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Henry Fremont Blake collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 17.0009

Scope and Contents

This collection relates to Henry Fremont Blake who served in the United States Navy in the Pacific Theater as a Store Keeper 2nd Class during World War II aboard the U.S.S. Tyrrell (AKA-80).  The collection includes personal items and artifacts.

Dates

  • Creation: 1943-1946
  • Other: Date acquired: 06/17/2017

Creator

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

Henry Fremont "Jack" Blake was born on April 21, 1912, and passed away on February 17, 2006, in Tallahassee. Due to illness, he resided in Tallahassee, FL, for several years prior to his death. He was a native Floridian, born in Jacksonville, but lived in Palatka from a very young age. Jack, as he was known to all, worked with his father and brothers, Robert and Wilmer, at Blake's Inc., a wholesale dry goods business and later began his own vending business, Vend-A-Pack. He was an active community leader, serving as president of Rotary and the Palatka Chamber of Commerce and was a member of First Baptist Church. He was also a WW II veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific aboard the USS Tyrrell (AKA-80) as a Store Keeper 2nd Class. Henry Fremont Blake entered service on November 20, 1943 and was discharged on March 8, 1946. The U.S.S. Tyrrell participated in the initial landings on Okinawa on April 1, 1945.  A kamikaze struck the Tyrrell on April 2, 1945, causing some damage. In September 1945, the Tyrrell arrived at Nagasaki, Japan to disembark troops and supplies. It was here that Blake photographed the devastation which resulted from the Atom Bomb dropped on August 9, 1945. After the war, he enjoyed a number of hobbies and interests that he pursued over the course of his life which included fishing, hunting, flying airplanes, woodworking and bridge, integrity, hard work, service to his community and devoted to his family characterized his life. He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Mary Evelyn Blake, in 1991, and by his second wife, Marjorie Dillingham in 2003.

Note written by Palatka Daily News Obituary, February 22, 2006

Extent

1 items

1 Linear Feet (Full box)

Language of Materials

English

Custodial History

This collection was donated by Sylvia B. Walford (Daughter of Henry Blake). The collection was acquired by the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience on June 17, 2017.

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

Sylvia B. Walford  (Daughter of Henry Blake)

Method of Acquisition

Donation

Related Materials

Related collection, accession # 08.0115,  by same donor for Henry Fremont Blake Collection.

Title
Henry Fremont Blake collection
Author
Jill Szaroleta
Date
08/24/2017
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the FSU Special Collections & Archives Repository

Contact:
116 Honors Way
PO Box 3062047
Tallahassee FL 32306-2047 US
850-644-3271