James Philip Ryan Papers, 1944-1945

Title:

James Philip Ryan Papers, 1944-1945

Creator:

Ryan, James Philip

Accession / Call Number:

2016.005

Object ID:

2016.005

Date:

1944-1945

Physical Description:

1 box

Scope and Content:

The collection consists of letters and photographs associated with James P. Ryan, Jr.'s deployment to Guam in the later stages of World War II. The letters from Mary Loretta Ryan provide an intimate look at life on the home front (Canaan, NH and Randolph, MA) between October 1944 and September 1945. The collection also includes a telegram Ryan received in September 1945 informing him of the death of his mother and requesting his return. (Ryan was unable to return home for the funeral.) Every letter is from mother to son; there are no letters from Ryan to his mother. While in Guam, Ryan took a series of photographs that are included in the collection (almost certainly taken in Agana, the only major urban center). The photographs are of colonial Spanish buildings in Agana, images of native Chamorro (Guamanians), and images of the nose art on various USAAF planes. None of the photographs are dated, although they were all taken in 1945. These planes included Poison Ivy, Supine Sue, Impatient, Pacific Queen, A Run on Sugar, Lucky Leven, Tokyo Rose, Doris Anne, Our Baby, Pacific Passion, Torchy, Jollin Josie the Pacific Pioneer, The Dragon Lady, and some other aircraft whose names are not identifiable. At least some of these aircraft may have been based on Tinian and Saipan; the words "Tinian" and "Saipa[n]" appear in some nose art photos.

Subjects:

World War, 1939-1945 , World War, 1939-1945 -- Guam

Locations:

Canaan, NH
Guam
Randolph, MA

Credit Line:

Gift of Susan Kelly in 2016.

Restrictions:

Available for research.

Level Description:

Collection