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Richard P. Newton Family papers

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1903.1/1252

Abstract

Title:
Richard P. Newton Family papers
Author/Creator:
Newton, Richard P.
Collection number:
2005-40
Size:
0.75 linear feet
Bulk dates:
1951
Inclusive dates:
1925-1956
Collection Area:
State of Maryland and Historical Collections
Repository:
Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries, Hornbake Library, College Park, MD 20742. Tel: 301-405-9212, Fax: 301-314-2709, Email: askhornbake@umd.edu
Abstract:

Correspondence comprises the largest portion of the Papers of the Richard P. Newton Family and documents the daily lives of Richard Newton, Dorothy Speilman Newton, Lillian Boehm, and some of their friends. The collection also contains religious, legal, and genealogical documents, a pair of torpedo-shaped earrings, holiday cards, and photographs. Also included are issues of two military publications: Plans of the Day and Radio Press News from the USS George K. MacKenzie (DD-836). The correspondence focuses on domestic concerns and military life. The documents include certificates commemorating religious and school events, union membership, and military life. The majority of the photographs are not identified or dated. They consist of individual and group photographs and views taken from and on a ship, probably the USS George K. MacKenzie (DD-836) at sea.

Important Information for Users of the Collection

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Preferred citation:

Richard P. Newton Family papers, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.

Publication rights:

Photocopies of original materials may be provided for a fee and at the discretion of the curator. Please see our Duplication of Materials policy for more information. Queries regarding publication rights and copyright status of materials within this collection should be directed to the appropriate curator.

Status:

This collection is PROCESSED.

Historical Note

Richard P. Newton, Sr., was born on October 3, 1925, probably in Baltimore, Maryland, the second son of Robert J. Newton and Lillian Newton. Robert and Lillian eventually divorced and Lillian married Mike Boehm. Richard became engaged to Dorothy Anna Speilman on September 20, 1944. They married in early 1945, presumably in Baltimore, while Richard was on leave from the U. S. Naval Torpedo Station, Norfolk, Virginia. They had two children, Diana, born before 1950, and Richard P. Newton, Jr., born after 1951.

Richard served in World War II and the Korean War as a torpedo man, second class. In 1944, he was stationed aboard the USS Thornhill (DE-195) in Portland, Maine. Also that year he attended school at the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island. In 1945, he was in Norfolk, Virginia, for training and waiting to go aboard a ship in Orange, Texas. In 1950, when the Naval Reserve was called for duty in the Korean War, Richard was stationed on the USS George K. MacKenzie (DD-836) in the Pacific. He died on January 20, 2004, in Parkville, Maryland.

Dorothy Speilman Newton was born May 1, 1926, probably in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1943, she was a member of the Soap and Glycerine Workers Union of the American Federation of Labor. In 1944, she lived with her future mother-in-law, Lillian Boehm, and worked in the bar Lillian owned in Baltimore. After her marriage Dorothy still worked in the bar and lived above it as late as 1950. Lillian had moved to Stevensville, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore and lived there with her husband, son and Dorothy and Richard's daughter, Diana. By March 1951, the bar had been sold and Dorothy had moved into a house she and Richard purchased. She searched for a new job and finally found one doing "highly secret" work in a manufacturing plant (letter to Richard dated March 27, 1951). She died on August 16, 2000, in Parkville, Maryland.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Papers of the Richard P. Newton Family span the years 1925 through 1956, with the bulk of the material dating between January and November 1951. Correspondence comprises the largest portion of the material and documents the daily lives of Richard Newton, Dorothy Speilman Newton, Lillian Boehm, and some of their friends. The collection also contains religious, legal, and genealogical documents, a pair of torpedo-shaped earrings, holiday cards, and photographs. Also included are issues of two military publications: Plans of the Day and Radio Press News from the USS George K. MacKenzie (DD-836).

The correspondence focuses on domestic concerns and military life. The documents include certificates commemorating religious and school events, union membership, and military life. The majority of the photographs are not identified or dated. They consist of individual and group photographs and views taken from and on a ship, probably the USS George K. MacKenzie (DD-836) at sea.

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

The University of Maryland Libraries purchased the Papers of the Richard P. Newton Family from Charles Apfelbaum in 2004.

Processing Information

Processed by:

Processed by Terry Ann Sayler, November 2004

Processing note:

The collection was acquired with no discernible order. Subsequently it was divided into five series: correspondence, other documents, ephemera, photographs, and memorabilia. The materials have been placed in acid-free folders and stored in acid-free boxes. The photographs have been placed in Mylar sleeves.

Encoded by:

EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Jennie A. Levine, February 2005.

Arrangement of Collection

The collection is organized into five series:

Detailed Description of the Collection

Series 1: Correspondence, 1944-1952 (7 linear inches)

The bulk of the series, dating between July and December, 1944, and between October 1950 and November 1951, consists of correspondence between Richard and his fiance and later wife Dorothy. Richard referred to her as "Dootzer" in the letters before their marriage. Frequent topics in the correspondence include the weather, the movies, television programs watched, financial problems, and their affection for each other. While Richard was in the Korean War, their daughter, Diana, lived with his mother, Lillian Boehm. Lillian's letters describe her daily life and that of her granddaughter. Richard's friends, Mickey and Herman Mattes, also corresponded with him. Mickey wrote most of the letters, describing life in a trailer in Middle River, Maryland, and occasional visits with Dorothy.

