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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition
  • Arrangement
  • Biographical / Historical
  • Preferred Citation
  • Scope and Contents
  • Conditions Governing Use

  • Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives
    Title: Henry R. Meza Second World War correspondence
    Creator: Meza, Henry R.
    Creator: Zappia, Bertha Meza
    source: Ghelfi, Jan
    Identifier/Call Number: 2017.523.w.r
    Physical Description: .08 Linear Feet (1 folder)
    Date (inclusive): 1941 December 4 - 1944 February 26
    Abstract: This collection contains letters and written correspondence to and from Pvt. Henry R. Meza, USA during the Second World War.
    Physical Description: The majority of the letters and envelopes are severely damaged with tears, holes, and missing pieces.
    Language of Material: The majority of the letters are written in English.
    Language of Material: One letter written in Spanish.
    Container: WWII 14
    Container: 9
    Container: 1

    Conditions Governing Access

    This collection is open for research.

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    Gift of Jan Ghelfi.

    Arrangement

    This collection is arranged by material type, author, and date. Some materials have been rearranged out of their original order, including envelopes separated from their corresponding undated letters.

    Biographical / Historical

    Private Henry R. Meza, United States Army (1922 - 1/6/1944) was born to Mr. and Mrs. Della C. Meza in Pima County, Arizona. He had one brother, Albert, and five sisters, Mrs. John. F. Dobson (given name unknown), Stella, Marguerite, Dorothy, and Bertha. He was educated in Tuscon and worked at the Hood Oil Company and the Martin Drug Company before enlisting.
    Meza volunteered with the Arizona National Guard and, after Pearl Harbor, joined the 158th "Bushmasters" Infantry. He received training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and Camp Barkeley, Texas. He had also served in Panama, Australia, and New Guinea.
    Meza was killed in action on January 6, 1944, in Arawe, New British Islands. A war bond service was held in his and other Arizona servicemen's memories on February 27, 1944.

    Preferred Citation

    [Item title, Box number, Folder number], Henry R. Meza Second World War correspondence (2017.523.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

    Scope and Contents

    This collection contains letters and newspaper clippings from and concerning Pvt. Henry Meza, USA during the Second World War. Some of the letters were written to his sister Bertha, and some of the letters were ones she wrote to him but were returned after his death. The collection was donated by Meza's niece.

    Conditions Governing Use

    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. For further copyright information, please contact the archivist.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    World War (1939-1945)
    Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
    World War (1939-1945) -- Homefront
    World War (1939-1945) -- Christmas
    Meza, Henry R.
    Zappia, Bertha Meza
    Ghelfi, Jan