Post (Lauren C.) Papers, 1917-1977

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Summary

Title:
Lauren C. Post Papers
Dates:
1917-1977
Creators:
Post, Lauren Chester
Extent:
0.42 Linear Feet
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Identification of item, folder title, box number, Lauren C. Post Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, San Diego State University Library.

Background

Scope and content:

The Lauren C. Post Papers (1917-1977) document Dr. Lauren Post's involvement with San Diego State College servicemen in World War II as well as his professional output as professor of geography at San Diego State. The collection includes correspondence, essays, monographs, programs, news clippings, and photographs.

The collection is divided into two series, arranged alphabetically: World War II San Diego State Servicemen Files (1943-1953) and Professional Files (1939-1978). The [url=https://digital.sdsu.edu/view-item?key=R3siTiI6NDksIlAiOnsiaXRlbV90eXBlcyI6WzJdfX0&pg=22&WINID=1560014015460#v1jLIIu5UnQAAAFrN_WnMQ/291293]World War II San Diego State Servicemen Files[/url] (also available online) include correspondence from Post regarding Aztec News Letter donations, programs from events honoring Aztec servicemen, and annotated address changes for distribution of the Aztec News Letter. Of particular note is an essay written by Post about San Diego State men and women who served in World War II, with a focus on the 134 Aztecs who were killed in action during the war. Professional Files primarily consists of essays and monographs written by Post. The series includes extensive documentation of his Santa Fe Trail trip, including a travelogue, essays, and photographs. Also included in this series is a folder of Post's personal documents, which contains his Navy enlistment and discharge papers, dated 1919.

Biographical / historical:

A native of Rayne, Louisiana, Lauren Post was professor of geography at San Diego State from 1937-1969. He was educated at the University of California and Louisiana State University, and taught at San Francisco State and at Louisiana State before coming to San Diego State. Post is remembered for his Aztec News Letter in which he corresponded with Aztec servicemen and women during World War II.

Immediately after Pearl Harbor and as the War progressed, Aztec students were soon scattered all over the globe, disconnected and separated from their college, their friends, their loved ones, and their former lives. In the spring of 1942, Dr. Post, a veteran of World War I, decided to try a "news service experiment" intended to provide information about the locations of current and former Aztecs dispersed around the world. The Aztec News Letter thus became a crucial lifeline throughout the War for Aztec servicemen and women facing difficulty and danger wherever they were stationed. Lauded as one of the first of its kind in the nation, the Aztec News Letter premiered in May of 1942 and was released monthly until its 48th issue in March of 1946. By then, The Aztec News Letter circulated to more than 3,000 service and home front readers. The project and the letters that made it possible would forever characterize the Aztec spirit during wartime. Not only are the letters historically significant; they also offer a unique perspective about San Diego State during a global crisis.

Arrangement:

I. World War II San Diego State Servicemen Files, 1943-1953

II. Professional Files, 1939-1978

Accruals:

9999-043

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2021-01-19 14:44:50 -0800 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in the materials found in this collection have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Special Collections and University Archives can only grant permission to publish materials for which it is the copyright holder. For further information, please consult the section on copyright in the rules for using the collections, or contact the United States Copyright Office at (202) 707-3000 or http://www.copyright.gov.

Preferred citation:

Identification of item, folder title, box number, Lauren C. Post Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, San Diego State University Library.

Location of this collection:
Library and Information Access
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-8050, US
Contact:
(619) 594-6791
askscua@mail.sdsu.edu
Website