Finding Aid for the Anthony A. Barone Second World War correspondence 2017.289.w.r

Lorraine Shaller
Center for American War Letters Archives
12/18/17
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu


Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Anthony A. Barone Second World War correspondence
Creator: Barone, Anthony A., Jr.
Creator: Rollo-Barone, Corinne
source: Micheli, Adrienne
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.289.w.r
Physical Description: 1 Linear feet (1 carton)
Date (inclusive): 1942 May 21 - 1945 September 30
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence from Private First Class Anthony A. Barone, United States Army, to his fiancee, Corinne Rollo (Barone) during the Second World War.
Condition Description: Scrapbook in bad condition with newspaper clippings, letters, and photos falling out and edges fraying and falling off
Language of Material: English .
Container: WWII 126
Container: 1-4
Container: 1-4
Container: WWII 127
Container: 1-8
Container: 5-12
Container: WWII O-F 9
Container: 1
Container: 13

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Corinne Rollo Barone, Adrienne Micheli, and Dino Micheli

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronologically by material type:
  • Series 1, Correspondence to Corinne and Marion Rollo
  • Series 2, Correspondence to Anthony A. Barone
  • Series 3, Correspondence to the Rollo family
  • Series 4, Photographs
  • Series 5, Military documents
  • Series 6 Newspaper clippings
  • Series 7, Ephemera
  • Series 8, Realia

Preferred Citation

[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Anthony A. Barone Second World War correspondence (2017.289.w.r), 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.

Content Description

This collection contains correspondence from Private First Class Anthony A. Barone Jr., USA to his fiancee Corinne Rollo (Barone) during the Second World War. Barone was stationed in the European Theater of Operations as part of Company C, 23rd Armored Engineers Battalion, 3rd Armored Division, US Army. Barone is unclear in his letters when he is in combat, but his letters from late December to early January 1944-45 indicate he is involved in a "quickie." He urges Corinne not to worry about him. Evidence points to this "quickie" being the Battle of the Bulge. Most of his letters to Corinne point to their impending marriage, and he often asks her to pray for both their sakes as the war progresses. Barone also wrote to his sister-in-law Marion and writes to his family. The collection also contains more than 40 photographs of Barone and his companions during the war, as well as many clippings from newspapers and magazines.

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

United States -- Army -- European Theater of Operations
World War (1939-1945) -- Germany
World War (1939-1945) -- Concentration camps
United States -- Army -- Armored Division, 3rd.
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945)
Micheli, Adrienne

box WWII 126, folder 1-4, folder 1-4, box WWII 127, folder 1-2, folder 5-6

Series 1, Correspondence to Corinne and Marion Rollo 1942 May 22 - 1945 September 30

Physical Description: .66 Linear Feet(6 folders)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains correspondence from Private First Class Anthony A. Barone to his fiancee Corinne Rollo. Occasionally, Barone addresses a letter to Rollo's sister Marion, although the content of the letter always includes reference to both her and her sister. Barone was part of Company C, 23rd Armored Engineers, apparently driving a supply truck. The 23rd Armored Engineers belonged to the 3rd Armored Division, which was part of Patton's Third Army during the invasion of Normandy. Barone's writings indicate he was present at the Battle of the Bulge and other engagements the 3rd Armored Division faced in the final years of the war, although his writing is very guarded, and he almost never lets any details about his combat slip into his writing. Instead, Barone frequently asks how Corinne is, wishes her well, and describes going to church on Sundays, wherever one happens to be in the area. He also tells her not to worry about him, especially when, based on the dates, he is going into combat.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945)
United States -- Army -- Armored Division, 3rd.
United States -- Army -- European Theater of Operations
box WWII 127, folder 3, folder 7

Series 2, Correspondence to Anthony A. Barone 1942 May 10 - 1945 April 5

Physical Description: .04 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series primarily contains greeting cards from various senders to Private First Class Tony A. Barone during the time he was overseas. Several of the cards apparently come from family friends while others are written by his fiancee Corinne, his nieces, and his brother Otto.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945)
box WWII 127, folder 4, folder 8

Series 3, Correspondence to the Rollo family 1945 August 7 - 1945 August 8

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains an assortment of various correspondence from Tony Barone and others to members of his and his wife's family. This correspondence includes greeting cards from the holidays, a letter from Sicily from Tony's father, and a V-mail to Tony's cousins in Phoenix.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945)
box WWII 127, folder 5, folder 9

Series 4, Photographs 1942 - 1945

Physical Description: .08 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains approximately 50-100 photographs taken from Tony Barone's scrapbook during his wartime years. The photographs date from Barone's time in Kentucky, California, England, France, Belgium, and Germany. Many of the photographs show Barone's work in the supply stores and around ground transportation. Others show German and Belgian refugees fleeing cities in carts and aboard trains. Still others show the other men Barone served with during his time overseas.
box WWII 127, folder 6, folder 10

Series 5, Military documents 1942 August 31 - 1943 February 13

Physical Description: .025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains military documents pertaining to Anthony Barone's service in the United States Army. One document is a carbon copy of a defense bond, and the two others are military rosters for Company C, 23rd Armored Engineers.
folder WWII O-F 9, folder 1, folder 13

Series 6, Newspaper clippings 1942 - 1945

Physical Description: .1 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains clippings from newspapers and magazines sent home by Tony Barone during his time in the Army. These clippings include Army-specific cartoons like Sad Sack and G.I. Joe as well as others circulating in major newspapers in the United States and England. The series also contains news items related to major war developments and the actions of the 3rd Armored Division, as well as events and news stories during the occupation regarding the interaction of the Army with civilians. For example, there are several clippings detailing the death of Major General Maurice Rose, who encountered a fully outfited Panzer tank while traveling in a half-track. He was fatally shot by a Nazi soldier as he was surrendering his weapon. Additionally, some stories include German civilians allegedly faking rape and other accusations against US soldiers. Included in the series are newspaper clippings dealing with the 3rd Armored Division's liberation of the Dora-Mittelbau Concentration Camp near Nordhausen, Germany.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

World War (1939-1945) -- Germany
World War (1939-1945) -- Concentration camps
box WWII 127, folder 7, folder 11

Series 7, Ephemera 1942 - 1944

Physical Description: .3 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains flyers, pamphlets, advertisements, labels, several stamps with Hitler's face, a 200,000,000 Reichsmark note, several songbooks, menus, and programs, and a copy of a poem given to Barone by another soldier.
box WWII 127, folder 8, folder 12

Series 8, Realia 1945 March 14

Physical Description: .025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains a tartan handkerchief and a yellow Deutsche Wehrmacht armband.