Finding Aid for the Malcolm F. Farmer Second World War correspondence 2015.110.w.r
Andrew Harman
Center for American War Letters Archives
8/11/2016
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Malcolm F. Farmer Second World War correspondence
source:
Farmer, Ann Dahlstrom, Ms.
source:
Farmer, Malcolm, Mr., 1915-2011
Identifier/Call Number: 2015.110.w.r
Physical Description:
0.2 Linear Feet
(5 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1943 - 2016
Date (bulk): 1943 - 1945
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence from 2LT Malcolm French Farmer, USA, to his mother during the Second World War, as
well as photographs and some biographical information.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 11
Container: 11-15
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Ann Dahlstrom Farmer.
This collection is arranged by material type and date:
- Series 1, Correspondence from Malcolm Farmer
- Series 2, Photographs
- Series 3, Biographical materials
- Series 4, Photocopies and map
Second Lieutenant Malcolm French Farmer, United States Army, was born August 6, 1915 in Los Angeles, California, the son of
Ollef and Nellie Worst Farmer. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology in 1940 from the University of Arizona and later
did graduate work at the University of Washington.
He entered the United States Army Air Force in 1943 and trained at Fort MacArthur and mentioned training in North Dakota and
North Carolina. He was then assigned to the 320th Bomb Group, 444th Bomb Squadron and he arrived in North Africa in September
1943. He spent the next ten months in Sardinia and Corsica as he was promoted to Staff Sergeant and then moved to France
in December 1944 and was promoted to Technical Sergeant in February 1945.
2LT Farmer then entered Officer's Candidate School while in France in February and earned Second Lieutenant by late April.
He was then assigned to the United States Army Headquarters 423rd Infantry Regiment, 334th Reinforcement Company. He spent
the rest of the war there and did not need to see combat. After the war had ended, he spent some time in Germany and then
he was reassigned to Company L, 134th Infantry in Rheims, France at Camp Norfolk. He wrote two final letters from England
in August 1945.
2LT Farmer spent time before and after the war as a curator at several museums in San Diego and Flagstaff, Arizona. His wife
Doris died in 1950 and he remarried, to a woman named Ann and joined the faculty at Whittier College in California until he
retired in 1981. Lt. Farmer and Doris' son John died in 2005, and Farmer passed away April 6, 2011.
[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Malcolm F. Farmer Second World War correspondence (2015.110.w.r), Center for American
War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URL's, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
This collection contains correspondence from 2LT Malcolm French Farmer, USA, to his mother during the Second World War. The
correspondence consists of letters and V-mail. Also contained in this collection are biographical information, photographs,
photocopies of letters and a map, as well as a brief background identification of persons named in the letters written by
the donor. Inventory:
85 letters
76 v-mails
three postcards
10 pieces of related material such as photographs and maps.
four related biographical material
one clipping, photocopy, "WWII vet taught at Whittier College"
one clipping, obituary, Malcolm French Farmer
one letter, handwritten, Malcom Farmer, 2010
There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the
responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions. For further copyright information, please contact the archivist.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War II
World War (1939-1945)
World War (1939-1945) -- North Africa
World War (1939-1945) -- Germany
World War (1939-1945) -- Italy
World War (1939-1945) -- England
World War (1939-1945) -- France
United States -- Army -- Air Forces
United States -- Army -- European Theater of Operations
United States. -- Army.
Farmer, Ann Dahlstrom, Ms.
Farmer, Malcolm, Mr., 1915-2011
box WWII 11, folder 1-2
Series 1, Correspondence from Malcolm Farmer 1943 - 1945
Physical Description: 0.1 Linear Feet(2 folders)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains correspondence from 2LT Malcolm Farmer, USA to his mother, wife Doris, and brother Al during the Second
World War. The bulk of the letters and V-Mail were sent to his mother and there is one letter each for Doris and Al.
Of interest:
August 8, 1943, will be glad when the war is over but concerned over the "social trouble" when it is over. He is sure that
he will get foreign service and wants to see new places but sad that it is during war time.
October 19, 1943, North Africa, "We have seen a lot of the Arabs. They are a great deal dirtier than Southwestern Indians.
Their life is quite similar, however."
September 13, 1944, Sardinia, Doris sent clippings about the education plan for returning soldiers (GI Bill), would like to
get another degree, maybe continue work at the museum, but "it is difficult to plan a thing for the future the way the world
is today."
Special Note: letter dated 2 December, 1944 is misdated. It is supposed to be January 1944 and has been placed in the appropriate
spot chronologically.
Inventory:
85 letters
76 V-mail
three postcards
one V-mail form, correspondence discontinuation form
box WWII 11, folder 3
Series 2, Photographs 1943 - 1945
Physical Description: 0.025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains three photographs and two photocopied pictures pertaining to 2LT Malcolm Farmer, USA from his service
during the Second World War. Inventory:
one photo, b/w, Lt. Farmer and others of the 320 BG, Sardinia, 1944
one photo, b/w, aerial shot of B-26 bombers of the 320th BG over Sardinia, 1944
one photo, b/w, Lt. Farmer with Ernie Acuna, in Fargo, ND in June 1943
one photocopy, color, 2 photos of Lt. Farmer in uniform, Spring 1945
one photocopy, picture of a cartoon drawn of Lt. Farmer at a desk, 1945
box WWII 11, folder 4
Series 3, Biographical Materials 2010 - 2016
Physical Description: 0.025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains biographical material related to 2LT Malcolm Farmer, USA and his service during the Second World War.
Inventory:
one list, people mentioned in the correspondence collection
one list, biographical/autobiographical data
one summary, Lt. Farmer's military service written by Doris Farmer (wife)
one pamphlet, memorial for Malcolm French Farmer, 2011
one clipping, photocopy, "WWII vet taught at Whittier College"
one clipping, obituary, Malcolm French Farmer
one letter, handwritten by Lt. Farmer, describing his war experience, 2010
box WWII 11, folder 5
Series 4, Photocopies and Map 1945 - 1951
Physical Description: 0.025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains additional photocopied material pertaining to 2LT Malcolm Farmer, USA and his service during the Second
World War. Inventory:
one letter, copy, typed letter from 2LT Farmer to his wife Doris, 29 April, 1945 (original included in Series 1)
one letter, copy, handwritten letter from 2LT Farmer's mother to his son John, March 11, 1951
one map, cities where 2LT Farmer served and transportation taken, numbered in chronological order