Research Catalog

Details

Description

1. .8 lin. ft. (2 archival boxes)

Summary

1. The World War II Letters from African-American Soldiers collection consists of letters from African-American servicemen to Elnora (Nora) Bing Williams and her husband, Edgar Thomas (Ned) Williams of Brooklyn, New York. The correspondents are relatives and friends, and the letters describe their social and recreational activities on and off U.S. military bases. The soldiers share news about other family members and friends back home as well as those also in the military. In only a few letters were their lives as African-American servicemen portrayed, or their relationships with white military men or townspeople. The letters from friends also describe training to become non-commissioned officers. All of the servicemen had been drafted; a few men attained the rank of sergeant, corporal and lieutenant. Several were stationed in the Pacific and Europe, and obliquely wrote about general conditions there.

Subject

1. World War, 1939-1945 -- Participation, African American
2. African Americans -- Social conditions -- To 1964
3. African American soldiers
4. African American families
5. United States -- Armed Forces -- African Americans

Genre/Form

1. Letters (correspondence)

Call number

1. Sc MG 429

Source (note)

1. Edgar Thomas Williams

Title

1. World War II letters from African-American Soldiers, 1940-1945.

Connect to:

1. Finding Aid

Local subject

1. Black author.

Research call number

1. Sc MG 429