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Start Over Names West Virginia (Ship)

Deb Green, Collector, Battleship USS West Virginia Memorabilia 2.5 Linear Feet Summary: 2 1/2 in. (1 document case, 2 1/2 in.); (1 oversize folder, 8 items)

Material regarding the battleship USS West Virginia (commissioned 1923, decommissioned 1947), including photographs, memoranda, "orders of the day," radio messages, press summaries, menus ("bill of fare"), programs for holiday and recreational events, wing fabric from a USS West Virginia plane, and newspapers with articles regarding the ship. Material mainly regards the day-to-day operations of the ship and its crew, as well as special events such as holidays, sports competitions, and film showings. Material within this collection dates from before the entry of the United States into World War II.
  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

Milton Cohen Papers 10.25 Linear Feet 10 ft. 3 in. (10 records cartons, 1 flat storage box)

Cohen, Milton, 1906-2008
Papers of Milton Cohen, a Morgantown resident, businessman, World War II veteran, and community activist. The collection contains records in 11 series, including: 1.) Biographical Information, 2.) USS West Virginia, 3.) Tree of Life Synagogue, 4.) Sidler's Department Store, 5.) Morgantown, 6.) Monongalia County, 7.) Charities and Non-profit Organizations, 8.) CLOLA [Concerned Love Ones and Lotowners Associations], 9.) Environmental Issues, 10.) Audio-Visual Material, and 11.) Oversize. Series 2, USS West Virginia, includes historical narratives, clippings, and photographs regarding the USS West Virginia, its bell, mast, and the bell ringing ceremony on the West Virginia University campus. Series 5, Morgantown, regards projects and protests by Cohen and citizens groups involving BFI Waste Management, Century Cable, the Morgantown City Council, and building, zoning, and planning pertaining to Morgantown. Series 8, CLOLA [Concerned Love Ones and Lotowners], includes records regarding CLOLA suing the Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens owner Richard Pence and Sandridge Coal Company for strip mining cemetery land. Series 9, Environmental Issues, includes records related to Cohen's involvement in several environmental issues and protests. See the scope and content note for a complete listing and description of series.
  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

Oral History Interviews of West Virginians in World War II 1.5 Linear Feet Summary: 1 ft. 5 1/2 in. (3 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 document case, 2 1/2 in.)

Davis, Diane, Collector

Collection of 39 video tapes of interviews with WWII veterans from West Virginia. Interviews were conducted Oct. - Nov. 2002 as part of the Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress. The beginning of each tape gives date, location, and names of interviewee, interviewer, and cameraman. Interviewees include a survivor of the USS Indianapolis, a sailor who was on board the USS West Virginia at Pearl Harbor, a procurement officer for the Manhattan Project, a pilot who was shot down and spent months training partisans in the Italian Alps, and a sailor from one of the ships that captured the German sub containing the Enigma Machine. Also included are an Army nurse, a USO performer, a French war bride, and a WAVE (a member of the US Navy's "Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service" (WAVES), an organization established in 1942). Names include: Albert John Arco, Harry Berman, Bernard Berry, Wallace Brake, Ray Junior Bush, Don Caplinger, Lillian Mae Columbo, Austin D. Cunningham, Norman C. Drainer, Merle E. Dutchess, Eugene Gary, Vernor Gerrard, Darrel J. Hickman, Clarence E. Jones, George A. Judy, David King, Earl F. Lake, O. D. Linder, Sam Lopez, William Manley, Earl Lawrence Marquess, John Kessler Martin, Robert Mendenhall, Paul Nutter, Manuel Ovies, Marjorie Paugh, Benjamin Portaro, William Reynolds, Kenneth Richards, Joseph Tarantino, Harold V. Tate, Wesley J. Thomas, John B. Tonkin, Louis Trupo, Alvina Weaver, H. Laban White, Gordon Clark Windon, Richard Windon, and Ed Young.

  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

USS West Virginia Commemorative Book .01 Linear Feet 1/4 in. (1 folder)

West Virginia (Ship)

Battleship USS West Virginia commemorative book entitled "Crossed the Equator Again" documenting a tradition performed on the ship when it crosses the equator. Includes photographs, cartoons, and humorous text.

  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

USS West Virginia, Commemorative Pin and Challenge Coin .01 Linear Feet 1 item (1 folder)

USS West Virginia 75th anniversary commemorative pin, inscribed with text reading "75, Remember Pearl Harbor, 1941". This pin was handed out at a 75th anniversary commemorative event at the downtown library of West Virginia University Libraries. There are two copies of this pin in this collection. There is also in the collection a USS West Virginia BB-48 Challenge Coin in a plastic case with an image of the vessel printed on the coin.

  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

USS West Virginia Life Preserver 0.5 Linear Feet 6 in. (1 plexiglass-enclosed item)

Kendrick, Earl G. (Ken)

This life preserver, constructed of treated canvas over foam, was salvaged from the wreckage of the U.S.S. West Virginia (BB-48) after the surprise December 7, 1941 Japanese air attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The life preserver measures 25 inches in diameter and includes the phrase, "U.S.S. W. Va. 1st Fire and Rescue Div" painted in red.

  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

USS West Virginia, Navy Uniform of Granville R. Williams 0.25 Linear Feet Summary: 3 in. (1 large flat storage box, 3 in.)

Jacobs, Martin
Dress white U.S. Navy uniform that belonged to Granville R. Williams, Gunner's Mate 2nd Class, who served aboard the USS West Virginia during the attack at Pearl Harbor. Williams survived the attack and was awarded the Purple Heart. His Purple Heart medal and five campaign and achievement medals adorn the uniform. There is also a photograph of Williams and a copy of the article 'The Horror of Pearl Harbor' from Militaria International magazine (May 2001) which includes a reminiscence by Williams of his Pearl Harbor experience.
  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

USS West Virginia Papers 0.01 Linear Feet Summary: 1 in. (1 folder)

Alpha Phi Omega

One folder of letters, photographs, and newspaper clippings relating to the arrangements to bring the mast of the USS West Virginia to the WVU Campus

  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

USS West Virginia Papers 0.25 Linear Feet Summary: 2 1/2 in. (1 document case)

Alpha Phi Omega

Materials concerning the dedication of the bell of the armored cruiser U.S.S. West Virginia, December 7, 1967. Items include program, invitation, diagram of proceedings, and newspaper clippings of dedication.

  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

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