Parker, George M., Jr., World War II Papers George M. Parker, Jr., World War II Papers, 1941-1945 Ms.2008.022

George M. Parker, Jr., World War II Papers, 1941-1945 Ms.2008.022


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Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech

Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
Business Number: 540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu
URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu

Jared Camins-Esakov, Student Assistant

Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Identification
Ms.2008.022
Title
George M. Parker, Jr., World War II Papers 1941-1945
Quantity
1.7 Cubic Feet, 4 boxes
Creator
Parker, George M., 1921-1999
Language
The materials in the collection are in English.
Abstract
The collection includes World War II letters of George Marinor Parker, Jr., Army Air Force, of Water View, Virginia, his mother's wartime diary, and related ephemera and correspondence.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], George M. Parker, Jr., World War II Papers, Ms2008-022, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The George M. Parker, Jr., World War II Papers were purchased by Special Collections in 2008.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement and description of the George M. Parker, Jr., World War II Papers commenced and was completed in May 2008.


Biographical Note

George Marinor Parker, Jr. (17 August 1921-1 January 1999) was born to George and Angie Parker of Water View, Virginia. He had two sisters, Audrey and Frances ("Sis"). In March and April 1942, he was trained and then worked as a mechanic at Newport News. He enlisted in the army on 5 May 1942. He spent his first year and a half of service in the continental United States, going through training and then working at airfields in Texas, Oregon, and California. He was deployed and arrived in England on 2 November 1943. He served in France from August 1944 to 16 October 1944. He was transferred to Kassel, Germany on 16 May 1945, just over a month after Kassel was captured by the Allies. He left Kassel 21 October 1945 for France, where he stayed until his return to the States at the end of November. He was married some time after his return to the States, presumably to his friend Nellie, who, he told his sister in a letter from 1945, he was planning to marry despite apparent maternal disapproval. He settled down in Water View, Virginia, where he lived until his death.

Scope and Content

The George M. Parker, Jr., World War II Papers consists primarily of letters written by George Marinor Parker, Jr., of Water View, Virginia to his mother and sisters while he was away in the army. The bulk of the collection is from May 1942-November 1945. Additionally, there are a number of letters written by George Jr. between 1930, when he was in second grade, and 1935. There are also a number of letters addressed to his sister Aubrey from 1947, a 76 page manuscript diary that his mother kept throughout most of the war, and ephemera relating to his service. The letters focus primarily on events at home, the hens, the health of family, etc., although in many letters George describes parts of his daily routine, including detailed descriptions of meals the soldiers are given.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the following series:

I. Letters of George Parker, Jr., 1942-1945. These letters, arranged chronologically, were written by George Jr. during his time in the Army Air Force. For most of his time in the service, he wrote either a letter or card to his mother every few days, and letters to his sister Frances and friend Ruth less frequently.

II. Cards and V-mail of George Parker, Jr., 1941-1945. These cards and V-mail letters, arranged chronologically, were written by George Jr. starting with several cards sent during his employment at Newport News, and continued by cards and V-mail messages (when he was deployed overseas) from throughout his time in the service.

III. Miscellany and ephemera, 1930-1947. This series consists of letters and cards George Jr. wrote to his sisters while between the ages of 8 and 13 (1930-1935).

The series also contains a 76-page manuscript diary maintained by George Jr.'s mother during the war (1942-1945). The diary contains information about when she, her daughters, and his local friends heard from George Jr., as well as occasional glimpses into her own life, such as noting when one of her daughters visited, or when she had dinner with a friend.

In addition, the series contains a book of notes from his sister Audrey's studies in education (ca. 1946), a body of his sisters' correspondence (1947), and various ephemeral items relating to the Parker family and particularly his service in the Army (1942-1945, n.d.). The materials are organized chronologically.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • World War, 1939-1945

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the George M. Parker, Jr., World War II Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).

Container List

Series I: Letters of George Parker, Jr.
1942-1945
  • box-folder 1 folder: 1 December 1941-17 June 1942
  • box-folder 1 folder: 2 22 June 1942-8 August 1942
  • box-folder 1 folder: 3 11 August 1942-22 September 1942
  • box-folder 1 folder: 4 27 September 1942-11 November 1942
  • box-folder 1 folder: 5 12 November 1942-19 December 1942
  • box-folder 1 folder: 6 22 December 1942-16 January 1943
  • box-folder 1 folder: 7 17 January 1943-13 April 1943
  • box-folder 2 folder: 1 16 April 1943-25 July 1943
  • box-folder 2 folder: 2 27 July 1943-10 November 1943
  • box-folder 2 folder: 3 11 November 1943-14 August 1944
  • box-folder 2 folder: 4 29 August 1944-27 June 1945
  • box-folder 2 folder: 5 1 July 1945-14 October 1945
  • box-folder 2 folder: 6 16 September 1945 [i.e. 16 October 1945]-21 November 1945
Series II: Cards and V-mail of George Parker, Jr.
1941-1945
  • box-folder 3 folder: 1 1941-24 November 1942
  • box-folder 3 folder: 2 28 January 1943-21 March 1944
  • box-folder 3 folder: 3 30 March 1944-29 Aug 1944
  • box-folder 3 folder: 4 4 September 1944-16 May 1945
  • box-folder 3 folder: 5 29 May 1945-7 October 1945
Series III: Miscellany and ephemera
1930-1947
  • box-folder 3 folder: 6
    Letters George wrote to his sisters as a child, 1 letter from his mother to his sister, and one letter addressed to his mother
    1930-1935
  • box-folder 3 folder: 7
    Letters from other members of the military to George's mom; George's mother's diary
    1942-1945
  • box-folder 4 folder: 1
    Letters among other members of George's family
    1946-1947
  • box-folder 4 folder: 2
    Cards among other members of George's family
    16 November 1946-31 March 1947
  • box-folder 4 folder: 3
    Cards among other members of George's family
    2 April 1947-11 June 1947, n.d.
  • box-folder 4 folder: 4
    Miscellaneous ephemera
    1942-1947, n.d.