Ralph Chester Lapham papers

Collection — Container: Single Folder Collections -2004 Box 7 (04.0217-04.0263), Folder: 04.0253

Identifier: 04.0253

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Private Ralph Chester Lapham served with the 116th Evacuation Hospital during World War II in the European Theater of Operations. Chester assisted with providing care for former prisoners of Dachau concentration camp after the camp's liberation. The collection contains photographs of the camp and letters describing the unit's work setting up a hospital at Dachau and a Typhus epidemic.

Dates

Created: 1944-1945
Other: Majority of material found in 1944-1945
Other: Date acquired: 2004-09-08

Creator

Lapham, Ralph Chester (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

Ralph Chester Lapham was born on January 24, 1910, in Salem, Massachusetts. After he finished his education he moved to New York City to pursue a career in singing. In 1943 he was drafted into the United States Army. At the liberation of Dachau, he helped treat sick and wounded survivors as a member of the 116th Evacuation Hospital. After the war, he went on to open and operate an electronics store in Salem, Massachusetts. Lapham passed away on June 18, 2012, at 102 years old.

Extent

1.00 folders

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

Eric Blanchard

Method of Acquisition

Donated.

Related Materials

Link to obituary for Ralph Chester Lapham: http://www.murphyfuneralhome.com/index.cfm/?action=obituaries.obit_view&o_id=1512122&fh_id=11234&browse_on=desktop

Subjects

Concentration camps--Germany Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Dachau (Concentration camp) Subject Source: Lcnaf
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Photographs Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Salem (Mass.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
United States. Army. Evacuation Hospital, 116th Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Displaced persons Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Germany Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Hospitals Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners and prisons Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings