Inventory of the George W. Schneider III Collection SPC.2020.001
Karen Clemons
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
2020-09
University Library South -5039 (Fifth Floor)
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson, CA 90747
archives@csudh.edu
Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: George W. Schneider III Collection
Creator:
Schneider, George W. , III
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2020.001
Physical Description:
2 boxes
Physical Description:
.84 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1944-1971; undated
Date (bulk): 1944-1945
Abstract: This collection contains 313 letters sent from George Schneider to his future wife, Virginia Webb; as well as few other letters,
notes, and clippings. A majority of the letters were sent during Schneider's time in the United States Army as a Corporal.
The letters begin in 1944, when Schneider was at Camp Campbell in Kentucky, and continue through his travels across the Atlantic
and into France, Germany, and Austria in 1945; his return to the United States and time while at Camp Cooke in California;
as well as a few letters sent to Webb in the 1950s-1960s. The majority of the letters which were sent almost every day throughout
most of 1945, document Schneider's Army and World War Two experiences.
Language of Material:
English
.
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
For information about citing archival material, see the
Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.
The George W. Schneider III Collection (1944-1971; undated) contains two boxes and .84 linear feet of letters sent from Schneider
to his future wife, Virginia Webb, as well as few other letters, notes, and clippings. A majority of the letters were sent
during Schneider's time in the United States Army as a Corporal. The letters begin in 1944, when Schneider was at Camp Campbell
in Kentucky, and continue through his travels across the Atlantic and into France, Germany, and Austria in 1945, and then
his return to the United States and time while at Camp Cooke in California. The majority of the letters which were sent almost
every day throughout most of 1945, document Schneider's experiences in the Army during World War Two. During that time Schneider
tells Webb about his wartime experiences such as: participating in night infiltration training; KP duty; attending wartime
classes; attending movies and U.S.O. shows; traveling through the European countryside and seeing at the destruction caused
by the war; meeting townspeople; guard duty; and his duties as a jeep driver, which took him all over Austria and Germany
including visiting places like Berchtesgaden and Nuremberg. He also reminisces about time spent with Webb playing bridge,
visiting the arcade, and listening to the radio; playing bridge while overseas; inquires about Webb's family and employment;
and tells her how much he misses and loves her.
Schneider continues to write to Webb after returning to the United States following the end of the war in Europe and writes
about his experiences at Camp Cooke in California including attending night school; the weather; going on passes to visit
Hollywood and Santa Barbara; discusses the Army point system and possibility of getting discharged; and speculates about when
he will get a furlough. In these letters, he often talks about his future with Webb including getting married and their future
home.
Also included in this collection are a few letters written from 1950-1971. In these letters to Webb (now Schneider), George
Schneider talks about his experiences as a traveling salesman, and tells her about a visit to his mother's home.
George W. Schneider III Biography
Born in 1920 to George W. and Flora B. Schneider, George W. Schneider III enlisted in the Army in 1943 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
He was part of the 413 Armored Field Artillery Battalion, Battery A. After returning from war, he married Virginia Webb and
became a traveling salesman. In 1965, he ran for trustee of the Cincinnati Club.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American
Cincinnati (Ohio)
Correspondence
World War, 1939-1945 -- Austria
World War, 1939-1945 -- Germany
World War, 1939-1945 -- France
Schneider, Virginia Webb
Camp Cooke (Calif.)
Fort Campbell (Ky. and Tenn.)
United States. Army
box 1, folder 1
Correspondence to Virginia Webb September 12, 1944- December 26, 1944
Physical Description: 17 items
In these letters Scheinder sent to Virginia "Gin" Webb from Camp Campbell Kentucky, Scheinder discusses particpating in night
infiltration courses and field exercises; weather; attending movies; his love for the card game, bridge; baseball; football;
his visit to Vanderbilt University; his attempts to obtain passes to visit his hometown, Cincinnati; his experiences going
through a live mine field during a training exercise; and discusses his thoughts on the 1944 Presidential election between
Thomas Dewey and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
box 1, folder 2
Correspondence to Virginia Webb January 2, 1945-January 31, 1945
Physical Description: 23 items
In these letters Scheinder sent to Virginia "Gin" Webb, Scheinder discusses both his successful and unsuccessful attempts
to get passes to Cincinnati to visit his family and Webb; talks about getting ready to leave Camp Campbell in Kentucky; discusses
his typing and k.p. (kitchen patrol) duties; playing bridge; the weather; attending USO shows and movies; participating in
wartime classes; visiting Paducah, KY on pass; asks Webb about her job; and talks about packing up his belongings and his
experience traveling by train. At the begining of the month, Scheinder is still at Camp Campbell, but by the end of the month
Scheinder's letters are being sent from New York, NY., but he states that he cannot disclose his location to Webb at that
time.
