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Harker, William S. (Second World War correspondence)
2016.121.w.r
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: William S. Harker Second World War correspondence
Creator:
Harker, William S.
Creator:
Harker, Lois
source:
Cowell, Jean
Identifier/Call Number: 2016.121.w.r
Physical Description:
.75 Linear feet
(1.5 document boxes).
Date (inclusive): 1937 February 1 - 1960 March 14
Date (bulk): 1942 November 1- 1945 March 27
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence and records relating to Sgt. William S. Harker, USAAF. According to information provided
by the donor, Harker was a medic during World War II.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 51
Container: 1-8
Container: WWII 52
Container: 9-15
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Jean Cowell. This is a legacy collection from Andrew Carroll.
This collection is arranged by material type, author, and date.
- Series 1: Correspondence between Sgt. William Harker and Lois Harker
- Series 2: Correspondence between Sgt. William Harker and family members
- Series 3: Other correspondence with William Harker
- Series 4: Correspondence bewtween Lois Harker and family members
- Series 5: Other correspondence with Lois Harker
- Series 6: Other correspondence
- Series 7: Personal records of Sgt. Harker
- Series 8: Photographs
- Series 9: Diary of William S. Harker
- Series 10: Ephemera
- Series 11: Clippings
This collection contains letters and other correspondence written by Sergeant William S. Harker, his wife Lois, their parents,
and Sergeant Harker's sister Elvina, with the bulk of correspondence between 1944 and 1945. The letters were written while
Sgt. Harker was stationed at Randolph Field in Texas, at the Army Air Base in Blythe, California and at the Army Air Field
in Walla Walla, WA. Documents indicate that Lois was also stationed at Blythe for a period. An item in Series 10 says that
Lois Harker was secretary to the officer in charge of the Base Signal Office. One letter from 1945 is also written from Hofen,
Germany, although it is unclear if it is from Sgt. Harker. According to information provided by the donor, Sgt. Harker was
a medic in the Army Air Corps. The letters describe life on the bases, as well as life in Hawarden, Iowa, where William and
Lois were born and raised. In her letters, Lois describes her work at the drug store in Hawarden. The letters also describe
life on the homefront during World War II, particularly pertaining to rationed items. One letter that addresses rationing
is in Series 2. It is from Sgt. Harker's sister Elvina and is postmarked April 9, 1943.
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.
[Item title / description; box "n" / Folder "n"] William S. Harker Second World War correspondence (2016.121wr), 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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War (1939-1945)
World War (1939-1945) -- Homefront
World War (1939-1945) -- Hospitals
World War (1939-1945) -- Germany
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
Cowell, Jean