Category Archives: World War II

William Bradford Huie exhibition on display in Hoole lobby

By: Jessica Lacher-Feldman Hoole Library is closed through May 16 for inventory. After we reopen next week, on Monday, May 19, please come in to check out our refreshed displays on the second floor of Mary Harmon Bryant. This exhibition on the … Continue reading

Confronting the Holocaust: Alabama Responses to Dachau, Part II

By: Allyson Holliday, W.S. Hoole Library Complex Copy-Cataloguer This post is the second of a two-part series in recognition of Holocaust remembrance week April 27–May 4, 2014. (Better a little late than never!) Part I of this series featured testimony from … Continue reading

Confronting the Holocaust: Alabama Responses to Dachau, Part I

By: Allyson Holliday, W.S. Hoole Library Complex Copy-Cataloguer This post is one of a two-part series in recognition of Holocaust remembrance week April 27–May 4, 2014. The theme designated by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for the 2014 observance … Continue reading

Emmett Dendy WWII Air Mission Diary

One of our newest collections was donated by Emmett Dendy, a ball turret gunner in World War II. In the spring of 1945, he recorded 22 air missions in an Air Force Souvenir Handybook. Below is a typical entry: This … Continue reading

WWII Letters of Capt. Sumner Danforth Davis

Among our many interesting “small” collections is a book of letters from a soldier in World War II. U.S. Army Captain Sumner Danforth Davis, a doctor with the Medical Detachment of the 306th Infantry Regiment, 77th (Liberty) Division, served in … Continue reading

Please Write Soon

We often think of Valentine’s Day when we think of February, but that month can be hard for people separated from their loved ones. Whether at home or abroad, soldiers have always found it difficult to be days, weeks, months … Continue reading

A Day in the Life: November 28

On this date, through the years… * 1860. Alabama. Hugh Davis laments the political tumult of his day, which in hindsight we recognize as the prelude to Civil War. Davis writes: “Revolution. Fire. Precipitation. Slaughter. How rapidly, how fearfully the … Continue reading

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Service Men’s Center Scrapbook

Did you know that Tuscaloosa was home to a major WWII hospital? The Service Men’s Center catered to the wounded soldiers there, in addition to holding activities for soldiers at their facility (which is now the University Club). This massive … Continue reading

1940s Wartime Advertising

A few weeks ago we had a post displaying some 1940s advertising. While researching that post, I came across advertising created during World War II. I thought this advertising was interesting enough to have its own post. Some encourage contributing … Continue reading

World War II Collections

Today is the 68th anniversary of D-Day, the day the Allied powers crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy, France beginning the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control during World War II. In honor of … Continue reading