Walter Carl Beckham collection, circa 1941-1996, Date accessioned: 2019-06-27
Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Beckham, Walter Carl, 1916-1996
- Joseph C. Beckham
- Extent:
- .5 Linear Feet 1 half box
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], Walter Carl Beckham collection, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. http://purl.fcla.edu/fsu/WWII_19_0013
Background
- Scope and content:
This collection relates to Colonel Walter Carl Beckham who served with the U.S. Army Air Corps as a P-47 fighter pilot with the 353rd Fighter Group in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. He was credited 18 aerial victories. He was shot down and subsequently became a German Prisoner of War. He was the recipient of the Distingquished Service Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star, Air Medal, and Legion of Merit. This collection contains Beckham's medals, badges, pins, photographs, veteran's items, and newspaper articles.
- Biographical / historical:
Walter Carl Beckham was born on May 12, 1916 in Paxton, Florida, the youngest of three brothers. He was a war hero, a scientist, and a sentimental man who recited Yeats. He possessed a clear code of honor, a marvelous sense of humour, and an enterprising and creative spirit. As a young boy during the Depression in DePuniak Springs, Florida, he transformed his paper route with a fleet of old bicycles that he repaired and then provided as an incentive to other boys, who ran additional routes under his direction.
- Acquisition information:
- This collection was donated by Joseph C. Beckham who is the nephew of Walter Carl Beckham.
- Custodial history:
Transferred from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to FSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives in July 2022.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
This collection is open to all researchers.
- Terms of access:
All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
- Preferred citation:
[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], Walter Carl Beckham collection, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. http://purl.fcla.edu/fsu/WWII_19_0013
- Location of this collection:
-
116 Honors WayTallahasseeFL32306-2047USA
