Charles E. Conn Second World War collection
Content Description
This collection contains correspondence, papers, poetry, greeting cards, ephemera, and realia pertaining to Sgt. Charles E. Conn during the Second World War. Inventory:
422 letters, personal correspondence
72 v mail, personal correspondence
3 postcards, personal correspondence
1 Camp Roberts guide document
1 certificate of retention and customs declaration
1 dependency notification
2 war ration books
4 medical documents, pertaining to maternity leave, medical coverage, and pay
7 poems
9 greeting cards, various
4 photographs, in cardboard frames
1 photograph, in glass and metal frame
1 photograph, in silver frame
12 photographs, various people, no frames
8 postcards
1 pamphlet
Dates
- 1941 - 1946
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.
Biographical / Historical
Charles was born January 28, 1920 to Samuel and Edna (Smith) Conn in Sutton, Nebraska and they later moved to the Goose Bill area of Chouteau County, Montana. Charles met Mary Ann Maki in Neihart, Montana in 1941 as a student and they began correspondence while Charles was in Seattle. They married on May 8, 1943 while Charles was on furlow after he had joined the military. Charles and Mary had three daughters, Betty, Billie, and Lynda. Betty was born in 1944 while Charles was stationed in Europe during the Second World War.
Charles entered the service on April 16, 1942. He was assigned to the Headquarters Company, 5th Tank Destroyer Group, United States Army. While in the Army, he trained at Camp Young in California, Camp Hood in Texas, and Camp Polk in Louisiana. He also served oversees, getting credit for the D-Day landings as his unit reached Normandy on July 25, the final day to receive credit for the invasion. He travelled through France, Belgium and Germany, describing in his letters along the way some of the hardships of the local residents effected by the war. He received the Good Conduct Medal, the Bronze Star, and the American Service Medal. He landed in the U.S. on October 18, 1945 and left the service ten days later.
After the war, Charles and Mary purchased the Conn family farm in Montana from his father, Samuel. Charles became a sought after musician and the two retired in 1989. Their daughters, Billie and Lynda passed away in 2007 and Charles died February 17, 2014.
Extent
3 Linear Feet (5 document boxes, 1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection contains the correspondence of Sergeant Charles E. Conn, United States Army and his wife, Mary Ann (Maki) Conn, during the Second World War. Also included are other correspondence, photographs, ephemera, postcards, cards, and various realia collected during the war.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by material: Series 1: Correspondence from Charles to Mary--Series 2: Correspondence from Mary to Charles--Series 3: Correspondence from Ben to Mary--Series 4: Correspondence from other authors--Series 5: Papers--Series 6: Poetry--Series 7: Greeting Cards--Series 8: Ephemera--Series 9: Photographs--Series 10: Realia.
Physical Location
Leatherby Libraries, Special Collections.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchase from The Book Shop, 6/16/2016.
- Clothing and dress -- World War, 1939-1945 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945 Subject Source: Local sources
- Military education Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Rationing Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United States. -- Army. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War (1939-1945) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War (1939-1945) -- Battlefields -- France Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War (1939-1945) -- Belgium Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War (1939-1945) -- Campaigns -- France -- Normandy. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War (1939-1945) -- Equipment and supplies Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War (1939-1945) -- France Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War (1939-1945) -- Germany Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War (1939-1945) -- Homefront Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War (1939-1945) -- Hospitals Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War (1939-1945) -- Poetry Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War II Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Charles E. Conn Second World War collection
- Author
- Andrew Harman
- Date
- 6/30/2016
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, Leatherby Libraries Repository
