Gertrude A. Harrelson Correspondence, WWII 285
Abstract
The Gertrude Harrelson Correspondence collection contains letters sent to Gertrude Harrelson from military personnel in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy from 1941 - 1944 during World War II. A large portion of the collection is correspondence from Pfc Cleveland Woodrow Reid (U.S Army) and StM1c Junior Daye (U.S. Navy). The letters from Reid, Daye, and other servicemembers were sent while they served at notable military instillations: Fort Bragg (NC), Camp Croft (SC), Fort Bliss (TX), Fort Clark (TX), Camp Carson (CO), Camp Robert Smalls, Camp Lee (VA) and Hunter Legette Military Reservation (CA). Though Gertrude was not in the military, the correspondence she received from various military instillations can show diverse experiences of African American servicemembers during WWII and reflect the importance of correspondence with friends and family during this time.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Gertrude A. Harrelson Correspondence
- Call Number
- WWII 285
- Creator
- Various
- Date
- 1941-1945
- Extent
- 0.400 cubic feet
- Repository
- State Archives of North Carolina
Restrictions on Access & Use
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions for this collection.
Use Restrictions
There are no usage restrictions for this collection.
Collection Overview
This collection has four folders that contain handwritten letters from: StM1c Junior Daye; Pfc Woodrow Reid; A.S. John E. Murray; Pfc Needhom McCullens; likely Julian Simmonds (Company D 242nd QM. BN, Hunter Leggett M.I. Reservation); Walter Lyons; Cpl George Lawson; and Cpl Adolphus Battle Jr. The letters are sent from various domestic military instillations: Fort Bragg (NC), Camp Robert Smalls U.S. Naval Training Station (IL), Fort Clark (TX), Hunter Liggett Military Reservation (CA), Camp Croft (SC), Camp Lee (VI), and Camp Carson (CO). The letters share the experiences of the servicemembers while serving at the military instillations. One letter is written on stationery from Fort Bragg (N.C.).
Arrangement Note
The letters are inside six folders and arranged by subject and then chronologically. Subjects with the most letters are in the front. Senders with less than 10 letters were grouped together in one folder (F.4).
Biographical/Historical
Gertrude A. Harrelson was born on December 18, 1923 to John Bud Harrelson and Josephine
Harrelson in Hightowers, N.C. (Caswell County). She primarily resided in Holly Springs,
N.C. Gertrude had two brothers named Ernest Zander Harrelson and Rudolph Benton Harrelson
that both registered for the World War II draft in June 1942 and in 1943. During WWII,
Gertrude had many friends who were servicemembers in the United States Army and Navy
that she wrote to often. Between 1941 - 1944, Gertrude sent and received letters while
living in Holly Springs, N.C., Washington, D.C., Durham, N.C., and Raleigh, N.C. Gertrude
enrolled at DeShazor's College of Beauty Culture in Durham, NC on September 13, 1943,
to begin her career as a cosmetologist. Harrelson married William K. Jones on November
2, 1960, in Raleigh, N.C., and resided in Fuquay-Varina, N.C. for much of her life.
Gertrude Harrelson died on May 6, 2024, in Raleigh, N.C. at the age of 100.
A.S. John E. Murray served in the United States Navy during WWII. Murray was a member
of Company 1224 26th Battalion, stationed at the United States Naval Training Station
at Camp Robert Smalls (IL) in October 1942. Harrelson and Murray were cousins.
Steward's Mate 1st Class Junior Daye was born on August 22, 1924 in Burlington, NC
to Annie M. Daye and Pete Sellard. Junior Daye enlisted in the United States Navy
on July 1, 1943. He was a member of the Com. 7th Amphibious Force c/o while serving
in San Francisco, CA from 1943 - 1944. Daye was discharged on March 17, 1946. StM1c
Junior Daye died on December 18, 1992, and is buried at Calverton National Cemetery
in New York. Harrelson and Daye were friends.
Private First Class Cleveland 'Woodrow' Reid was born on January 21, 1921 in Macclesfield,
NC to Mary Eliza Reid. Reid lived in Fountain, NC (Pitt County) when he registered
for the draft February 16, 1942. He later enlisted in the United States Army at Fort
Bragg (N.C.) on October 22, 1942. Pfc Cleveland Woodrow Reid died on February 26,
1984. Harrelson and Reid were friends.
Corporal Adolphus 'A.D.' Battle Jr. was born on March 12, 1919 to Sallie Stinson Battle
and Adolphus Battle in Wake, North Carolina. He enlisted in the United States Army
on May 8, 1942 at Fort Myer (V.A.). While stationed at Camp Croft (S.C.) in June 1942,
Battle was a member of the 50th Training Battalion Company 'D', United States Infantry.
He was also stationed at Fort Bragg (N.C.) in January 1943 as a member of Company
F, 26th Quarter Master Field Artillery Replacement Regiment. By January 1944, he was
a member of the 3386th Q.M. F&R Company stationed in San Francisco, California. Battle
was discharged on January 1, 1946. Cpl Adolphus Battle Jr. died in Detroit, Michigan
on December 26, 1979.