Finding Aid for the Bruce T. Humphreville Second World War correspondence 2021.159.w.r
Zoe Adams
Center for American War Letters Archives
6/1/2022
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Bruce T. Humphreville Second Word War correspondence
source:
Putman, Julie
Creator:
Humphreville, Bruce Tallmadge, Colonel, 1904-1966
Creator:
Humphreville, Agnes G.G. née Griffin, 1903-2001
Identifier/Call Number: 2021.159.w.r
Physical Description:
0.065 Linear Feet
(4 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1929 November 13 - 1944 February 27
Abstract: The collection contains 14 correspondence to and from Col. Bruce T. Humphreville, USA before and during the Second World War.
Also included in the collection is one newspaper clipping, one photograph, one sheet with biographical information, and two
unused postcards.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 165
Container: 8-11
Container: 1-4
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Julie Putman
This collection is arranged in the following series:
- Series 1, Correspondence from Bruce to Agnes
- Series 2, Correspondence from Agnes to Bruce
- Series 3, Correspondence to Bruce and Agnes
- Series 4, Other materials
Colonel Bruce T. Humphreville, United States Army (3/3/1994 - 4/15/1966) was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts to Frankyln
Humphreville and Elizabeth Humphreville née Tallmadge. He graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1926 with
a degree in chemical engineering. In 1931, he married Agnes G. G. Humphreville née Griffin (12/3/1903 - 10/19/2001) in Finesville,
New Jersey. They had one son, Bruce T. "Sonny" Humphreville, Jr (7/6/1937 - 7/30/2006).
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Bruce T. Humphreville Second World War correspondence (2021.159.w.r), Center
for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
The collection contains 14 correspondence to and from Col. Bruce T. Humphreville, USA before and during the Second World War.
Nine of the letters are written by Bruce to his wife, Agnes G. G. Humphreville. Two of the letters are written by Agnes to
Bruce, and three letters are written to Bruce and Agnes from various people. Also included in the collection is one newspaper
clipping, one photograph, two unused postcards, and one sheet of biographical information.
There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the
responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945)
World War (1939-1945) -- France
United States. -- Army.
Putman, Julie
box WWII 165, folder 8, folder 1
Series 1, Correspondence from Bruce to Agnes 1929 November 13 - 1944 February 27
Physical Description: 0.025 Linear feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains nine correspondence from Col. Bruce T. Humphreville, USA to his wife Agnes G. G. Humphreville before
and during the Second World War. His letters span 15 years, beginning when he and Agnes were dating and ending when they had
been married for 13 years and had a son.
This first correspondence is dated November 13, 1929 and is addressed to Agnes' apartment in New York City, New York. In this
letter, Bruce wrote about their friends, a newspaper comic strip he found funny, and daily life.
The next letter is from April 7, 1942 on a post card to Agnes while she was living in New Jersey. On the post card, Bruce
wrote about arriving at camp near Indio, California. From March 26, 1943 to February 27, 1944, Bruce wrote Agnes seven letters
while overseas, three of which are V-Mail. In these letters, he refers to Agnes as "urchin," and discusses his daily life
and missing her and their son, who he only refers to as "Sonny." Though his location is never explicitly stated, it can be
inferred through his mention of using Francs in the letter dated March 26, 1943, that he was stationed in France. In the letter
from August 6, 1943, Bruce asks Agnes to send him money and includes papers from a financial officer.
box WWII 165, folder 9, folder 2
Series 2, Correspondence from Agnes to Bruce 1930 August 28
box WWII 165, folder 10, folder 3
Series 3, Correspondence to Bruce and Agnes 1936 July 21 - 1941 September 30
Physical Description: 0.02 Linear feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains three correspondence from various people to Col. Bruce T. Humphrevile, USA and his wife, Agnes G. G.
Humphreville before and during the Second World War.
The first letter in this series is written by Bruce's mother, Elizabeth Humphreville to Bruce and Agnes, who were living in
Cleveland, Ohio at the time. She wrote the letter while aboard the RMS Mooltan.
The second letter is written by an unknown writer to Bruce and Agnes on July 16, 1941 from Kodaikanal, India. The author wrote
about receiving a Christmas package from Bruce and Agnes and their life in India. Included in the letter's envelope was a
photograph of the author's children, George and Kay, which is included in the fourth series of this collection.
The third letter in this series is written by Major Howard C. Eddy, USA to Bruce and Agnes on a postcard, which is dated September
30, 1941. He writes that he hopes Bruce and Agnes "are enjoing Pine Camp," which is a military base located in New York.
box WWII 165, folder 11, folder 4
Series 4, Other materials
Physical Description: 0.01 Linear feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains one photograph, one newspaper clipping of a cartoon, two unused postcards from Pine Camp, New York, and
one sheet of biographical information of Col. Bruce T. Humphreville and Agnes G. G. Humphreville, provided by the donor.