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Bernice and Bertha Downing Collection of World War I Letters
1979-855  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • Biography/Administrative History
  • Scope and Content of Collection
  • Indexing Terms

  • Descriptive Summary

    Title: Bernice and Bertha Downing Collection of World War I Letters
    Dates: 1917-1919
    Collection Number: 1979-855
    Creator/Collector:
    Extent: 5 folders (.25 linear feet)
    Repository: History San Jose Research Library
    San Jose, California 95112
    Abstract: Letters from World War I servicemen to Santa Clara Journal owners and editors Bernice C. Downing and twin sister Bertha G. Downing
    Language of Material: English

    Access

    The collection is available to the public for research by appointment with the Curator of Research Library & Archives

    Publication Rights

    Contact the Curator of Research Library & Archives for reproduction and publication information

    Preferred Citation

    Bernice and Bertha Downing Collection of World War I Letters. History San Jose Research Library

    Acquisition Information

    The donor of these letters is unknown. They are part of the original San Jose Historical Museum collection.

    Biography/Administrative History

    Bernice C. Downing (d. 1940) and her twin sister Bertha G. Downing (d. 1925) are noted as being the first women in California to own, edit, and publish their own newspaper, the Santa Clara Journal, which they inherited from their father Nathan Hall Downing. Under their direction, the paper developed into a thriving semi-weekly newspaper. Bernice was appointed Santa Clara postmaster by President Warren Harding, and was also editor of the California Postmaster.

    Scope and Content of Collection

    The collection contains handwritten and typed letters from servicemen, and possibly Red Cross volunteers, sent to twin sisters Bernice and Bertha Downing, who owned and operated the Santa Clara Journal. Letters were sent between 1917-1919, from both the U.S. and overseas, and are casual and familiar in nature, conveying personal news and operational news from the front.