Collections

Contains a handwritten diary, roster, booklets, and newsletters that were collected by a member of the 398th Bombardment Squadron, 504th Bombardment Group of the Twentieth United States Army Air Force that was stationed on Tinian Island during Word War II. Included in the collection is a diary written by an unknown soldier that follows his voyage from Seattle, Washington in November 1944 up through the end of the War in September 1945. The unknown soldier was an enlisted soldier and worked on Tinian Island as a storekeeper and as a K.P. (Kitchen Police). Some of the topics mentioned in the diary included life aboard his ship, the S.S. Sea Star, Tokyo Rose, Japanese snipers, rations, airplane crashes, bombing missions, casualty lists and events, Naval support and daily life on Tinian. The diary begins with detailed, daily entries and then becomes sporadic by the end. The collection also contains a pocket guide to the Nansei Shoto Islands prepared by the special publication branch, Information-Education Section. The pocket guide was designed for an American G.I. to understand the islands and their inhabitants. Much of the guide contains stereotypes and propaganda about the Okinawan people. The collection also contains a pamphlet titled, "Wecome San Francisco Port of Embarkation," a booklet for service men stationed at Camp Stoneman on their return from fighting in the War. The guide is informal in nature, containing illustrations and informal language. It was designed as a rulebook for G.I.'s during their stay at Camp Stoneman. The collection also contains issues of "The Daily Star" newspaper, the newspaper of the S.S. Sea Star. The Daily Star provided a glimpse into shipboard life, newsclippings from the warfront and back in the states, a Chaplin's message, sports scores, cartoons, the ship's "Plan-of-the-day" and other miscellanous articles. The collection also contains the book "A History of the War In Maps, In Pictographs, in Words" by Penguin Books, published in 1944. The book was a joint military and Penguin Books publication designed to help both the military and civilian population understand the war. The collection also contains a roster with addresses of the enlisted members of the 398th Bombardment Squadron, 504th Bombardment Group. Some of the names included in the unknown soldier's diary are present in the roster, others are missing.

Pamphlets and brochures from Colonial Williamsburg, plus various invitations and programs for Williamsburg area events.

Collections of programs, pamphlets and other items from the Williamsburg, Virginia area. Biography and photograph of Comer Clarke Jackson, Manager of Casey's Department Store.

Diary (82 pp), 1882-1890 of reverend and missionary Arthur Samuel Burt (1846-1890). His last entry is was made about 4 months before his death and mentions handing over the church's ministry to someone else as his health is deteriorating. The entire journal is about his ministry, funerals, conventions, visitations, marriages, his travels and family. Burt visited many people in the area and lists most of them by their full name. At the end of his life he lives in New Bedford, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Also included is a 1890 newspaper with his obituaries, some loose notes, a poem and a copy of a letter to Burt that talks about the Starkey Seminary.

The collection includes programs, leaflets, and other material of various Williamsburg events and organizations of the 20th century including the Williamsburg Festival, Heritage Inn, and others.