Biographical / Historical
Scope and Contents
Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Preferred Citation
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Title: Johnny Tolbert letters
creator:
Tolbert, Johnny
Identifier/Call Number: 6089
Physical Description:
0.58 Linear Feet
1 box
Date (inclusive): 1943-1946
Abstract: The Johnny Tolbert letters is a collection of 151 letters and four Western Union telgrams sent from United States Army soldier
Johnny Tolbert (1924-1989), also known as Johnnie Clifton or J.C., to Ruth Mae Clennell (1925-2000) from San Pedro, California
between 1943-1946.
Tolbert met Clennell on September 2, 1943, the night before his deployment to the South Pacific. Tolbert's love and affection
for Clennell and his feelings of homesickness are the main themes of the letters, though his letters also touch upon the
events of the Second World War, observations of local natives, and attitudes toward the Japanese that are reflective of the
time period.
The collection also includes original envelopes with stamps and Army examiner markings, postcards, newspaper clippings, and
print ephemera.
Biographical / Historical
Johnny (or Johnnie) Clifton Tolbert was born on March 28, 1924 in Blount County, Alabama to Lawrence C. Tolbert and Flora
M. Layton. He was the oldest of six children. On February 23, 1943, he enlisted as a soldier for the United States Army in
Fort McClellan, Alabama. He was deployed September 3, 1943 to the South Pacific as part of the 245th Port Company. Throughout
the Second World War, he was stationed in Australia, New Guinea, New Britain, and the Philippines, where he participated in
a beach invasion. After the Japanese surrendered, Tolbert was sent to Leyte, Okinawa, and Shanghai, where he guarded Japanese
prisoners. After Shanghai, Tolbert finally came back home to the United States. He arrived first in Honolulu, and then in
Seattle on December 24, 1945. By the time Tolbert married Ruth Clennell on March 30, 1946, Tolbert had been discharged and
had moved to Birmingham. They married in Birmingham, where Tolbert worked at the Haverty Furniture Company. Eventually, by
1952, Johnny and Ruth Tolbert moved to San Pedro, California, where Johnny was employed as a ship clerk and salesman while
Ruth stayed at home as a homemaker. They remained married until Tolbert's death. Johnny Clifton Tolbert died on June 1, 1989
in Los Angeles, California. He was buried in Green Hills Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California, where Ruth was later buried
as well after her death on January 3, 2000.
Scope and Contents
The Johnny Tolbert letters consists of 151 letters and four Western Union telgrams sent between 1943-1946 from Johnny Tolbert
(1924-1989), to Ruth Mae Clennell (1925-2000), who would later become his wife, during his tour of duty as a soldier in the
Second World War. The letters are accompanied by their original envelopes bearing stamps and Army examiner markings, along
with occassional postcards, newspaper clippings, and print ephemera Tolbert included with his letters.
Tolbert primarily writes of his love for Clennell and his feelings of homesickness, though he also briefly mentions events
of the Second World War, observations of local natives, and his attitudes toward the Japanese, which are reflective of the
time period.
The letters are organized chronologically and are kept with their original envelopes, as well as any other clippings or print
ephemera Tolbert included.
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF SITE. Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from The Bookshop, September 30, 2014.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder no. or item name], Johnny Tolbert letters, Collection no. 6089, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Japanese -- Attitudes -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Racism -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Soldiers -- United States -- 20th century -- Archival resources
United States -- Armed Forces -- Military life -- 20th century -- Archival resources
United States -- History -- 20th century -- Archival resources
World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Pacific Ocean -- Archival resources
World War, 1939-1945 -- United States -- Archival resources
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives
Clippings
Letters
Postcards
Printed ephemera
Telegrams
Tolbert, Johnny
Tolbert, Johnny -- Archives