Charles E. Conn Second World War collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 2016-021-s-r

Staff Only

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)

Additional Description

Overview

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.