Finding Aid for the Henry R. Meza Second World War correspondence 2017.523.w.r
Lee Feldman
Center for American War Letters Archives
10/31/17
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
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
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Jan Ghelfi.
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.
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.
[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.
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.
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