Great River Road, 2016

Browse Items (1534 total)

Thumbnail Title Description Date Date Added
North China Pictorial Book given to Americans Stationed in China Following World War II This book, titled "North China Pictorial," was given to each member of the U.S. army who was stationed in China immediately following World War II. It was paid for by Special Services Funds of the 111 Amphibious Corps. The book highlights the people and culture of China for an American audience. This book was brought to Madison County by an American soldier who was stationed in northern China immediately after World War II.

Select pages of this book were photographed as part of a Madison Historical class visit to Civic Memorial High School in spring 2018. It was brought to class by the soldier's granddaughter, Dara Parks.
Circa 1945 - 1948 September 7, 2018
1940s Chinese Paper Money These seven bills of Chinese paper money were issued in the 1930s and 1940s by either the Bank of China or the Central Bank of China. They were brought to Madison County by an American soldier who was stationed in northern China immediately after World War II.

These bills were scanned as part of a Madison Historical class visit to Civic Memorial High School in spring 2018. They were brought to class by the soldier's granddaughter, Dara Parks.
Circa 1945 - 1948 July 9, 2018
1945 Collinsville Indians Men's Baseball Team This is a copy of a black and white photograph of the Collinsville Indians Men's Baseball Team all in uinform. The players are standing in front of John Simond's Tap Room at 217 West Main Street, in Collinsville Illinois. The image was taken in 1945. Players are identified on the back of the image, Front Row Left to Right: Eddit Dervalis (bat boy), Milton Richter, Second Row: Walter Kuhlman, Clyde Doctor, James E Cuff, Walter 'Toots' Richter, arion Kacensky, Ernie Doctor, Joe Knat, Back Row: John Simond (Sponsor), Will Richter, James Cromer, Joseph Osola, Melvin 'Butts' Richter, Tom Savage. Size: 10" x 8." 1945 October 2, 2019
Personal letter to D.H. Mudge from Clinton Mudge Hall, May 31, 1945 This is a personal letter to D.H. Mudge from Clinton Mudge Hall in Ashville, North Carolina, composed on May 31, 1945. In this letter, Clinton Mudge Hall informs D.H. Mudge about the value of some portraits in Clinton’s possession. 1945 March 15, 2019
1945 Program for "Edwardsville Elementary Schools Present A Folk Festival" This is a 1945 program for the "Edwardsville Elementary Schools Present A Folk Festival" that took place in the high school gymnasium on May 11, 1945. In this program you find the day’s events with descriptions. 1945 December 1, 2018
Ethel and Jim Hirsch Welcoming Returning Soldiers after World War II in a Highland Bar This photograph shows Ethel and Jim Hirsch (far left) and others welcoming home soldiers returning from World War II in a Highland. Various photographs of soldiers are hanging on the shelf behind Ethel and Jim. The identity of the bar is unknown. One possibility is Kid Walter’s Place, which Ethel and Jim bought in 1952. That bar became known as Ethel's and is still open as of 2018. Circa 1945 August 27, 2018
Ray Bieser in front of 90th Division sign at Headquarters in Germany in 1945 This photograph is of Ray Bieser in front of 90th Division sign at Headquarters in Germany in 1945. Ray Bieser was the Company clerk of the 90th Infantry Division. 1945 September 18, 2017
1944 World War II Letter Describing Rifle Pin Qualifications This artifact is a copy of a genuine letter from a U.S. soldier to his wife dated 1944-3-26. The letter describes the qualifications for a rifle pin, written by Robert Thompson while he was stationed in Germany during World War II. The two guns crossing at the top of the letter represent a rifle pin.

This letter was photographed as part of a Madison Historical class visit to Liberty Middle School in spring 2020. It was brought to class by Drew Murphy.
1944-3-26 March 4, 2020
"Granite High World" School Newspapers for the 1944-45 School Year This volume is a collection of the 14 editions of the Granite High World, the newspaper of Granite City High School, published in the 1944-45 school year.

For yearbooks throughout the rest of the 20th and early 21st centuries, see Granite City Yearbooks published online by the Six Mile Regional Library.
October 6, 1944 to May 25, 1944 March 26, 2018
Discharge papers of Bethalto Resident and World War II Veteran Pvt. Edgar Wells This is a copy of the honorary discharge papers of World War II Veteran and Bethalto resident Private Edgar Wells. Wells served in the United States army from 1941 to March 1944, when he was honorably discharged. He served in Battery "A", 882nd Field Artillery Battalion, 70th Infantry Division. He was a farmer in Bethalto.

This photograph was digitized as part of a Madison Historical class visit to Civic Memorial High School in spring 2018. It was brought to class by Ethan Hannaford.
March 1, 1944 September 7, 2018