In mid-1991, the St. Petersburg Times
asked interested readers to submit their reminiscences of the Japanese
attack on Pearl Harbor and America's official entry into World War II.
On 4 December 1991, the Times published a commemorative section
that included many of these submissions. Three days later, Americans somberly
observed the fiftieth anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
After printing this special section, the newspaper donated some of the
letters, journal entries, and clippings to the Nelson Poynter Memorial
Library for present and future scholars.
The materials in the Remembering Pearl Harbor
Collection occupy one document box and reside in the Special Collections
and Archives Department. This collection includes no access, photocopy,
or publication restrictions. Citations should credit Special Collections
and Archives, Nelson Poynter Memorial Library, University of South Florida,
St. Petersburg.
Additional Sources of Information
A variety of books document America's entry into
World War II. Search under the Library of Congress subject headings
for a selective list of works:
World War, 1939-1945--United States
World War, 1939-1945--Personal Narratives
Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941
The Florida State Archives in Tallahassee retains
primary source materials that describe Florida during the Second World
War. The papers of the State Defense Council (Record Group 191) include
ledger books, official minutes, operational reference files, publication
materials, and scrapbooks. Created in 1940 by Governor Frederick
P. Cone, the body coordinated local and regional defense councils throughout
the state under the leadership of wartime Governor Spessard Holland.
If visiting the State Archives, researchers should also consult the administrative
correspondence of Gov. Holland (Record Group 102).
Scope and Contents
Materials in the Remembering Pearl Harbor Collection
fall into four distinct series. A printed version of this finding
aid (with container listing) and photocopies of the publication printed
by the St. Petersburg Times comprise the first series. Subsequent
series divide submissions by locations described by the writers: Pearl
Harbor, the territory of Hawaii in general, and the Pacific theatre of
war (second series); Florida (third series); and other areas, including
the European theatre of war (fourth series).
The collection, which occupies 0.42 linear feet
of shelf space, offers a glimpse into the memories of a specific population:
namely, residents of the Tampa Bay area in 1991 who wrote about their involvement
in, or reaction to, the early phases of the Second World War. By describing
their experiences, the contributors addressed a variety of issues.
Various letters examine the role of women, wartime restrictions on homefront
activities, and the difficulties encountered by prisoners of war, as well
as recount the vivid memories of those Americans who witnessed firsthand
the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Of special interest is a brief
letter by former U.S. Representative Sam Gibbons, a long-standing politician
whose efforts led to the creation of the University of South Florida in
1956. These voluntary submissions vary in quality of presentation.
For a similar collection that captured memories of the Normandy Invasion
on D-Day (6 June 1944), please see the Remembering
D-Day Collection. |