Also included in this folder is a change of address card notifying Webb of Schneider's new address. One of the letters in
this folder is missing a date, presumably due to censorship.
box 1, folder 3
Correspondence to Virginia Webb February 1945
Physical Description: 22 items
In these letters to Virginia Webb; Schneider reminisces about his time spent in Cincinnati and with Webb; talks about music
being played at Camp Campbell; k.p. duty; the weather; inquires about Webb's job and the weather in Ohio; and talks about
what it was like traveling across the Atlantic Ocean. He also discusses his interactions with French citizens while traveling
through France and describes the countryside and the effects of war. Some of the letters have pieces cut out of them, presumably
due to censorship.
box 1, folder 4
Correspondence to Virginia Webb March 1945
Physical Description: 32 items
In these letters to Webb; Schneider talks about traveling within France and getting passes to Paris; the weather; duties gathering
lumber; interactions with French citizens; seeing buildings and the countryside destroyed because of the war; discusses traveling
in Belgium; and talks about fighting that is taking place east of the Rhine [River]. He also inquires about Webb's job and
bridge playing; reminisces about their time together; and gives condolences to her on the passing of her grandmother.
box 1, folder 5
Correspondence to Virginia Webb April 1945
Physical Description: 30 items
In these letters to Webb; Schneider discusses the weather; traveling in the French countryside; and asks about Webb's Easter
plans. From there, he writes from "somewhere in Germany" and discusses the destruction of buildings; provides his opinion
on countries he has visited such as France, Holland, Belgium, and Germany; reminisces about his time spent with Webb; speculates
on when the war will end and when he will be able to go home; and talks about how much he misses music and movies. He also
talks about his interactions with German citizens; his experiences during guard duty; asks Webb about her job; talks about
receiving the news of F.D.R.'s death; meeting Russian soldiers; witnessing bombed out German vehicles; and going fishing.
Finally he talks about meeting refugees; cooking; and how some of his experiences in combat have been difficult, but he is
unable to elaborate.
box 1, folder 6
Correspondence to Virginia Webb May 1945
Physical Description: 31 items
In these letters to Webb; Schneider talks about his experiences visiting a concentration camp in Germany; asks about Webb's
employment search and the Cincinnati Reds baseball team; talks about getting news that the war was ending [in Europe]; speculates
about the possibilities of going to Japan or China after the war; reminisces about his time spent with Webb; and asks Webbs'
opinion on Truman. He also discusses his interactions with German soldiers; traveling around Germany; his duties driving a
jeep; wonders if he will go to C.B.I. ( China Burma India Theater); and discusses an Army education program. Lastly, he talks
about his experiences at Bad Aibling, Germany; traveling through the Alps to Austria; mountain climbing in the Alps; weather
in the mountains; traveling to France; his experiences in Strasbourg, France; traveling by train in Europe; and his experiences
in Paris.
In a letter dated May 15, 1945; Scheinder discusses an eagle emblem patch he included with the letter. The patch came from
a Nazi Air Corps uniform.
box 1, folder 7
Correspondence to Virginia Webb June 1945
Physical Description: 30 items
In these letters to Webb; Schneider inquires about Webb's job; wonders when he is going home and if he will have to join the
C.B.I. (China Burma India Theater); discusses the weather; reminisces on time his spent with Webb; talks about going swimming;
discusses training exercises and his driving and guard duties; playing bridge; food; going to movies and attending a U.S.O
show; and provides his thoughts on Truman. Schneider also discusses the Austrian mountain scenery while writing from [Schladming];
talks about his fellow soldiers and all of the languages they spoke; discusses his experiences being stationed in Obing, Germany;
talks about visiting Goering and Hitler's homes near Berchtesgaden, and visiting Nuremberg; and talks about the possibility
of a furlough.
box 2, folder 1
Correspondence to Virginia Webb July 1, 1945- July 22 1945
Physical Description: 20 items
In these letters to Webb, Schneider talks about a battery dinner with Jack Benny, Ingrid Bergman, Larry Adler, and Martha
Tilton in Trostberg, Germany; inquires about Webb's family and work; talks about how he has no updates on when he's going
to be leaving Europe; reminisces about spending time playing bridge with Webb; and talks about listening to the radio, playing
bridge, and techniques for how he washed and dry cleaned his clothes. He then talks about how he will be heading onto a boat
back for the United States soon; talks about his potential furlough at Camp Atterbury, Indiana; and discusses the differences
between European and American trains while writing from a train heading to France. Lastly, Schneider talks about his train
ride and viewing destroyed equipment and the countryside; talks about his experiences in France during Bastille Day; and discusses
staying in France while waiting to get shipped back home. In his last letter of the month postmarked July 22nd, Schneider
instructs Webb to stop sending mail to him at his wartime address since he will be returning home shortly after she receives
the letter.
