Roberta Wooddell House and Nancy Wooddell Thornton Collection

Collection

Identifier: WV 0363

Staff Only

Roberta Wooddell House and Nancy Wooddell Thornton Collection, Digital Materials

Scope and Contents

Folder one contains photographs of Roberta and Nancy as well as a few family photographs. The photographs also include publicity photographs of Roberta as a WAAC at Luke Field, Arizona and Chandler, Arizona.

Folder two contains ten letters written by both Roberta and Nancy to their Mother, Aunt May and Grandmother. These letters discuss general news, such as Nancy's reaction to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's death, and updates on their lives in the military. There is also a two-disc voice recording which is a souvenir from the Empire State Building in New York City, made by one of the sisters. Lastly, there are two postcards: one from Nancy when she was stationed at Fort Dix in New Jersey, and the second from Roberta during her basic training at Fort Des Moines in Iowa. Folder three contains four newspaper clippings that discuss Nancy's upcoming nupitals and service in the Army, two others are about Roberta's upcoming enlistement and acceptance to the WAAC officer training school, the last clipping is a picture of Roberta with her fellow WAAC officer candidates.

A group photograph of the 6th Company, 1st Regiment Officer Training Class at Fort Des Moines in 1942 and a 20 May 1944 copy of Wing Tips Mather Field, California Newsletter are in General Oversized box 1.

Dates

1941 - 1946
Other: Date acquired: 08/11/2006

Creator

Roberta Wooddell House (Person)
Thornton, Nancy Wooddell (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendents, as stipulated by United States Copyright law.

Biographical Note

Roberta Wooddell House (1915-?) was a graduate of Russell Sage College in Troy, New York, graduating on 5 June 1939 with a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Home Economics. After returning to California, Roberta worked as a personal training supervisor for Weinstock-Lubin before enlisting in the Women's Army Auxiiliary Corps (WAAC) as an officer candidate on 5 July 1942, despite being married to Joe House. Training began in Fort Des Moines, Iowa, on 3 August and she was eventually assigned to the Army Corps of Engineers in New York. Before her discharge she had been promoted to the rank of Captain, and continued to work for the Corps of Engineers as Chief of Civilian Personnel.

Extent

0.20 Linear Feet (4 folders (1 1/2 archival box))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Roberta Woodell House (1915-?) and Nancy Wooddell Thornton (1916-2002) were sisters who served in the United States Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC)/Women's Army Corps (WAC) and in the Army Nurse Corps during World War II. Roberta enlisted with the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) on 24 July 1942, and ended her career as a WAC captain with the Army Corps of Engineers. Nancy was a nurse with the rank of 1st Lieutenant who joined in 1941; her approximate discharge year is 1944.

This collection contains photographs, personal correspondence to family members, 20 May 1944 copy of the Wing Tips Mather Field, California newsletter, and one two-disc souvenir recording.

Arrangement Note

The materials in the collection with known dates are arranged in chronological order.

Source of Acquisition

Purchased from eBay

Offensive Language Statement

The UNC Greensboro University Libraries collects, preserves, and makes accessible unique and historical materials for learning and research. The nature of historical materials is such that some material may represent positions, norms, and values that are offensive and objectionable. These materials represent the opinions and actions of their creators. By providing access to these records in our reading room and through our digital collections, we recognize that archives and rare books can play a vital role in holding those creators accountable and in helping us learn from the past.

Our finding aids and other collection descriptions may occasionally re-use language provided by creators or former holders of the materials, but we strive to place outdated or offensive terminology in context. That said, we recognize that we may not always make the right decision and welcome feedback from all sources so we can learn and adjust our practices. Please contact us at scua@uncg.edu if you encounter problematic language in our finding aids or other collection description. We will review the language and, as appropriate, update it in a way that balances preservation of the original context with our ongoing commitment to describing materials with respectful and inclusive language.