Harold and Kathryn Williamson Papers

Collection — Container: 07.0141 - Box 1

Identifier: 07.0141

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection relates to Harold Williamson who served as a medical officer in World War II and his wife, Kathryn Williamson, who was a homemaker on the homefront in Ohio. The collection relates to their marriage and family during the war, as well as Harold's service in the 161st Medical Battalion. The collection consists primarily of letters and V-Mails between Harold and Kathryn and photographs of notable places including the homefront in Ohio and Camp Chaffee at Fort Smith, Arkansas and from a wide variety of locations in Italy and of other locations in Europe, particularly Switzerland. The collection also contains Harold's personal journal, ephemera from the war, Harold's military documents and correspondences, a variety of military handbooks printed for the US Army, and V-Mails and letters between other family members.

Dates

created: 1942-2001
Other: Majority of material found in 1942 - 1946

Creator

Williamson, Harold (Person)
Williamson, Kathryn (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

Harold Williamson was born on September 2, 1914, in Kent, Ohio. He attended Kent State College and continued his education at Western Reserve University for medical school. He married Kathryn Williamson in November of 1939 with whom he had five children in total, one of which was born before Harold's call to the army and one who was born while Harold was deployed overseas. He underwent training in the army at Camp Chaffee in Fort Smith, Arkansas and was deployed to serve in North Africa and Italy. Harold served in the 1st Armored Division, 59th Armored Field Artillery Battalion in the Medical Detachment and in the 161st Medical Batallion under the 601st Clearing Company and 1st Platoon. He spent time in service working in hospitals, particularly a hospital in Genoa. By the end of the war, he had risen to the rank of Captain. After returning to the United States after service, Harold remained with his family in Ohio for a few years before moving to Minnesota and opening a family practice. He died on August 12, 2002.

Kathryn Williamson was born on January 27, 1917 in Ohio and attended Kent State College. She pursued nursing at the Mt. Sinai Hospital School of Nursing. She was a homemaker during the war but had several other relatives serving, including her brother and brother-in-law.

Note written by Michela Sieman