Guide to the Raymond C. Fleming Collection
Special Collections & Archives
University Library
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8326
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Raymond C. Fleming Collection
Creator:
Fleming, Raymond C., 1916-
Identifier/Call Number: SC.RCF
Extent:
0.42 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1941-1946
Abstract: Raymond Fleming enlisted in the US Army
on January 29, 1942 on Christmas Island, where he worked as an Assistant Engineer. He served
in the Pacific Theater as an Army Engineer throughout 1942.The collection documents his
experiences on Christmas Island in late 1941, especially on Pearl Harbor Day, and as an Army
Engineer in the Pacific Theater in 1942. It consists primarily of diaries written by Fleming
between November 1941 and June 1942, and one diary from 1946 that documents his experiences
immediately following the war, including his civilian work and marriage.
Language of Material: English
Biographical Information:
Raymond Creffield Fleming was born August 19, 1916 in Washington state. After he and his
family moved to San Francisco, he attended the University of California, Berkeley where he
served in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). In November 1941, he sailed on the SS
Haleakala from Honolulu to Christmas Island, where he worked as an Assistant Engineer until
enlisting in the US Army on January 29, 1942. He served in the Pacific Theater as an Army
Engineer throughout 1942.
From 1944-1945 Fleming worked as an Assistant Mining Engineer for Kaiser Company, Inc. in
Oakland, CA. After becoming engaged to Shirley Robertson in December of 1944, Fleming was
transferred to Texas, where he and Shirley married in February of 1945. He worked in Blue
Diamond, NV in 1946.
Scope and Contents
The
Raymond C. Fleming Collection documents Fleming's
experiences on Christmas Island in late 1941, especially on Pearl Harbor Day; his
experiences as an Army Engineer in the Pacific Theater in 1942; and his experiences
immediately following the war, including his civilian work and marriage. The collection
consists primarily of diaries written by Fleming between November 1941 and June 1942, as
well as one diary from 1946. The diaries written during the war include a lengthy entry on
Pearl Harbor Day, descriptions of his work building an airstrip on Christmas Island, his
daily activities, interactions with his fellow soldiers, leisure activities, and news and
events on the island and beyond. The diary from 1946 includes a description of his courtship
and marriage, and his civilian work as an engineer in various locations across the US. The
collection also includes Fleming's US Army enlistment papers, hand-written notes, and
ephemera.
Conditions Governing Access:
The collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Use:
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge.
Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials
protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires
the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any
use rests exclusively with the user.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchase. 03/12/2013.
General
Other Information:
This collection was purchased with funds generously donated by Gus and Erika Manders.
Preferred Citation:
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style
manual, or see the
Citing Archival
Materials
guide.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Ephemera
Documents
Box 1, Folder 1
Diary, Volume 1,
1941 November 23-1942 January 30
Box 1, Folder 2
Diary, Volume 2,
1942 January 3-1942 April 1
Box 1, Folder 3
Diary, Volume 3,
1942 April 2-1942 June 14
Box 1, Folder 4
Diary, Volume 5,
1946 January 8-1946 September 6
Box 1, Folder 6
Notes and Ephemera,
ca. 1942
Box 1, Folder 7
Salesman's Expense Reports,
1946