World War II Archival Collections
Baker, Anna M. Collection
Accession Number: 2017.026
Collection of photographs, documents, and objects donated by Anna M. Baker. Included in this collection is a war ration book issued to Anna Mae Johnston of Springfield, a Veterans of Foreign Wars medal, and "The Large Springs of Missouri." Items belonging to her father Elbert Wesley Johnston including his draft registration card, various draft
classification notices, and medical receipts are also found in this collection.
Barnard Family Collection
Accession Number: 2020.005; 2021.006
The Barnard Family Collection consists of 19th and 20th century material. Contained within the collection are the papers of several veterans. Hugh Eugene “Gene” Barnard, who served in the United States Navy during World War II. Gene Barnard served from July 1944 until the end of the war as a Cadet-Midshipman. His papers consists of letters and postcards he wrote to his parents in Fordland, Missouri while aboard the U.S.S. President Johnson and U.S.S. Trade Winds. Most of the letters were contained within a scrapbook gifted by the family. Photographs of Gene and his shipmates are also included in the collection. Also included is his continuous discharge book, certificates, account of wages, foreign currency, and newspaper articles.
William Dunn served in World War II with the 84th division. He was present at the Battle of the Bulge. His sister Charlotte worked on the home front as a “Rosie the Riveter,” building planes for use overseas. Charlotte married Harley Sheldon Tallman in 1932. They later moved their family from California to Rogersville, Missouri in 1944. This collection contains items relating to William, Charlotte, and Harley during the war including a letter from William Dunn to his sister Charlotte Tallman, a Navy press release for the sinking of the USS Hornet, and several war rations books for Charlotte and Harley Tallman and their daughter Joyce.
Barski Family Collection
Accession Number: 2013.003
Dona L. Barski of Springfield, Mo donated this World War II collection of photographs and books from her husband, Stanley Robert Barski, and father Charles E. Lunn. Her husband enlisted in the Navy in 1942 and served for 20 years. After World War II he served as Chief Petty Officer in charge of maintenance of the aircraft on Guam in the South Pacific. Her father enlisted in the Army Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1942 and served until the end of the War. Lunn had a collection of 48 slides made by Castle Films documenting World War II which are included in this collection, as well as photographs of both Barski and Lunn. A few air navigation books and an air training manual are a part of this collection.
Claybough, Hugh Collection
Accession Number: 2022.014
This collection contains a six page letter from Hugh Claybough to his wife Wilma written on June 16, 1944. Claybough was a member of the planning staff for the operations section with a troop carrier command squadron that carried out paratroop drops during the Normandy invasion. In the letter, he speaks briefly about the invasion.
Gebhart, Sheryl Collection
Accession Number: 2018.005
This collection consists of eleven World War II ration books issued to Sheryl Ensign, Sheila Ensign, Deanna Ensign, Marion Ensign, and Neva Ensign of Salina, Kansas, a 6th War Loan Ribbon, an air raid warden card and training certificate for Leslie Gebhart from the Los Angeles police department, and two citations awarded to Leslie H. Gebhart for services rendered in behalf of the War Finance Program.
Hedgepeth, Jack Collection
Accession Number: 2022.018
Jack Hedgepeth was born on January 18, 1919 to Oscar and Lena Hedgepeth. Before enlisting in the U.S. Army, Hedgepeth worked in construction and was in a Civilian Conservation Corps camp. Hedgepeth served with the 6th Division, 20th Infantry during World War II. His infantry served in the Pacific theatre including the Hawaiian Islands, New Guiena and the Philippine Islands. This collection consists of 140 photographs from Hedgepeth's military service.
Hendricks, Gene Thompson Collection
Accession Number: 1999.008
Roberta Gene (Thompson) Hendricks was born on August 20, 1919 to Rose Hester Thompson and Charles Eugene Thompson. She attended Greenwood High School, graduating in 1937. She later attended Southwest Missouri State College from 1937-1941. While at SMS she studied education, chemistry, and biology and graduated with a triple major. During World War II Gene was employed as a laboratory technician in serology at the U.S. Army's O'Reilly General Hospital. She passed away in November of 2006. This collection includes a scrapbook of photographs from her time working at O'Reilly's as well as O'Reilly General Hospital reunions from 1985-1997.
Martin, Hazel Brickbauer Collection
Accession Number: 2014.001
A scrapbook compiled by Hazel Brickbauer Martin who worked for the Women's Army Corps (WAC) at O'Reilly General Hospital during World War II. The scrapbook includes articles from "The Shamrock," the O'Reilly newspaper, as well as newspaper clippings and photographs of members of WAC. The photographs show the women of WAC during training at Ft. Oglethorpe, GA. Hazel Brickbauer met her husband John M. Martin at O'Reilly General Hospital who was wounded during the war.
McCarter, Genola Sankey Collection
Accession Number: 1999.010
Genola Sankey McCarter worked as a nurse at O'Reilly General Hospital. The collection includes two scrapbooks and several editions of the O'Reilly newspaper, "The Shamrock."
Mitchell, William Collection
Accession Number: 1997.006
Miscellaneous items collected by William Mitchell, a Springfield resident and veteran of the United States Army Air Corps. The largest portion of this collection consists of postcards. A few postcards are military related and several are from historic sites associated with Abraham Lincoln. Two World War II ration books for Lucille F. Mitchell are included along with two special editions of the News-Leader.
O’Reilly General Hospital Collection
Accession Number: 2019.003
A collection of documents related to O'Reilly General Hospital. The collection includes a 1945 Christmas menu and roster of those working at O’Reilly General Hospital. The pamphlet was donated by Janice Breinig of Holdrege, Nebraska. It belonged to her stepfather, Loren C. Baxter who spent 18 months at O’Reilly after suffering electrical burns as a lineman in Germany.
Price, Michael Postcard Collection
Accession Number: 2016.002
A collection of four O’Reilly General Hospital postcards. The postcards show interior and exterior views of buildings on the hospital campus.
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