Collections

The collection of the 460th Heavy Bombardment Group Society contains a unit history of this B-24 U.S. Army Air Corps Group, 55th Wing, 760th, 761st, 762nd, 763rd Squadrons and Group Headquarters, which served in the Italian Campaign. This collection primarily focuses on the memory of the war and those who served in the 460th. Included is a listing of the airmen who were held as prisoners of war, including their squadrons, positions on the plane (e.g. pilot, gunner), the date, mission, and what country or stalag in which they were held. Also included is a booklet, "Remembering the 460th Bomb Group (H)," which contains photographs, personnel lists, and maps, and was prepared as a gift from Duane and Betty Bohnstedt to their members. There are mission lists, target details, flight records, and crew searches. The collection includes issues of the society's veterans' association magazine, "Black Panther" from mid-1990 to their final issue, December 2005.

This collection consists of the business records from the Apalachicola Tent and Awning Company once located in Apalachicola, Florida. The company manufactured pyramidal tents under contract from the United States Army from early 1941 to at least October 1942. The records are unclear as to when the company ceased operations.

The collection of Arthur W. Card contains an oral history transcript of an interview conducted by or for the Institute on World War II. He discusses bringing US troops to and from Europe, as well as returning German POWs to Germany at the end of the war. He also discusses his work in the engine room (where he felt proud to be "more important" to the soldiers on the ship because they relied on his work to keep them safe) and his time ashore in Naples, Italy.

This collection pertains to Barbara Lane Daley who served in the US Coast Guard Women's Reserve (SPARS) from 1944 to 1946. She was stationed at the US Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington D.C. The collection contains a photocopy of a scrapbook, photographs, newspaper clippings, ephemera, and various documents including pamphlets, postcards, menus, a restaurant placemat, and certificates. The newspaper clippings in this collection include photocopies as well as the original newspaper clippings of major U.S. events during WWII, such as President Roosevelt's death, the bombing of Pearl Harbor and Japan's surrender. Daley's scrapbook includes photographs of herself, military friends, and other SPARS at the U.S. Coast Guard training station in Palm Beach, Florida.

This collection consists of letters and memorabilia sent by U.S. Army soldier Earl L. Bailey to friends and family during World War II, as well as the transcript of an oral interview with the soldier. These documents detail the soldier's basic training at Camp Maxey, TX, participation in the Army Specialized Training Program at Ohio State University, and service in the 405th Regiment, 102nd Infantry Division. This service included stops at Camp Swift, TX, Fort Dix, NJ, and participation in the suppression of the Philadelphia Transit Strike of 1944 before departing for Europe. The letters discuss the campaign in Europe, battles in France and Germany, the Siegfrieg Line, and the occupation of Germany. Earl L. Bailey also discusses religion, food, POW's, propaganda, artist Bill Mauldin, German National Socialist Ideology, and V-1 rockets.  Also included are German propaganda leaflets that were dropped on U.S. soldiers.

This collection relates to former Florida State University History professor Edward Davis Wynot, items are from his personal collection. The collection contains multi-media items about World War II including VHS sets and DVDs.  This collection also includes a World War I helmet. 

This collection pertains to Edward J. Cavanary who served in the U.S. Army as an Adjutant in the 7^th Field Hospital during WWII. This collection contains a photographic copy of a scrapbook, as well as photographs, postcards, playbills, letters, ticket stubs, flyers, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, drawings, maps and a book of  true experiences of members of the 7^th Field Hospital written by John Kidda and Fred Marston.

The materials in the Edward T. Burke Jr. collection document activities of a U.S. Navy Chief Torpedoman who served on the U.S.S. Broome in the Atlantic and Mediterranean theaters during World War II and his life after the war. i)

Eugene S. Brown served as a member of the 78th Infantry Division in the European Theater during World War II. He served from 1943-1946. His unit arrived in France in November of 1944. He performed duties as a runner and a jeep driver for his unit. This collection contains a transcript from an interview conducted June 7, 2000.