Restrictions to Access

This collection has restrictions to access. Please see details below or contact the Manuscripts Department for more information.

Restrictions to Use

RESTRICTED: Use of audio materials may require production of listening copies.

Copyright Notice

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], in the William J. Barnhart Papers #5239, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Acquisitions Information

Received from Charlotte Copeland in October 2005 (Acc. 100219).

Sensitive Materials Statement

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.

The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

• Authors, American--20th century.
• Barnhart, William J. (William Joseph), 1923-1978.
• College teachers--Florida--History--20th century.
• College teachers--West Virginia--History--20th century.
• Diaries.
• Florida Memorial College--Faculty.
• Jefferson County (W.Va.)--History.
• Jefferson County (W.Va.)--Social life and customs.
• Literature--Study and teaching (Higher)--History--20th century.
• Shepherd University--Faculty.
• Soldiers--United States--Correspondence--History--World War, 1939-1945.
• United States. Army--History--World War, 1939-1945.
• United States. Army--Military life--History.
• World War, 1939-1945--Austria--Photographs.
• World War, 1939-1945--Austria.
• World War, 1939-1945--France--Photographs.
• World War, 1939-1945--France.
• World War, 1939-1945--Photographs.

William Joseph Barnhart was born 1 December 1923 in Boonville, Mo. Barnhart attended Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo., for two years. In March 1943, he joined the military where he attended an Army Specialized Training Program at Michigan State College for three months. He served in France and Austria for 18 months. Upon returning to the United States in April 1946, he attended the University of Tennessee where he received a Bachelor of Arts in 1947 and a Masters of Arts in 1949. He then attended the University of North Carolina and received a Ph.D. in 1955. Barnhart went on to teach English Literature at Florida Memorial College, where he served as Dean of the College. He then moved to Shepherdstown, W.Va., where he was on the English faculty at Shepherd University. He died 21 August 1978 of a heart attack.

Papers of World War II soldier, English professor, and college administrator William J. Barnhart contain correspondence, writings, diaries, photographs, and other items. Correspondence is primarily with family, friends, students, and colleagues. There are letters written by Barnhart while he was stationed in France and Austria during World War II. Writings include Barnhart's academic work, poetry, and writings for the Jefferson County Historical Society in Charles Town, W.Va. The collection also includes two diaries kept by Barnhart for the years 1944-1986 and 1970-1978, photographs taken during Barnhart's military service, military papers, awards, diplomas, papers relating to teaching, and other items.

• Photographs (P-5239/1-7)
• Oversize photograph (OP-P-5239/1)