Finding aid for the Johnny Tolbert letters 6089
Joanna Chen
USC Libraries Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
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.
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.
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.
COLLECTION STORED OFF SITE. Advance notice required for access.
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.
[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
Box 1, Folder 1
1943 Letters 1943-09-1943-12
Box 1, Folder 2
1944 January Letters 1944-01
Tolbert writes from New Guinea and then the Southwest Pacific. His letters mention his loneliness, sadness, and jealousy over
Clennell. Although unclear, Tolbert's tone toward Clennell is at times full of machoism and violent language. Tolbert's letters
also include his observations of a local New Zealand performance, which includes derogatory language. Most notable in this
file is a business card with the name of "Ensley Loan Company" on the front and "Special Hunting License on Yellow Belly
Japs: Season opened December 7, 1941 (No Limit), Good until extermination." on the back. It is included in the January 21,
1944 letter. The January 27, 1944 letter includes a newspaper clipping of a soldier's joke.
Box 1, Folder 3
1944 February Letters 1944-02
Tolbert's letters from the Southwest Pacific mention his homesickness, especially at seeing John Wayne and other stars arrive
to perform a show. Tolbert also mentions a friend going home for a visit after serving in North Africa. References to the
Japanese, fellow soldiers, and his mother are also included. A plastic strip that was signed by the Army Examiner is included
in the February 16, 1944 letters.
Box 1, Folder 4
1944 March Letters 1944-03
Tolbert's letters indicate disillusionment as a soldier in the Southwest Pacific. He talks about fighting for some "big shot
back there" and fears job scarcity after the war. Correspondence with Clennell also refers to her sickness. There are brief
references to friends back home and the Japanese.
Box 1, Folder 5
Box 1, Folder 6
1944 May Letters 1944-05
Tolbert continues to write from his post in the Southwest Pacific. His tone to Clennell continues to reflect affection with
a tinge of violent language. Tolbert's letters indicate his worries over his mother's possible operation. His May 28, 1944
letter reflects a racist attitude toward the Japanese through the violent language used.
Box 1, Folder 7
1944 June Letters 1944-06
Tolbert's letters are written from New Britain. He continues to mention his loneliness and reveals his father's drinking problem.
His tone toward Clennell continues to be affectionate but with an element of machoism. In one of the most outwardly racism
sentiments expressed toward the Japanese, Tolbert writes in his June 7, 1944 letter: "japs the dirty dogs. They just aren't
human. At least the Germans are humans. But humans or not they won't last long." Despite this, he hopes to visit Tokyo before
the war ends.
Box 1, Folder 8
Box 1, Folder 9
Box 1, Folder 10
Box 1, Folder 11
Box 1, Folder 12
Box 1, Folder 13
Box 1, Folder 14
1945 January Letters 1944-01
Tolbert mentions leaving his current area but is vague about whether he knows or just cannot say where he is going next. He
writes that he wishes he could be home and that he just finished his last invasion. In his last letter in January 1945,written
on Japanese paper, Tolbert confirms that he is in the Philippines and admits being scared in the invasion. His letter describes
locals he met as a "swell" and "happiest bunch."
Box 1, Folder 15
Box 1, Folder 16
1945 April -December Letters 1945-04-1945-12
Tolbert's letters in this folder are sent from the Philippines, Japan, and China. This folder also includes two Western Union
telegrams that Tolbert sent to Clennell from Hawaii and Washington. Tolbert briefly mentions guarding Japanese prisoners,
but mostly writes about Clennell and going home to the United States.
Box 1, Folder 17
Box 1, Folder 18
1946 February Letters 1946-02
Tolbert's letters from Alabama mention his anger toward a man named Eddie, hinting at a possible romantic entanglement between
Clennell and Eddie, as well as his job in Alabama, which prevents him from traveling to meet Clennell's family. Tolbert also
writes about the difficulty of adjusting to civilian life.
Box 1, Folder 19