A Guide to the Papers of William Gerhard Suhling, II 1906-1973 Suhling, William Gerhard 11282

A Guide to the Papers of William Gerhard Suhling, II 1906-1973

A Collection in
The Special Collections Department
Accession number 11282

Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
USA
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Reference Request Form: https://small.lib.virginia.edu/reference-request/
URL: http://small.library.virginia.edu/

Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Processed by: Special Collections Department

Repository

Special Collections, University of Virginia Library

Accession number

11282

Title

Papers of William Gerhard Suhling II 1906-1973

Physical Characteristics

The papers consist of a memoir, papers, articles, newsclippngs, and ca. 85 memorabilia items, 1906, 1941-1973, and n.d.

Language

English

Abstract

The papers of William Gerhard Suhling II consist of his World War II memoir World War Two As I Knew It and mementos, reports, logs and papers of his World War II service with the Virginia Protective Force, 8th Evacuation Hospital and the O.S.S. In addition, there are papers, articles and newsclippings concerning Major William V. Holohan, who disappeared on a mission behind German lines in Italy, and of his son, William Gerhard Suhling III, who died training in the Marine Air Force.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

William Gerhard Suhling, II, Papers, 1906-1973, Accession #11282, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was given to the University of Virginia Library by Suhling's son, Edward C. Suhling of Lynchburg, Virginia, on January 23, 1997.

Biographical/Historical Information

Lynchburg businessman and University of Virginia alumnus William Gerhard Suhling II was born in Lynchburg to Wilhelm Gerhard Suhling and Mary Leigh Williams. Suhling and was educated at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, before attending the University of Virginia in 1918. He was President of Suhling & Company, Lynchburg, Va., executive officer of the University of Virginia Evacuation Hospital No. 8, and an officer in the Office of Strategic Services.

Scope and Content Information

This collection consists of the memoir World War Two As I Knew It , papers and memorabilia of William Gerhard Suhling II (1898-1973), University of Virginia alumnus and President of Suhling & Company, Inc., Lynchburg, Virginia, pertaining to his career during World War II as an executive officer of the University of Virginia Evacuation Hospital No. 8 and as commanding officer for Italian operations in the Office of Strategic Services (the predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency). In addition, there are some news clippings and photographs about his son, William Gerhard Suhling III (1921-1943), a football star at the University of Virginia who died while training in the Marine Air Force.

The scrapbook pages (now in oversize folder) contain photographs, orders, membership cards, ID cards, souvenirs, news clippings, poetry, commendations and citations, postcards, officer's pay data card and other cards, tickets, counterfeit money, ration cards, some correspondence, an honorable discharge certificate, and papers concerning Suhling's promotion.

Also present are papers, articles, and news clippings, ca. 1951-1956, concerning the disappearance of Major William V. Holohan, the highest ranking American officer operating behind the German lines in Italy during World War II. William G. Suhling, Office of Strategic Services, was Holohan's chief in Siena during his mission to deliver arms to Italian partisan groups most likely to use them against the Germans.

Other materials pertaining to the OSS include the daily log for the 2677th Regiment OSS (Provisional) Company D, 1944-1945, and a report on "Problems of the Strategic Services Unit, War Department" by William G. Suhling II (1946 Jan 2).