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Re: Query: WWII Social History Repositories



Dear Ms. Denman -

The National Archives for Black Women's History at the Mary McLeod Bethune
Council House National Historic Site in Washington, DC has a wealth of
information relating to the experiences of African American women during
World War II both on the homefront and in the military.  I encourage you to
visit its web site<http://www.nps.gov/mamc>.  This will bring you to the
generic visitor information page.  If you scroll about a third of the way
down, you can click for the full web site.  General information about the
archives and its holdings is available on the web site.

Unfortunately, the Bethune Council House is currently without an archivist
but if you have specific questions I might be able to answer them as I used
to work there.  If my memory is correct, there are at least four collections
with World War II materials.  The best sources are as follows:

The Records of the National Council of Negro Women
           Numerous soldiers (male and female) wrote to the NCNW's
president
           Mary McLeod Bethune seeking advice and assistance.
           Government documents and other policy materials relating to the
           experiences of African American women in the WAC.
           The NCNW's organ, THE AFRAMERICAN WOMAN'S JOURNAL,
           dedicated several issues to WWII and the home front.

The Madeline Kountze Dugger Papers
          Mrs. Dugger served as Senior Hostess at several of the service
clubs
          at Fort Devens.  Though this collection is unprocessed, the WWII
          materials are accessible.  This collection contains numerous
letters
          from servicemen.

The Martha S. Putney Papers
        Dr. Putney served in the WAC during WWII.  She has also done
        research relating to the experiences of African American women in
the
        military during WWII.  Dr. Putney and I recently converted some of
her
        research notes into a MS Access database.

The Dovey Johnson Roundtree Papers
       Dovey Johnson served as a recruiter during WWII.  Her collection
       includes a scrapbook and other items related to her military
service.

The Prudence Burns Burrell Collection on the Army Nurses Corps
     Prudence Burns served in the Army Nurses Corps during WWII.  She
    was stationed overseas.  I believe in the Phillippines.  For Black
History
    month one year, she created collages about the women in the ANC.
    She donated copies of these collages to the Bethune Council House.

If you need more specifics,  I can try to answer your questions.  The
holdings list on the web site will provide brief descriptions of these
collections.

Sincerely,
Susan McElrath






Susan McElrath
Archivist
National Anthropological Archives
Smithsonian Institution
(202) 786-2513
mcelrath.susan@nmnh.si.edu

>>> "Joan E. Denman" <silver2@TDO.INFI.NET> 03/02/00 12:40PM >>>
Everyone:

I'm compiling a list of repository holdings on the social history of
World War II, i.e. personal papers, letters, dairies, manuscripts, and
photos of the period from military service personnel, nurses, defense
and other Home Front workers, volunteers with the USO, Red Cross,
Civilian Defense, OSS personnel, Merchant Marines, WASPs, etc.

Military history and documents of unit campaigns are not of primary
interest, but will be welcomed.

Would you kindly give me the following:

1) name and address of repository

2) web page if available

3) brief description of holdings OR whom to
contact for more information.

Thank you for your assistance with this project!
--
Joan E. Denman
Archival Assistant
Institute on World War II
& the Human Experience
Department of History
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306-2200
(850) 644-9033
www.fsu.edu/~ww2
silver2@tdo.infi.net

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