Conditions Governing Access
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Arrangement
Biographical / Historical
Preferred Citation
Content Description
Conditions Governing Use
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Martha Johnson Second World War correspondence and photographs
source:
McKoy, Karen
Creator:
Miller, Donald B. , Corporal
Creator:
Fife, William David, Radarman Third Class
Creator:
Lewis, Edward, Staff Sergeant
Creator:
Edwards, Marshall G., Technical Sergeant
Creator:
Maître, Collet Désiré
Identifier/Call Number: 2019.084.w.r
Physical Description:
.25 Linear feet
(2 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1943 December 31 - 1947 March 6
Abstract: This collection contains 29 correspondence to Martha Johnson from various authors during the Second World War. Also included
are 13 photographs of soldiers and destruction in the South Pacific, as well as some of the correspondents.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 30
Container: 6-7
Container: 1-2
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Karen McKoy.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged chronologically and by language:
- Series 1, Correspondence photographs from various authors
- Series 2, Correspondence and photograph from Collet
Biographical / Historical
Martha Johnson attended college during these correspondence, with mention of her studies in algebra and heading off to college
at Duke University as early as January of 1944. Some of Collet Maître's letters were addressed to her at College Station in
Durham, North Carolina, though she's from Atlanta, Georgia.
Corporal Don B. Miller, United States Army Air Force (8/6/1922 - 12/15/2012) enlisted in September or October, 1945 (according
to one of his letters) and served with Company B, 1877th Engineer Aviation Battalion in Oran, North Africa and the China India
Burma Theater; including Ledo in Assam, India, Chabua, India and various locations in Burma before flying to Karachi for disembarkment
back to the US. Miller boarded a Liberty ship, the USS Reverdy Johnson from Hampton Rhodes, Virginia to cross the Atlantic
to North Africa (letter dated November 16, 1945).
He also had two brothers who served during the war; Sergeant Robert Miller, United States Army in France, Italy and Germany
and Private Fletcher Miller, United States Army in the Philippines in 1945 just after high school (according to donor and
mentions in Miller's letters).
Radarman Third Class William David Fife, United States Navy served aboard the USS Kimberly.
Staff Sergeant Edward Lewis, United States Army served with Company F, 507 Parachute Infantry and wrote from England after
his unit was removed after the Normandy invasion.
Technical Sergeant Marshall G. Edwards, United States Army trained at the Adjutant General Operations Clerical School, United
States Forces European Theater (Main) in Frankfurt, Germany after the war.
Preferred Citation
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Martha Johnson Second World War correspondence and photographs (2019.084.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 29 correspondence to Martha Johnson from various authors during the Second World War. Included are
sixteen correspondence from Collet Désiré Maître, written in French, and correspondence in English including eight from Cpl.
Donald B. Miller, USAAF, three from Rdm3/c William D. Fife, USN, one from T/Sgt. Marshall G. Edwards, USA, and one from SSgt.
[Fd.] Lewis, USA.
Also included in this collection are 13 photographs, including a photo of Maitre, and various photos of soldiers and destruction
in the South Pacific.
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War (1939-1945)
World War (1939-1945) -- Photography
World War (1939-1945) -- France
World War (1939-1945) -- Germany
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945) -- China
India -- Description and travel.
Paris, France
World War (1939-1945) -- France
McKoy, Karen
Johnson , Martha