William Ernest Spence papers
Scope and Contents
This collection relates to First Sergeant William Ernest Spence who served with the 11th Antiaircraft Auto Weapons Group in the European Theater during the World War II. The collection includes letters, foreign currency, military service documents, photographs, a newspaper, postcards, and ephemera.
Dates
- Created: 1939-1945
- Other: Majority of material found in 1942-1945
- Other: Date acquired: 2006-07-17
Creator
- Spence, William Ernest (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
William Ernest Spence was born on December 9, 1912, in Blakely, Georgia. Prior to being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942, he was an employee with the War Department, South Atlantic Division, Office of the Division Engineer, S.A.D. Equipment Pool. After completing his military training he was assigned to the 11th AA Auto Weapons Group where, according to the family history, he participated in the Normandy landing, the Battle of Remagen, and the Battle of the Bulge. He attained the rank of First Sergeant before being discharged on December 4, 1945. After the war, he married Ruth Peavy of Unadilla, GA (born July 25, 1925) on September 18, 1949. William Ernest Spence died on July 5, 1995, and is buried in Thomasville, GA.
Extent
.25 Linear Feet (1 quarter box)
Language of Materials
English
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
Kay S. Jordan
Method of Acquisition
Donated
- Antiaircraft Artillery School (Camp Davis, N.C.)
- Antiaircraft artillery Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Atlanta (Ga.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Atomic bomb--History--20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Bad Neuenahr (Germany) Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Bronze Star Medal (U.S.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Camp Butner (N.C.) Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Camp Davis (N.C.) Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Carrabelle (Fla.) Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Dating (social customs) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Fort Fisher (N.C.) Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Raleigh (N.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Tallahassee (Fla.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Texas Oil and Gas Corporation
- Thomasville (Ga.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United States. Army. Coast Artillery Corps
- United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. South Atlantic Division
- United States. Selective Service Board
- Wakulla Springs (Fla.) Subject Source: Local sources
- World War, 1939-1945--Antiaircraft artillery operations Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Western Front Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Source
- Kay S. Jordan (Donor, Person)
- Title
- William Ernest Spence papers
- Author
- Kevin S. Malmquist
- Date
- 06/10/2018
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- eng
Repository Details
Part of the FSU Special Collections & Archives Repository
116 Honors Way
PO Box 3062047
Tallahassee FL 32306-2047 US
850-644-3271
lib-specialcollections@fsu.edu