box 2, folder 2
Correspondence to Virginia Webb September 7, 1945-September 30, 1945
Physical Description: 27 items
Correspondence resumes on September 7th from Camp Atterbury, Indiana after Schneider spent thirty two days with Webb. In these
letters from Schneider to Webb, he discusses the Army point system and whether or not he will have to go to Japan; traveling
by train through Nebraska, Nevada, and Salt Lake City to Camp Cooke, California; talks about the comparisons between the Rockies
and the Alps; and discusses arriving at Camp Cooke where he describes the weather and what camp is like. He then talks about
the rumor he heard of being a reserve division; reminisces on his time with Webb; discusses receiving decorations such as
the Victory Medal and "German Occupation" (Army of Occupation Medal); and being disappointed by not receiving a Presidential
unit citation. He also talks about future plans of marriage; going to the movies; chores around the barracks; getting a few
passes to Hollywood and his experiences there; and talking about the labor strikes happening across the country. Lastly, Schneider
discusses the weather; wonders when he will get his next furlough; anticipates starting training soon; and asks how Webb's
driving [lessons] are going.
This folder also contains a booklet postmarked September 24th, 1945 entitled "Highlights of Camp Cooke US Army California"
which contains a brief overview of the camp and information about the facilities.
box 2, folder 3
Correspondence to Virginia Webb October 1, 1945-October 23, 1945
Physical Description: 23 items
In these letters to Webb, Schneider talks about hearing of the news of national strikes; discusses the possibility of a furlough;
discusses his last trip to Hollywood in September; the weather; experiences in Santa Barbara including swimming in the Pacific;
attending shows; discusses the Army point system for discharge; playing bridge; asks about Webb's employment; and talks about
attending night school. He also talks about his experiences on another trip to Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles; asks about
the weather in Cincinnati; talks about a big "bond drive" parade that is supposed to happen in Los Angeles; discusses reading
about the labor strike in Time Magazine; and talks about the Charter (political) Party. Lastly, he talks about spending his
days in the barracks of Camp Cooke playing ping pong, reading Time Magazine articles about Russia; kp duty; and attending
movies; and also talks about plans for himself and Webb while he is home on furlough.
Included in the October 21, 1945 letter is a small article regarding 1945's partisan politics as polled by 4,249 Republican
grass-roots workers.
box 2, folder 4
Correspondence to Virginia Webb December 8, 1945-December 31, 1945
Physical Description: 26 items
Letters resume again on December 8th in Santa Barbara upon Schneider's return to Camp Cooke following his furlough. Schneider
starts by telling Webb about the difficulties he had traveling from [Cincinnati] back to Camp Cooke because of the weather
and his troubles finding lodging. He then discusses his time in Santa Barbara; the weather; reminisces about their time together
while he was on furlough; asks about Webb's employment; wonders when he will get out of the Army; talks about the nation's
labor strikes; and discusses their future home. He then talks about the Army point system and discharge; going to the movies;
playing cards; driving to Mt. Wilson; spending Christmas and New Years in Hollywood; asks Webb about their engagement announcement;
and discusses learning about the G.I. Bill.
box 2, folder 5
Correspondence to Virginia Webb January 1, 1946-January 22, 1946
Physical Description: 25 items
In these letters from Schneider to Webb; Schneider asks about Webb's New Year's plans; discusses talking to his father about
a potential salesman job and purchasing a new car; asks about Webb's work; and talks about the latest rumors about discharge,
his office job at Camp Cooke, and the weather. He also discusses future plans with Webb; talks about playing bridge and ping-pong,
and attending movies; discusses future wedding plans; and provides his thoughts about the labor strikes. He then talks about
some of his experiences when visiting San Francisco and the Bay Area; asks Webb about the engagement announcement; talks about
receiving word that he will be discharged in April; and discusses visiting Santa Barbara. By the middle of the month, Schneider
receives word that he will be most likely discharged by January 31st or February 1st through Camp Atterbury or Camp Beale.
In the last two letters of the month he wonders what it will be like to be a civilian again, and talks about the route he
will take driving back to Cincinnati.
box 2, folder 6
Correspondence September 29, 1949; August 15, 1950; April 16, 1951; March 3, 1953; February 13, 1960; July 15, 17, 1961; December 25, 1971; undated
Physical Description: 10 items
In the letters from 1950-1960, Schneider writes to Webb (now Schneider) during his time away as a traveling salesman. He talks
about his train rides, food, and tells Webb how much he misses her. In the letters sent in 1961, Schneider is writing to Webb
from his mother's house and talks about his days there. Also in this folder are two greeting cards sent to Webb one from 1971,
and one that is undated. Lastly in this folder is an undated card sent from George's mother, Flo B. Schneider to Webb wishing
her a Happy Easter while he is away overseas; and a letter from September 29, 1949 from J. Edwin Reed M.D. to Hon. Robert
Taft United States Senate regarding Reed's role in the Hamilton County Committee of Doctors for Taft.