William R. Auld papers

Collection — Box: 00.0646 - Box 1

Identifier: 00.0646

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The William R. Auld papers include over 800 photographs taken by Major William R. Auld who served with the 31st Photo Reconnaissance Squadron of the Ninth Army Air Force following General George S. Patton throughout the United States, England, France, and Germany. The William R. Auld papers also include various sketches done by one of his comrades, a promotion notice, and two poems.

Dates

Created: 1943-1945
Other: Date acquired: 07/12/2000

Creator

Auld, William R., 1914-1969 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical or Historical Information

Major William R. Auld was born on October 5, 1914, and lived in Flint, Michigan as an inspector for the Buick Motor Car Company. Auld enlisted in June 1941 and attended Officer Candidate School in Miami Beach, Florida. He trained in Paris, Texas; Patterson Field in Colorado Springs, and WIll Rogers Field in Oklahoma. Auld was sent overseas in March of 1944 to England, France and, Germany with the 31st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron of the Ninth Air Force.

Prior to D-Day, Auld surveyed the invasion sites, along with other members of the XIX Tactical Air Command. While in Germany, Auld visited concentration camp sites and kept the photographs that were collected to be put on display depicting the atrocities that occurred. Auld's photographs illustrate what military life was like for the Ninth Air Force when they were working, relaxing, visiting other countries, meeting civilians, and other various activities during World War II. Auld also collected photographic evidence of atrocities that occurred at concentration camps in Germany that were put on display for American soldiers to witness. After the war, Auld returned to his wife Meta Bond in Illinois. Auld passed away on September 9, 1969.

Extent

1 boxes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Custodial History

Transferred from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to FSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives in July 2022.

Source of Acquisition

Meta Bond

Method of Acquisition

Donated.

Subjects

Aerial photographs Subject Source: Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms
Aerial reconnaissance--United States Subject Source: Local sources
Basic training (Military education) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Bergen-Belsen (Concentration camp) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Buchenwald (Concentration camp) Subject Source: Lcnaf
Chalgrove (England) Subject Source: Local sources
Châteaudun (France) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Cherbourg (France) Subject Source: Lcnaf
Colorado Springs (Colo.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Drawing Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Forced labor--Germany Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Fürth (Bavaria, Germany) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Holocaust survivors Subject Source: Lcnaf
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Jarny (France) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Mont-Saint-Michel (Abbey : France) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Nuremberg (Germany) Subject Source: Lcnaf
Ohrdruf (Concentration camp) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Paris (Tex.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945
Photographs Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Prisoners of war--Germany--History--20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Rennes (France) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Saint Dizier, France Subject Source: Local sources
United States. Army Air Forces. Air Force, 9th
University of Oxford
Will Rogers Field (Okla.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--France--Normandy Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--England--London Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--France Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--France--Metz Subject Source: Local sources
World War, 1939-1945--France--Paris Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Germany Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Germany--Mainz (Rhineland-Palatinate) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Great Britain Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Photography Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners and prisons, German Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings