Clarence J. Inniss papers
Scope and Contents
These papers relate to Clarence J. Inniss, an African American corporal who served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theater. The collection consists of an oral history interview transcript, a map, discharge papers, and photographs.
Dates
- 1941-1945
- Other: Date acquired: 08/07/2000
- Other: Date accessioned: 2020-04-02
Creator
- Inniss, Clarence J., 1924- (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
Clarence Inniss was born April 12, 1924, in New Orleans, Lousiana. He recalls hearing about Pearl Harbor and discusses the time preceding his service. Inniss entered the war on June 7, 1943. He was inducted at Camp Livingston, Indiana, and was assigned to Francis E. Warren Army Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The army assigned him to a laundry company, and they arrived at Portsmouth, England May 1944. He later became the stationary fireman of the boiler. He was then a technician 5th grade. Inniss participated in D-Day and was attached to General Patton as he moved across Europe. He discusses his experiences serving under various generals and racial tensions within the army. Inniss was honorably discharged on November 26, 1945, at the Camp Shelby, Mississippi, separation center. Following the war, Inniss married Irma Josephine Melancon Inniss, and they had six children. Irma passed away in 2007 in Covington, LA. Her obituary can be found at https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/irma-inniss-obituary?pid=94362280.
Extent
1 folders
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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was donated by Clarence J. Inniss (creator). The collection was received by the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience on August 7, 2000.
- African American men Subject Source: Local sources
- African American soldiers--Biography Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- African American veterans--Biography Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- African Americans Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- African Americans--Civil rights Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Camp Shelby (Miss.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945
- Portsmouth (England) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United States--Armed Forces--African Americans--History--20th century Subject Source: Local sources
- World War, 1939-1945--African Americans Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--France--Normandy Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Clarence J. Inniss papers
- Author
- Mallory McGovern
- Date
- April 2, 2020
- 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
116 Honors Way
PO Box 3062047
Tallahassee FL 32306-2047 US
850-644-3271
lib-specialcollections@fsu.edu