World War, 1939-1945

This oral history collection consists of interviews with nine members of the 29th Division, an infantry division of the United States Army that saw action in the Normandy Invasion, or D-Day, during World War II. Interviewed between 1987-1989, the veterans discuss their battalions, their ranks, objectives, tactics they implemented, and the obstacles they faced.

The papers in the Boone-O'Brien-Harnickell collection span a period from 1878 until 1974, with the bulk of these falling between the years 1939 and 1950. The majority of the papers are letters, documents and cards, although there are a few hand-written manuscripts.

This collection primarily contains correspondence mailed to Seaman Bill Canelos of Baltimore, Maryland between 1943-1944 during World War II. Correspondents include his mother, Mary, and sister, Anastasia, as well as various relatives and female acquaintances in Baltimore.

The collection contains correspondence from Carlton Dates to his wife and daughter in Baltimore, Maryland while he was serving in the United States Navy during World War II. These letters yield a picture of the life of a Black serviceman and his family during the war.

This collection contains documents related to Chesley “Chet” Roland Hall’s service with the Navy during World War II. This includes a diary kept by Hall during his time in Africa and London, England from 1943 to 1944.

The collection contains photographs and genealogical materials related to the Despeaux family, including Gore, Eccleston, Steen, and Mitchell family lines. The collection also contains photographs and U.S. Army service records of James I. Mitchell a member of the U.S. Army’s 29th division during World War II.

This collection consists of 23 scrapbooks containing newspaper and magazine clippings regarding the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, 1936-1938. Topics include the abdication crisis, the personal lives of the Duke and Duchess, their marriage and exile in France, and political and diplomatic events leading up to World War II.

This collection contains documents and ephemera relating to the life of Corporal Elbert K. Saxmann, focusing primarily upon World War II.

This collection contains photographs taken by or pertaining to Elbert K. Saxmann’s life.

This collection contains manuscripts, ephemera, and photographs related to the family of Emma Collenberg Hale (1913-2012), Le Roy Mitchell Hale (1913-1990), and Augusta Dorothy Collenberg Wise, all Baltimore City and Baltimore County residents. Included are mostly identified photographs of family members, as well as correspondence and miscellaneous ephemera saved by Emma Hale beginning in World War II. Also included are indentures, deeds, and surveys for Baltimore County, dated 1787-1862.