Collection Guide
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Burns (Irene and John) Family Collection
SPC.2022.002
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Irene and John Burns Family Collection
Creator:
Burns, John J.
Creator:
Jennings, Irene
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2022.002
Physical Description:
10 boxes
(six document boxes; two oversized boxes; two photograph boxes)
Physical Description:
6.25 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1890s- 1960s, 1987, 1989, 1997, 2007, 2015, 2020-2021; undated
Date (bulk): 1940s-1960s
Abstract: This collection contains material belonging to the Burns family who are based in Southern California. A majority of the collection
contains letters that were written from 1943-1946 by John J. Burns and sent to Irene Burns while John was serving in the United
States Marine Corps. Also included are material related to John and Irene's wedding such as RSVPs and greeting cards; as well
as family photograph albums, Woodrow Wilson High School yearbooks (1940, 1942), and a personal diary belonging to Irene.
Language of Material:
English
.
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
This collection is arranged into eleven series
- Series I: Hardcover Bound Books, 1940-1944; 2015
- Series II: John and Irene Burns Personal Papers and Family History, 1862, 1871, 1909, 1897, 1942-1977, 1987, 2007, undated
- Series III: Letters, September 1943 - January 1944
- Series IV: Letters, January - June 1944
- Series V: Letters, July 1944 - February 1945
- Series VI: Letters, March - June 1945
- Series VII: Letters, July - November 1945
- Series VIII: Letters, December 1945 - April 1946, October - November 2020
- Series IX: John and Irene Burns Wedding, 1943, 1946, 1950; undated
- Series X: Burns Photo Album, 1890s, 1900s, 1910, 1933, 1940s-1960s, 1987, 1989, 1997, 2020-2021, undated
- Series XI: Scrapbooks, 1934-1948; undated
John Joseph Burns was born to John Joseph and Nora Mary Burns on September 6, 1922, in New York. John was raised in New York
City, NY. and lived there until he enlisted into the United States Marine Corps in 1942. John served 19 months in the South
Pacific. By career, John was a Marine Clerk in the Port of LA/Long Beach and proud member of the ILWU Local 63, Elks 888,
and American Legion 327. Lillian Irene Jennings was born to Raleigh and Emma Mary Jennings on January 31, 1925, in California.
She prefered the name Irene and signed her name, L. Irene Burns. Irene lived most of her life in Long Beach, CA. and held
a deep fondness for the city. Irene went to Fremont Grammar School, Jefferson Junior High School, Wilson High School. Irene
also attended Long Beach City College in 1944 and the 1950s. During World War II, Irene started her working life as a clerk/typist
at the Los Angeles Port of Embarkation. Insight into her work experience at the port is seen in John's letters, found in this
collection. John and Irene met on a blind date at a USO dance while John was stationed in California. The two went on no more
than a dozen dates before John realized that Irene was the love of his life and proposed. John and Irene were married on February
23, 1946, after John returned from his service. Irene worked in the Intelligence and Security Division but later stepped in
to help John support the family by working at Southern California Edison and the General Telephone Company. Irene later passed
the security hurdle at North American Aviation. Irene's work experience and educational training in the use of a slide rule
and a chronometer helped transition her into a career as an industrial engineer at Robertshaw Controls Company. John and Irene
were married for 60 years. John J. Burns passed away on March 10, 2006 and L. Irene Burns passed away on October 13, 2021.
The two are survived by their three children, John James "Jim" Burns, Kathleen "Kathy" Mary Burns, and Maureen Anne Burns,
as well as four grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and their extended family and friends.
For information about citing archival material, see the
Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.
This collection was processed by Jesus Padilla in April of 2021.
The Irene and John Burns Family Collection (1890s-1970s; 1987, 1989, 1997, 2007, 2015, 2020-2021; undated) contains ten boxes
and 2.04 linear feet of mixed materials, including letters, photographs, greeting cards, scrapbooks, and bound books. Most
of the letters were written by John J. Burns and sent to Irene Burns while John was serving in the United States Marine Corps.
John enlisted in 1942 and began writing to Irene while stationed in North Carolina. John was transferred to El Centro, CA
before being shipped overseas to serve in the South Pacific where he continued to write to Irene. The letters John sent from
the South Pacific were reviewed by Naval censors and sensitive information was redacted from the letters. The letters contain
information about how John spent his time on base, with a large majority of the letters including his expression of his love
for Irene. Also included in the collection are photographs from Burns Family albums and a set of photographs that detail and
capture the aftermath of the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Long Beach, CA in 1933. This collection
houses dozens of greeting cards John and Irene received from family and friends congratulating them on their engagement and
marriage. Lastly, this collection contains bound books: Irene Jennings' diaries, and yearbooks from Woodrow Wilson High School
in Long Beach, CA.; and two scrapbooks created by Irene [Jennings] Burns during her childhood.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War, 1939-1945 -- Japan
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point (N.C.)
Marine Corps Air Station New River (N.C.)
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (Calif.)
South Pacific Islands
Earthquakes -- California -- Long Beach
Long Beach (Calif.)
Correspondence
United States. Marine Corps
United States. Marine Corps Women's Reserve