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Jean M. Colby, 1943-1946

 

Summary

Extent:
6 boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Boxes and Folder number], Jean M. Colby, 07.0035, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. https://purl.lib.fsu.edu/fa/WWII-07-0035

Background

Scope and content:

The Collection of Jean M. Colby covers her military service from March 1943, when she joined the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC); she reenlisted when it became the Women's Army Corps (WAC) in July 1943 and served until sometime in 1946. Afterwards, she continued her service with the Air Force until she retired in 1974. She trained at the first WAAC Training Center at Ft. Des Moines, Iowa and then was stationed at Hammer Field near Fresno, California with WAC Company G, a detachment assigned to the Army Air Corps. In the summer of 1945, she was sent to Ft. Lewis, the Ninth Service Command, as a part of WAC Company G, later Company E. Sgt. Colby served as a postal supervisor, Postal Section, War Department Personnel Center (WDPC). Sometime in 1946, she was sent to Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Base, also in California. Colby was born 14 September 1921 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The majority of original materials are comprised of black and white photos from three scrapbooks covering her years of service 1943-1946 (? some items not dated, may be later years). Military documents are mostly photocopies because Colby donated the originals to Women in Military Service to America (WIMSA) memorial in D.C. Original scrapbooks in Oversize Box 07.0035; photocopies in Gen. Coll: Full Box. Scrapbook # 1 contains items from prior to and through her basic training at Ft. Des Moines: photos of Waacs, barracks; news clippings; ephemera; a list of supplies recruits are to bring with them; a short manuscript, (a copy of which is in a folder "manuscript) describes First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt's trip to Minneapolis for an induction ceremony for Colby and about one hundred other women enlisting with the WAAC. Scrapbook # 2 covers her years as an Air Wac (Squadron W ?) at Hammer Air Field, California, June 1943-August 1945 where she was assigned to postal duties; she was in charge of the Dispatch and Distribution Department. In addition to photos of Waacs and Wacs (enlisted and officers), barracks, mess hall, recreation, parties, and comedian Harpo Marx, KP duty, there are: a program "A Salute to the Air Wacs" on 12 December 1943; news clippings; articles from newsletter *Air Wac;" articles on the mail service (with photo of Colby); cartoons; songs; and so forth. [Also, see beginning of scrapbook # 3]. Scrapbook # 3 covers Colby's transfer, in summer 1945, to Fort Lewis, near Tacoma, Washington and Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Base, California [NOTE: at beginning of scrapbook there are a few military documents regarding Hammer Field]. As a postal supervisor, she assisted with discharging troops from the Pacific Theater (Ft. Lewis was a Separation Center). Photos include a visit from General Eisenhower, 20 February 1946; photos of Postal Section WDPC with Colby and co-workers (Wacs, at least one serviceman, and an ex-GI) and the "mail truck;" scenes around the post, including Wacs, barracks and other building; recreational trip; pets;. Also, news clippings including one regarding a visit by WAC director, Col. Westray Battle Boyce and others celebrating the fourth anniversary of the WAC; the Servicewomen's Center in Fresno, California; cartoons, military documents, poems, songs, greeting cards, and so Monday, January 08, 2018 Page 625 of 1151 forth. Newsletters from Hammer Field include "The Bomb-Bay" and the "Night Hawk"; One issue of "AirWac;" Books include "Sad Sack" by Sgt. George Baker with personal inscriptions throughout. Some of the topics covered by pamphlets include: Hammer Field; Ft. Lewis; Fresno, California; Pi Chi Sigma, WAF Protestant Chapel; "65 Questions and Answers about WACS in the Army Air Forces." Also, see separate table for various medals and other artifacts. She retired after thirty years of service (where she was most notably the first WAF Sgt.) at the rank of SMSGT. In addition to donating items from her period of service, she has encouraged other women to donate their memorabilia. In some cases, women have sent her items, news clippings, and so forth to her and she has passed those on to the Institute. Includes clippings of women serving in post-Cold War US Army.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open to all researchers.

This collection is in a remote storage location. Please contact lib-specialcollections@fsu.edu with requests for access or for more information.

Terms of access:

Copyright restrictions may apply to works in this collection. Re-use or copying beyond Fair Use may require permission from the rights-holder. Please contact lib-specialcollections@fsu.edu for more information.

Preferred citation:

[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Boxes and Folder number], Jean M. Colby, 07.0035, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. https://purl.lib.fsu.edu/fa/WWII-07-0035

Location of this collection:
116 Honors Way
Tallahassee
FL
32306-2047
USA