Anderson, Jean Schwarting (1923- ), Papers, 1944-1946 (C4024)

.3 linear feet, 1 compact disc

INTRODUCTION

The papers of U.S. Navy Lieutenant J.G. Jean Schwarting Anderson, a WAVE during World War II and Missouri native, consist of correspondence, photographs and slides, and miscellaneous material. The letters that she wrote detail in great length the training she received and the day to day life of a WAVE.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Jean Schwarting Anderson was born, along with her twin sister, June, on January 28, 1923 in St. Louis, Missouri. She attended St. Louis public schools and spent summers on her aunt and uncle’s farm south of Mexico, Missouri. She attended Washington University in St. Louis, and received a BSBA in nursing in 1944. She enlisted in the Navy on February 7, 1944, and served until June 11, 1946. In November 1947, she married Elmer Mollet, a farmer from Mexico, Missouri, and had three children, Bonnie, David, and Phyllis. Mollet died of a sudden heart attack on September 3, 1971. In 1957, Anderson obtained her teaching credentials from the University of Missouri, and taught third grade from 1958 to 1983 in the Mexico, Missouri public school system. On June 5, 1976, she married Dr. Collins W. Anderson, DVM, who served in the China-Burma-India Theatre in World War II. After retiring they spent their time traveling, gardening, fishing, reading, and doing community work.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Jean Schwarting Anderson papers consist of approximately 240 letters sent to friends and family primarily in St. Louis and Mexico, Missouri, between 1944 and 1946. Anderson trained at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, attended communications school at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, and was stationed in Washington D.C.

The letters are arranged chronologically and for the most part were written from Anderson to her family. The slides include images from China, India, and Burma which were taken by Collins Anderson during the war. Miscellaneous material consists of postcards, news clippings, greeting cards, brochures from her travels, scans of her Navy scrapbook, and photographs. A compact disc containing digital images of photographs adn pages of her Navy scrapbook is included. This collection is a good source for a researcher studying Navy WAVES or the role of women in World War II.

FOLDER LIST

f. 1	Correspondence, March 8, 1944-May 14, 1944
f. 2	Correspondence, May 15, 1944-October 30, 1944
f. 3	Correspondence, November 7, 1944-April 30, 1945
f. 4	Correspondence, May 1, 1945-December 1, 1945
f. 5	Correspondence, January 1, 1946-May 13, 1946
f. 6	Biographical information, Collins W. and Jean Anderson
f. 7	Photographs
f. 8-9	Slides
f. 10	Miscellaneous
CD 1	Photographs, Navy documents, biographical information, scrapbook pages

INDEX TERMS

These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available indexes at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index term, please contact the reference staff

Anderson, Collins W. (1916-2000)	f. 6
Anderson, Collins W. (1916-2000)	f. 7-9 (pictorial image)
Anderson, Jean Schwarting (1923- )	f. 1-6, 10
Anderson, Jean Schwarting (1923- )	f. 7 (pictorial image)
Naval education	f. 1-6
Uniforms, Military	f. 1-6
Uniforms, Military	f. 7 (pictorial image)
United States. Navy	f. 1-6, 10
United States--Armed forces--Military life	f. 1-6
World War, 1939-1945	f. 1-6, 10
World War, 1939-1945	f. 8-9 (pictorial image)
World War, 1939-1945--Burma	f. 8-9 (pictorial image)
World War, 1939-1945--China	f. 8-9 (pictorial image)
World War, 1939-1945--India	f. 8-9 (pictorial image)
World War, 1939-1945--Nurses	f. 1-6, 10
World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives	f. 1-6, 10
World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects	f. 1-6, 10
World War, 1939-1945--War work	f. 1-6, 10
World War, 1939-1945--Women	f. 1-6, 10
World War, 1939-1945--Women	f. 7 (pictorial image)