Letters to Elmarine Feagle Sawyer, 1942-1945 | Sargeant Memorial Collection

By Sarah Osorio and Leah Booth

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Collection Overview

Title: Letters to Elmarine Feagle Sawyer, 1942-1945

Predominant Dates:1943-1944

ID: 001/01/MSS 2018-025

Primary Creator: Sawyer, Elmarine Feagle (1914-1993)

Extent: 5.0 Boxes

Arrangement: Letters from Herman D. Sawyer, Jr. are arranged in chronological order. Letters by other authors are arranged alphabetically by correspondent, then chronologically.

Date Acquired: 06/18/2018

Subjects: Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.), Cabanatuan (Philippines), California--Fort Ord, Fort Clayton (Canal Zone), Georgia--Fort Benning, Lingayen (Philippines), Luzon (Philippines), Macclenny (Fla.), MacDill Field (Fla.), Norfolk (Va.), Philippines, Pyote (Tex.), Richmond (Va.), San Francisco (Calif.), Tampa (Fla.), United States. Army, Virginia--Fort A.P. Hill, Washington (D.C.), World War, 1939-1945, York (Pa.)

Forms of Material: Booklets, Christmas cards, Clippings (information artifacts), Correspondence, Envelopes, Greeting cards, Love letters, Photographs, Postcards

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Primarily love letters written by Herman D. Sawyer, Jr. to Elmarine Feagle Sawyer in 1943-1945 during his service in the United States Army in World War II. The letters document Sawyer's persistent love for his girlfriend/fiancée/wife while chronicling his everyday life as a serviceman at Washington, D.C.; Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Ord, California; the South Pacific; and the Philippines.

The collection also includes letters to Elmarine from her friends, family, coworkers, in-laws, and past love interests, written between 1942 and 1945. There is one letter and a Father's Day card written by Elmarine to her father in 1942, prior to his death on July 1. There are also three letters written to Herman D. Sawyer, Jr. and a booklet providing a history of the 176th Infantry up to July 1943.

Biographical Note

Verous Elmarine Feagle Sawyer was born on June 19, 1914 in Lake City, Florida. During World War II, she worked in payroll for the United States Army in the Chief of Engineers office. She married Herman David Sawyer, Jr. (1919-1991) first during an elopement when she visited him at Fort Benning, Georgia between August 11-15, 1943. She married Sawyer second on March 22, 1944 in South Mills, North Carolina. She married Sawyer a third time on June 7, 1947 in Suffolk, Virginia. Sawyer was a member of the Ladies of Disabled American Veterans. She died on December 7, 1993 in Norfolk, Virginia and was buried at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia.

Subject/Index Terms

Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)
Cabanatuan (Philippines)
California--Fort Ord
Fort Clayton (Canal Zone)
Georgia--Fort Benning
Lingayen (Philippines)
Luzon (Philippines)
Macclenny (Fla.)
MacDill Field (Fla.)
Norfolk (Va.)
Philippines
Pyote (Tex.)
Richmond (Va.)
San Francisco (Calif.)
Tampa (Fla.)
United States. Army
Virginia--Fort A.P. Hill
Washington (D.C.)
World War, 1939-1945
York (Pa.)

Administrative Information

Repository: Sargeant Memorial Collection

Access Restrictions: This collection is open to all researchers.

Use Restrictions: The status of copyright for these materials is governed by Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U. S. C.). Copyright restrictions may apply.

Acquisition Source: American Legion Post 327 by donation

Preferred Citation: Letters to Elmarine Feagle Sawyer, MSS 2018-025, Sargeant Memorial Collection, Norfolk Public Library, Norfolk, Virginia.

Processing Information: Processed November 17, 2022.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[All]

Box 5

Folder 1: Correspondence, Lauretta Hightower to Elmarine Feagle Sawyer, 1943-1944
Folder 2: Correspondence, Paul Kanstoroom to Verous E. Feagle, 1943 June 16, 1944 June 16
Folder 3: Correspondence, Lorine Bernice Feagle Pulis to Elmarine Feagle Sawyer, 1942-1945
Folder 4: Correspondence, Estella S. Pulis to Elmarine Feagle, 1943 June 19, December
Folder 5: Correspondence, Beverly Sawyer to Elmarine Sawyer, 1944
Folder 6: Correspondence, Harvey Lee Sawyer to Elmarine Sawyer, 1945 April 19
Folder 7: Correspondence, Herman D. Sawyer, Sr. to Elmarine Sawyer, 1944
Folder 8: Correspondence, Melvin A. Sawyer to Elmarine Feagle Sawyer, 1944
Folder 9: Correspondence, Rufus S. Sawyer to Elmarine Sawyer, 1944 June
Folder 10: Correspondence, Ruth Sawyer to Elmarine Feagle, 1944
Folder 11: Correspondence, William A. Sawyer to Elmarine Sawyer, 1944 May
Folder 12: Correspondence, Mattie Susan Smith to Elmarine Sawyer, 1944 June 19
Folder 13: Correspondence, George B. Stanton to Elmarine Feagle, 1942 January-September
Folder 14: Correspondence, Warren A. Zeh to Elmarine Feagle, 1942 December - 1945 April
Folder 15: Correspondence, Lillian Zelnick to Elmarine Feagle Sawyer, 1943-1944
Folder 16: Correspondence, Gertie to Elmarine Feagle, 1943
Folder 17: Birthday Cards, The 'Gals' / 'Payrolls' to Elmarine, 1943-1944
Folder 18: Christmas Cards to Elmarine Feagle, 1943 December
Folder 19: Correspondence, Miscellaneous Individuals to Elmarine Feagle Sawyer, 1942-1945
Folder 20: Correspondence, George A. Bridgers to Herman D. Sawyer, Jr., 1944 July 31
Folder 21: Correspondence, Emily C. to Herman D. Sawyer, Jr., 1943
Folder 22: Booklet, One Hundred Seventy-Sixth Infantry, A Brief History, 1943 July
Folder 23: Blank Cards, circa 1942-1945

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[All]