Inventory of the Callahan Family Papers, 1943-1951

Collection Number 5134

unc seal
Manuscripts Department, Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Collection Information
block Descriptive Summary
block Administrative Information
block Online Catalog Headings
block Biographical Note
block Collection Overview
block Organization of Collection
plus Detailed Description of the Collection
block Items Separated
Contact Information:
Manuscripts Department
CB#3926, Wilson Library
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890
Phone: 919/962-1345
Fax: 919/962-3594
Email: mss@email.unc.edu
URL: http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/
Processed by
Dawne E. Howard
Date Processed
March 2004
Encoded by
Dawne E. Howard
Date Encoded
March 2004
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Descriptive Summary

Repository
Southern Historical Collection
Creator
Callahan family.
Title
Callahan Family Papers, 1943-1951
Call Number
5134
Extent
About 470 items (2.5 linear feet)
Abstract
The Callahan family of Vinton, Va., included brothers Thomas William Callahan and Warren E. Callahan. Thomas Callahan served in the United States Marines (1st Marines) during World War II in Japan, 1943-1945; Warren served in the United States Army (32nd Infantry) in Japan and Korea during the Korean War, 1949-1951. The collection includes war-time letters from Thomas William Callahan and Warren E. Callahan. Thomas's letters, 1943-1945, follow him from the Marine barracks at Parris Island, S.C., to Japan, and finally to Portsmouth, Va. The letters, about half of which date from January to May 1944, mainly describe everyday military life, including food, weather, and health issues. Two of the letters are from cousin Bill Sheaff, who fought in the war with a different unit. Warren's letters, January 1949-October 1951, follow him from Fort Jackson, S.C., to Japan and Korea. The letters mainly detail everyday military life in training camps and overseas. He also described civilian life in Korea and Japan. Three photocopies of wartime photographs accompany Warren's final letter, 20 October 1951.
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Administrative Information

Restrictions to Access
No restrictions.
Provenance
Purchased from Charles Apfelbaum of Watchung, N.J., in September 2003 (Acc. 99631).
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Callahan Family Papers #5134, Southern Historical Collection, 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.
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Online Catalog Headings

These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

Callahan family
Callahan, Thomas William, 1925-2003.
Callahan, Warren E., 1926-1987.
Family--Virginia--Social life and customs.
Japan--Social life and customs--20th century.
Korea--Social life and customs.
Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American.
Korean War, 1950-1953--Photographs.
Soldiers--United States--History--Korean War, 1950-1953--Correspondence.
Soldiers--United States--History--World War, 1939-1945--Correspondence.
Vinton, Va.--Social life and customs.
United States. Army--Military life--History--World War, 1939-1945.
United States. Marine Corps--Military life--History--Korean War, 1950-1953.
World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.
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Biographical Note

Brothers Thomas William Callahan (1925-2003) and Warren E. "Bud" Callahan (1926-1987) were born in Roanoke County, Va., the sons of Julian (1898-1990) and Florence Tyler Callahan (1902-1978). The Callahan family lived in Vinton, Va., a small town near the Blue Ridge Parkway on Route 24. The family moved within Vinton between wars. Thomas's World War II letters are addressed to Giles Avenue in Vinton; Warren's Korean War letters are addressed to Bowman Street, also in Vinton.

Thomas Callahan served in the United States Marines (1st Marines) during World War II, 1943-1945, fighting in Japan. After the war, he worked for Roanoke Iron and Bridge Works. He was a member of Thrasher Memorial United Methodist Church and the V.F.W. Post #4522. He married Zelma Callahan and had two daughters, Sara and Judy. Warren Callahan served in the United States Army (32nd Infantry) during the Korean War, 1949-1951. Both brothers enjoyed fishing.

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Collection Overview

The collection includes war-time letters from Callahan family of Vinton, Va., brothers Thomas William Callahan with the United States Marines (1st Marines) during World War II and Warren E. Callahan ("Bud") with the United States Army (32nd Infantry) during the Korean War. Thomas's letters, 1943-1945, follow him from the Marine barracks at Parris Island, S.C., to Japan, and finally to Portsmouth, Va. About half of the letters date from January to May 1944 and are addressed to Julian, Florence, and Warren Callahan. The letters mainly describe everyday military life, including food, weather, and health issues. Two of the letters are from cousin Bill Sheaff, who fought in the war with a different unit. Warren's letters, January 1949-October 1951, follow him from Fort Jackson, S.C., to Japan and Korea. The letters are addressed to Julian, Florence, and Thomas Callahan. The letters mainly detail everyday military life in training camps and overseas. He also described civilian life in Korea and Japan. Three photocopies of wartime photographs accompany Warren's final letter, 20 October 1951. There are negatives for these photographs, but no positive prints.

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Organization of Collection

1. World War II Letters
2. Korean War Letters
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Detailed Description of the Collection

1. World War II Letters, 1943-1945.

About 200 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Letters written during World War II by Pfc. Thomas William Callahan (Co. F, 1st Marines) to Julian, Florence, and Warren Callahan of Vinton, Va. The letters trace Thomas's travels throughout the war, including stops in Parris Island, S.C.; Camp LeJeune, N.C.; Gainesville, Ga.; Montgomery, Ala.; New Orleans, La.; Dublin, Tex.; Belen, N.M.; Camp Elliott, Calif.; Tinian; Okinawa, Japan; and Portsmouth, Va.
The letters date from December 1941 to November 1943. There is at least one letter from every month, although appoximately half of them date from February to May 1944. The letters mainly describe everyday military life, including food, weather, and health issues. Thomas Callahan also pondered what he would do at home after the war. There are also two letters, June and July 1945, from Bill Sheaff, a cousin who fought in Germany.
   Folder 1
December 1943
   Folder 2-17
1944
   Folder 18-24
January-November 1945
   Folder 25
Undated

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2. Korean War Letters, 1949-1951.

About 270 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Letters written during the Korean War by Sgt. Warren E. Callahan (Hq Co, 32nd Infantry) to Julian, Florence, and Thomas Callahan of Vinton, Va. The letters trace Warren's travels throughout the war, including stops in Fort Jackson, S.C.; Fort Benning, Ga.; Camp Campbell, Ky.; Camp Stoneman, Calif.; Camp Drake, Japan; and Korea. During the last few months, Warren moved back and forth between Korea and Japan.
The letters date from January 1949 to October 1951. There are no letters February-August 1950. There are at least two letters from all other months. Also included are three photocopies of photographs that accompany Warren's final letter, 20 October 1951. There are negatives for these photographs, but no positive prints. The letters mainly detail everyday military life in training camps and overseas. He also described civilian life in Korea and Japan.
   Folder 26-33
1949
   Folder 34-40
1950
   Folder 41-52
January-October 1951

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Items Separated

Items separated include negatives (P-5134/1-3) for the photocopies of photographs attached to the 20 October 1951 letter. There are no positive prints of these photographs.