Walter Crenshaw papers
Finding aid prepared by Jessica Geiser, Collections Management Librarian.
Special Collections & University Archives
The UCR Library
P.O. Box 5900
University of California
Riverside, California 92517-5900
Phone: 951-827-3233
Fax: 951-827-4673
Email: specialcollections@ucr.edu
URL: http://library.ucr.edu/libraries/special-collections-university-archives
© 2018
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Walter Crenshaw papers
Date (inclusive): 1942-1944
Collection Number: MS 418
Creator:
Crenshaw, Walter, 1909-2016
Extent:
0.21 linear feet
(1 box)
Repository:
Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.
Abstract: The collection consists of medals and other records from Walter Crenshaw, who served as the administrative assistant to the
provost marshall at the Tuskegee Army Air Field during the Second World War. Items in the collection include Crenshaw's pay
and physical fitness records, a Tuskegee Army Airfield yearbook, a Thanksgiving menu, and three medals Crenshaw received related
to his service.
Languages: The collection is in English.
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the University of California, Riverside Libraries, Special Collections & University Archives.
Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission
of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable
rights holder is also required. Responsibility for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], [date if possible]. Walter Crenshaw papers (MS 418). Special Collections & University Archives,
University of California, Riverside.
Acquisition Information
Gift of N. Joyce Crenshaw, 2018.
Processing Information
Processed by Jessica Geiser, Collections Management Librarian, 2018.
Biographical Note
Walter Crenshaw Jr. was born on October 27, 1909, and was raised in Alabama. He attended the Tuskegee Institute in 1927, and
one year later transferred to Alabama State University. In 1940, Crenshaw married Zelma Whatley, and the two eventually had
five children.
In 1942, Crenshaw joined the U.S. Army Air Corps, and received administrative training before being stationed at the Tuskegee
Army Air Field. Crenshaw served as the Administrative Assistant to the Provost Marshal, where he oversaw the background checks
and induction of cadets for the 99th Pursuit Squadron and the 332nd Fighters Squadron and got to know each recruit on a personal
basis.
After being honorably discharged in 1945, Crenshaw moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he worked for 22 years as the head shipping
clerk for Railway Express Agency. Crenshaw and his family then spent time in Santa Monica, California and South Carolina before
retiring to Redondo Beach, California in 2007.
In 2008, he was honored at the National Historic Site of the National Museum of the Tuskegee Airmen, in addition to the 2007
Congressional Gold Medal President George W. Bush bestowed to all Tuskegee Airmen. Crenshaw also held the distinction for
many years of being the oldest living documented Tuskegee Airmen, until his passing in 2016 at the age of 106.
Collection Scope and Contents
The collection consists of medals and other records from Walter Crenshaw, who served as the administrative assistant to the
provost marshal at the Tuskegee Army Air Field during the Second World War. Items in the collection include Crenshaw's pay
and physical fitness records, a Tuskegee Army Airfield yearbook, a Tuskegee Air Field Thanksgiving menu, and three medals
Crenshaw received related to his service.
Also included is a checklist from the War Department Pamphlet "Command of Negro Troops," which sought to help white commanding
officers successfully interact with black troops.
Collection Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
African American fighter pilots
Tuskegee Army Air Field (Ala.)
Tuskegee Army Flying School (Tuskegee, Ala.)
United States -- Armed Forces -- African Americans
World War, 1939-1945 -- Participation, African American
Genres and Forms of Materials
Medals
Military records
Yearbooks
Box 1, Folder 1
Army Air Forces Eastern Flying Training Command - Distinctive Unit Insignia
circa 1944
Box 1, Folder 2
"Command of Negro Troops" checklist
circa 1944
Box 1, Folder 3
Honorable Service lapel button
circa 1944
Box 1, Folder 5
Physical fitness test and record card
1943
Box 1, Folder 6
Rifle marksmanship badge
circa 1943
Box 1, Folder 7
Tuskegee Army Air Field Thanksgiving program
1943
Box 1, Folder 8
Tuskegee Army Flying School and AAF 66th FTD yearbook
1942
