Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Richard H. Bryant Collection
- Dates:
- 1943-1945
- Creators:
- Bryant, Richard H., 1906-1977
- Abstract:
- Richard H. Bryant served in the US Army in the Pacific theater during World War II, and was awarded the Bronze Star. While serving overseas, he corresponded via V-mail and regular post with his sisters Wava and Beverly in Florence, South Carolina, his younger brother James, and numerous other friends and family members both at home and overseas. The letters include news from South Carolina, especially the local church, gasoline rations, women in the workforce, media coverage of the war, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt's fourth presidential campaign.
- Extent:
- 0.21 linear feet
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materialsguide.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Richard H. Bryant Collection consists of letters written to Major Richard H. Bryant while he served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. The majority of letters are authored by his sisters Beverly and Wava, schoolteachers living in South Carolina during the war. He also exchanges letters with his brother James, referred to as "J.O.B.," friends Millie and Scott, girlfriend Eleanor "Norsey" Grant, and others both at home and overseas. The collection is divided into two series: Correspondence (1943-1945) and Personal Files (1943-1945).
Series I, Correspondence, consists of original V-mail, or Victory Mail, and Airmail correspondence sent to Bryant by family, friends, fellow military members, and his girlfriend, Eleanor "Norsey" Grant, while he was stationed in the Pacific. The V-Mail letters include news from South Carolina, concerning subjects such as the local church, gasoline rations, women in the workforce, media coverage of the war, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt's fourth presidential campaign. In letters exchanged with his brother and friends in other branches of the service he heard about conditions in the European theater, especially in Italy, and Clemson University's 1944 football season. Bryant and his friends also gossip about friends being promoted, getting married, and one who was arrested after arranging a botched abortion for his girlfriend. The v-mail, having been reproduced from microfilm, is around 60% of the original letters' size.
Series II, Personal Files, consists of items saved by Bryant related to his service in the military, including medical clearances, financial documents regarding bonds and claimed property, moving orders for Bryant while in the Pacific, addresses, and newspaper clippings.
- Biographical / historical:
-
William H. Bryant served in the US Army in the Pacific theater during World War II, and was awarded the Bronze Star. While serving overseas, he corresponded via V-mail with his sisters Wava and Beverly in Florence, South Carolina, his younger brother James, and numerous other friends and family members both at home and overseas. V-mail, short for Victory Mail, was used extensively during World War II in order to conserve the weight and size of correspondence exchanged between servicemen serving in the European and Pacific theaters and their families on the home front. Soldiers wrote on special V-mail letter sheets, which were then censored, microfilmed, and shipped. After arriving in the United States V-mail letters were re-printed at 60% of their original size and sent to their destination.
- Acquisition information:
- Purchase. 10/01/2013.
- Arrangement:
-
Series I: Correspondence, 1943-1945
Series II: Personal Papers, 1943-1945
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2020-06-19 20:30:53 +0000 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The collection is open for research use.
- Terms of access:
-
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.
- Preferred citation:
-
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materialsguide.
- Location of this collection:
-
18111 Nordhoff StreetNorthridge, CA 91330, US
- Contact:
- (818) 677-4594