuals for whom no folders were made. No attempt was made to integrate these items and they are in folders following the appropriate category.

The first series contains "Letter from the Idaho Campus" and committee memorandums. The remaining series contain address cards, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and photographs of military personnel. The women's section includes Red Cross workers as well as military personnel.

The commendatory letters were those sent to Mr. Fitzgerald by servicemen telling him how much they appreciated the "Letter" as it kept them informed of the whereabouts of other Idaho students. Many similar letters can be found in the regular alphabetical folders.

The Gold Star section contains information on those who died during the war and the information on each person is more numerous than that in the other sections.

The final series includes those who fought in World War II and remained in the service as well as those whose military service began with the Korean War.

Acquisition Information

Materials were received from University of Idaho Library by Alumni Secretary James M. Lyle in January 1963.

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection