Back to TopDescriptive Summary
- Repository
-
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.
- Creator
-
Allison, J. Mack (John Mack), 1916-1990.
- Title
- J. Mack Allison Papers, circa 1900s, 1940-1990
- Call Number
- 1630
- Language of Materials
- Materials in
English
- Extent
-
- Items: About 300
- Linear Feet: 1.0
Abstract
John Mack Allison Jr. of Brevard, N.C, served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. Allison flew many combat
missions with the 321st Bomb Group in West Africa in 1943. He was discharged in 1946 and served in the Air Force Reserve,
1952-1955. Allison died in 1990.
The collection contains materials relating to J. Mack Allison Jr., including typescripts and microfilm copies of his 1943
West Africa diary, papers relating to his military service, and photographs and films. The diary covers the period from 15
February 1943, when Allison left the United States, to 23 October 1943, when he returned. In the diary, Allison described
his travels; his combat experiences; and the climate, food, and people of French West Africa. Papers through 1946 document
Allison's service in the United States Army Air Corps, while those from 1952 to 1955 are related to his service in the Air
Force Reserve. Included are regulations, official orders, and legal and financial papers. Published items include a directory
of the 321st Bomb Group and a pamphlet entitled "321st Bomb Group Headlines," which contains stories of the group's experiences from 15 March 1943 to 15 March 1945. Also included are a few photographs
of Allison in uniform and home movies and newsreels on 8mm film. The home movies appear to be mostly vacation footage, with
several reels depicting European cities. The four newsreels are from Castle Films' "News Parade" and appear to be related to World War II. The Addition of June 2008 includes copies of Allison's military orders during World
War II, immunization records, two maps of World War II fronts produced by oil companies, materials related to a 1985-1986
reunion of Allison's World War II unit, approximately 100 pictures of World War II life in North Africa, and other materials.
The addition also contains seven photographs, circa 1900s, including one of a woman standing on a horse and another of an
unidentified group in costumes.
Back to TopAdministrative Information
- Restrictions to Access
- No restrictions.
- Usage Restrictions
- RESTRICTED: Use of visual materials may require production of viewing copies.
- Alternate Form of Material
- Microfilm copy of diary available.
- Acquisitions Information
- Received from Rebekah Hudson Huggins of Pisgah Forest, N.C., in September 1997 (Acc. #97118) and in June 2008 (Acc. 100953).
Typescript of diary loaned for microfilming in 1949.
- Processing Information
- Processed by: Nick Graham, March 1998
- Encoded by: ByteManagers Inc., 2008
- Revisions: Finding aid updated in October 2008 by Megan Bricker.
- Preferred Citation
- [Identification of item], in the J. Mack Allison Papers #1630, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- Copyright Notice
- Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright
law.
Back to TopOnline Catalog Headings
These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.
- Africa, French-speaking West--Description and travel.
- Allison, J. Mack (John Mack), 1916-1990.
- Amateur films.
- Brevard (N.C.)--History.
- Brevard (N.C.)--Social life and customs.
- Castle Films, inc. News parade.
- Diaries.
- Family--North Carolina--Pictorial works.
- Family--North Carolina--Social life and customs.
- Newsreels--History.
- United States. Air Force Reserve.
- United States. Army Air Forces--History--World War, 1939-1945.
- United States. Army Air Forces--Officers--Diaries.
- World War, 1939-1945--Africa, French-speaking West--Photographs.
- World War, 1939-1945--Africa, French-speaking West.
- World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Africa, French-speaking West.
- World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.
Back to TopBiographical Note
John Mack Allison Jr. was born 31 August 1916. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1941 and volunteered
for the United States Army Air Corps in 1942. After training in Alabama, California, and New Mexico, Allison received his
commission as 2nd Lieutenant in July 1942. He served as a bombardier in the 321st Bomb Group and flew fifty combat missions
in West Africa in 1943. After World War II, Allison served in the Air Force Reserve from 1952 until 1955. Allison died in
1990.
Back to TopCollection Overview
The collection contains materials relating to J. Mack Allison Jr., including typescripts and microfilm copies of his 1943
West Africa diary, papers relating to his military service, and photographs and films. The diary covers the period from 15
February 1943, when Allison left the United States, to 23 October 1943, when he returned. In the diary, Allison described
his travels; his combat experiences; and the climate, food, and people of French West Africa. Papers through 1946 document
Allison's service in the United States Army Air Corps, while those from 1952 to 1955 are related to his service in the Air
Force Reserve. Included are regulations, official orders, and legal and financial papers. Published items include a directory
of the 321st Bomb Group and a pamphlet entitled "321st Bomb Group Headlines," which contains stories of the group's experiences from 15 March 1943 to 15 March 1945. Also included are a few photographs
of Allison in uniform and home movies and newsreels on 8mm film. The home movies appear to be mostly vacation footage, with
several reels depicting European cities. The four newsreels are from Castle Films' "News Parade" and appear to be related to World War II. The Addition of June 2008 includes copies of Allison's military orders during World
War II, immunization records, two maps of World War II fronts produced by oil companies, materials related to a 1985-1986
reunion of Allison's World War II unit, approximately 100 pictures of World War II life in North Africa, and other materials.
The addition also contains seven photographs, circa 1900s, including one of a woman standing on a horse and another of an
unidentified group in costumes.
Back to TopArrangement of Collection
Series 1. Personal Papers
Series 2. Official Papers
Series 3. Pictures and Films
Addition of June 2008
Back to TopItems Separated
P-1630/1-3 Photographs of J. Mack Allison Jr.
SF-P-1630/1-7 Slides.
D-1630/1 Terry White, "Georgia Mountains' Jubilee" and Gary Delong,
"Wauka Mountain" (45 rpm).
F-1630/1-28 Home movies and newsreels (8 mm. films).
M-1630/1 Microfilm copy of J. Mack Allison's 1943 diary.
P-1630/Folders 2-3 Photographs from the Addition of June 2008.
Detailed Description of the Collection
1. Personal Papers, 1940-1950.
10 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Personal papers of J. Mack Allison Jr., including a letter to his parents from 1940, typescript copies of his 1943 West Africa
diary, his diploma from the University of South Carolina, and a few publications.
The letter from Allison to his parents was written from a hospital in Columbia, S.C., where Allison was recovering from an
undisclosed illness. There are three typescript copies of Allison's diary, typed and with a short introduction by his mother,
Mary Breese Allison. The diary covers the period from 15 February 1943, when Allison left the United States, to 23 October
1943, when he returned. In the diary, Allison described his travels, his combat experiences, and the climate, food, and people
of French West Africa. A photograph of Allison is glued to the inside cover of one of the typescripts. The diary is also available
on microfilm.
Published items include a directory containing the names and addresses of the 447th Bomb Squad, 321st Bomb Group, and a pamphlet
entitled "321st Bomb Group Headlines," which contains stories of the group's experiences from 15 March 1943 to 15 March 1945. Also included are a 1950 National Geographic map of Africa and the roster of Dunn's Rock Lodge No. 267, Brevard, N.C., 1949.
There is a 45 rpm record in this series. Side one contains Terry White, "Georgia Mountains' Jubilee" and side two is Gary Delong, "Wauka Mountain." It is unclear how this record is related to J. Mack Allison Jr.
Folder
1
Correspondence and Diary
Folder
2
Diploma, University of South Carolina, 1941
Folder
3
Publications
Audiodisc
D-1630/1
Terry White, "Georgia Mountains' Jubilee" and Gary Delong, "Wauka Mountain" (45 rpm).
Back to Top
2. Official Papers, 1942-1955.
About 100 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Papers concerning John Mack Allison Jr.'s military service. Papers through 1946 document his service in the U.S. Army Air
Corps, while those from 1952-1955 are related to his service in the Air Force Reserve. Included are regulations, official
orders, and legal and financial papers. A will made by Allison in 1942 is included. There is also a copy of Allison's complete
Individual Flight Record, dated 1 September 1945.
Folder
4
1942-1943
Folder
5
1944-1946
Folder
6
1952-1955
Folder
7
Undated
Back to Top
3. Pictures and Films, Undated.
39 items.
Three photographs of J. Mack Allison Jr. in uniform, outside a Charleston, S.C., house. Allison is alone in one photograph
and with other people in the other two. There are also several slides--two of groups of people outside a house and others
of people on a fishing trip.
The films are home movies and some newsreels. Films have been listed by titles appearing on labels on the individual items.
The home movies appear to be mostly vacation footage, with several reels depicting European cities. The four newsreels are
from Castle Films' "News Parade" and appear to be related to World War II. Note that playback machinery for films is not available at this time.
Image
P-1630/1-3
Photographs of J. Mack Allison Jr.
Special Format Image
SF-P-1630/1-7
Slides
Film
F-1630/1
Vrancken 50th Anniversary, October 1958 (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/2
Vrancken 55th Anniversary, Detroit, Windsor (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/3
September 1963 (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/4
16 July 1965 (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/5
Florida, Busch Garden Birds, March 1966 (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/6
New York (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/7
New York, Statue of Liberty (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/8
Circus (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/9
Rome (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/10
Paris (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/11
Holland (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/12
Nurnburg (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/13
London (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/14
Brussels (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/15
Isle of Palms, 9/12/61 (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/16
Biltmore House, Charleston Harbor (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/17
Blue Angels (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/18
Georgia Tech Homecoming (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/19
Isle of Palms, 4 July 1961 (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/20
Isle of Palms--Mother, Fort Sumter (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/21-24
Unlabelled (8 mm. films)
Film
F-1630/25
News Parade 151. "Yanks Smash Truk" (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/26
News Parade C D 3 "Civilian Fire Fighters" (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/27
News Parade 146. "Italy Surrenders" (8 mm. film)
Film
F-1630/28
News Parade 138. "West Point" (8 mm. film)
Back to Top
4. Addition of June 2008.
About 120 items.
Folder
8-10
World War II Related Items
Originals and copies of World War II military orders, Physical Training score cards, immunization records, a transcript of
an interview J. Mack Allison did with World News Tonight, and other materials.
Folder
11
World War II Newspaper Clippings
Newspaper clippings that mention J. Mack Allison, primarily from his hometown of Brevard, N.C.
Folder
12
World War II Maps
Two maps of World War II battle fronts, produced by Esso and Pure Oil companies.
Folder
13
Reunion Materials, 1985-1986
Letters and photographs related to the 1985 and 1986 reunions of J. Mack Allison's World War II units.
Folder
14
Other Materials
Copies of J. Mack Allison's birth certificate and his University of South Carolina matriculation card.
Image Folder
2
World War II Photographs
About 100 photographs, including J. Mack Allison in uniform, World War II life in North Africa, and other photographs.
Image Folder
3
Photographs, circa 1900s
Includes a photograph of a woman standing on a horse with the notation on verso "Mary or Molly Breese standing on horse," an unidentified group in costumes, and other photographs.
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