Inventory of the Renee Ream Collection, 1941-2010

Finding aid prepared by Rita Morin
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2011
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu


Title: Renee Ream collection
Date (inclusive): 1941-2010
Collection Number: 2001C108
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 2 manuscript boxes (0.8 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Materials in this collection were collected by members of the John and Renee Ream family. The collection is comprised of diaries, memoirs, DVDs and interview transcripts of American civilians interned by the Japanese during their occupation of the Philippines in World War II.
source: Ream, Renee, 1934-
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Access

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Use

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Acquisition Information

Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 2001 and 2010.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Renee Ream Collection, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Biographical Note

John Ream's immediate family was living in Baguio, Philippines, at the time the Japanese invaded the islands during World War II. Members of John Ream's family were civilian internees throughout the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, at first at Camp John Hay and Camp Holmes in Baguio City, and subsequently at the Bilibid Prison in Manila. At the time of internment, John Ream was seven years old. Renee Sneskin Ream was born, 8 December 1934, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She met John Ream after the war and they were married 7 September 1957, in San Jose, California.

Scope and Content of Collection

The Renee Ream collection is comprised of diaries, memoirs, videorecordings and interview transcripts of American civilians interned by the Japanese during their occupation of the Philippines in World War II. The materials were collected by various members of the Ream family.
The collection originated with We Lived Behind Barbed Wire: Four Oral History Interviews by Renee Ream. Mrs. Ream, interested in the history of her husband's family, interviewed her husband and sisters-in-law about their experiences as civilian internees in the Japanese-occupied Philippines during World War II. The transcripts of these interviews were originally donated to the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 2001.
Over time the family came into the possession of additional unpublished copies of internee diaries, memoirs and personal stories documenting the experiences of American internees in Japanese-occupied Philippines, specifically at the Baguio and Bilibid internment camps. In August of 2010 the Ream family donated these additional unpublished materials to the Hoover Archives.
Among the latter materials are videorecordings of a reunion of surviving former internees of the camps at Baguio City and at Bilibid Prison. This reunion took place in Fremont, California, in 2010, and the footage consists of a moderated, day-long discussion between former internees about their experiences. Materials arranged by document type.

Related Materials

Francis Willard Brush papers, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Ann Miller Depew papers, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
James J. Halsema papers, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
George C. Mora papers, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Katherine Ream Sobeck papers, Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Subjects and Indexing Terms

World War, 1939-1945 -- Prisoners and prisons
World War, 1939-1945 -- Philippines
Philippines -- History -- Japanese occupation, 1942-1945
Prisoners of war
Ream, Renee, 1934-

 

Diary and memoir transcriptions 1941-2004 (bulk 1941-1945)

box 1, folder 1

Betty Halsema Foley memoir circa 1945

box 1, folder 2

James J. Halsema diary 1941-1945

box 1, folder 3

Ethel Thomas Herold diary 7 December 1941-9 May 1945

box 1, folder 4

The Wall to Freedom by Herbert E. "Gene" Hungerford 1997.

Scope and Contents note

Contains unpublished memoir, copies of letters home, 1943-1945,and photocopies of Japanese prisoner of war identity cards, Western Union telegram, newspaper articles, and a letter from Gene to President Clinton.
box 1, folder 5

Donald E. Mansell diary January 1944-February 1945

box 1, folder 6

Margaret Helen McLeod Morris journal February 1942-November 1942

Scope and Contents note

Includes Garry G. Morris journal, February 1984-May 1985 documenting the journey to his birthplace Balbalasang, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Philippines.
box 2, folder 1

Our Concentrated Life, An Account of Life in Japanese Internment Camps by W.H. Patton 1945

box 2, folder 2

Three Years in the Fish's Belly by Joseph M. Smith 2004

box 2, folder 3

The Diary of Rokuro Tomibe, The Story of Mayor E.J. Halsema, The Ohdaira Story: The Quartermaster for Internment Camps in the Philippines, 1979

 

Interviews 1989, 2002

box 2, folder 4

John Ream 2 February 2002

box 2, folder 5

We Lived Behind Barbed Wire: Four Oral History Interviews 1989

Scope and Contents note

Transcripts of interviews with members of the Ream family: John H. Ream, Sarah Ream Connelly, Katherine Ream Sobeck, and Nora Ream Kuttner. Includes photocopies of family photographs.
box 2, folder 6

Herb Swick 8 Aug. 1989

Scope and Contents note

Includes copies of letters from Herb Swick to John Ream, from William Portrude to Mrs. Swick (mother), from Charles Tanner to Miss. Swick (sister), an open letter from Herb documenting his experiences during the Japanese invasion, a short biography of Herb Swick, and photocopies of photographs along with newspaper articles
 

Miscellaneous documents 1945, 1994

box 2, folder 7

Research papers by Romilda Wilder 1994

box 2, folder 8

Luzon campaign military journal copy, HQ 185 Infantry Regiment 9 January 1945-4 March 1945.

Scope and Contents note

Declassified per executive order 12356, section 3.3, NND735017, 16 December 1994.
 

Videorecordings 2010

box 2, folder 9

Baguio/Bilibid 1941-1945, 65th Anniversary POW Reunion, 2 DVDs Apr. 2010