Arrangement of the correspondence is alphabetical by recipient and then alphabetical by sender. Under each recipient the arrangement within each sender group is chronological.

DescriptionSeriesBox / ReelFolder / Frame
To Collector of Internal Revenue Income Tax Division -- From Richard P. Newton, 1952 series 1box 1folder 1
To Dorothy Spielman -- From Albert J. Bohmer, 1944 series 1box 1folder 2
To Dorothy Spielman -- From Richard P. Newton, 1944-1945 series 1box 1folder 3
To Dorothy Spielman -- From Richard P. Newton, 1944-1945 series 1box 1folder 4
To Dorothy Spielman -- From Richard P. Newton, 1944-1945 series 1box 1folder 5
To Dorothy Spielman -- From Richard P. Newton, 1944-1945 series 1box 1folder 6
To Dorothy Spielman -- From Robert Newton, Jr.,, 1944 series 1box 1folder 7
To Dorothy Newton (Mrs. Richard P. Newton) -- From J. A. Houston, undated series 1box 1folder 8
To Dorothy Newton (Mrs. Richard P. Newton) -- From Richard P. Newton, 1950-1952 series 1box 1folder 9
To Dorothy Newton (Mrs. Richard P. Newton) -- From Richard P. Newton, 1950-1952 series 1box 1folder 10
To Richard P. Newton -- From Max and Libby Alexins(?), 1951 series 1box 1folder 11
To Richard P. Newton -- From B. S. Bayne, McKenna Pontiac Company, 1948 series 1box 1folder 12
To Richard P. Newton -- From Lillian Boehm, 1950-1951 series 1box 1folder 13
To Richard P. Newton -- From Albert Czerwinski, [circa 1944-1945] series 1box 1folder 14
To Richard P. Newton -- From Joseph Grubert, 1951 series 1box 1folder 15
To Richard P. Newton -- From Mickey and Herman Mattes, 1951 series 1box 1folder 16
To Richard P. Newton -- From Dorothy [Spielman] Newton, 1944-1945 series 1box 1folder 17
To Richard P. Newton -- From Dorothy [Spielman] Newton, 1950-1951 series 1box 1folder 18
To Richard P. Newton -- From Dorothy [Spielman] Newton, 1950-1951 series 1box 1folder 19
To Richard P. Newton -- From Dorothy [Spielman] Newton, 1950-1951 series 1box 1folder 20
To Richard P. Newton -- From Dorothy [Spielman] Newton, 1950-1951 series 1box 1folder 21
To Richard P. Newton -- From Dorothy [Spielman] Newton, 1950-1951 series 1box 1folder 22
To Richard P. Newton -- From Dorothy [Spielman] Newton, 1950-1951 series 1box 1folder 23
To Richard P. Newton -- From Dorothy [Spielman] Newton, 1951 series 1box 2folder 1
To Richard P. Newton -- From Dorothy [Spielman] Newton, 1951 series 1box 2folder 2
To Richard P. Newton -- From Lillian Newton, 1951 series 1box 2folder 3
To Richard P. Newton -- From Richard P. Newton, 1952 series 1box 2folder 4
To Richard P. Newton -- From Robert J. Newton, Sr., 1951 series 1box 2folder 5
To Richard P. Newton -- From Paul Jones and Company, 1950 series 1box 2folder 6
To Richard P. Newton -- From Harry Seymour, 1951 series 1box 2folder 7
To Richard P. Newton -- From H. Young, 1951 series 1box 2folder 8

Series 2: Other Documents, 1925-1956 (27 items)

This series consists of expense, family, and military documents that provide further information about the daily lives of the Newton family. Included are Dorothy's union membership book, her Christmas savings stamp check, Richard's baptismal remembrance, Dorothy's confirmation booklet, and Diana's promotion card from grade 4 to grade 5. The military items include Richard's Disabled American Veterans identification tag; a training booklet from Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia; a leave authorization form; tax exemption certificates; and several issues of Plan of the Day and Radio Press News from the USS George K. MacKenzie (DD-836).

Arrangement is alphabetical by category and then chronological within each folder.

DescriptionSeriesBox / ReelFolder / FrameItem
Expense Documents, 1943-1951 and undated series 2box 2folder 9
American Federation of Labor, Soap and Glycerine Workers Union, Membership Book and Working Card, 1943 series 2box 2folder 9item 1
Provident Savings Bank, Christmas Savings Stamp Check, 1951 series 2box 2folder 9item 2
Philip Beber, New and Second Hand Furniture, receipt, undated series 2box 2folder 9item 3
Michael Boehm, General Auto Repairing, receipt, undated series 2box 2folder 9item 4
Family Documents, 1925-1956 series 2box 2folder 10
Baptismal Remembrance, Richard Peter Newton, 1925 series 2box 2folder 10item 1
"A Token of your Confirmation", 1939 series 2box 2folder 10item 2
Promotion Card, 1956 series 2box 2folder 10item 3
Military Documents, 1946-1951 and undated series 2box 2folder 11
Going Back to Civilian Life, 1946 series 2box 2folder 11item 1
The Naval Reservist, September, 1946 series 2box 2folder 11item 2
The Training Beacon, August, 1948 series 2box 2folder 11item 3
Leave authorization, 1951 series 2box 2folder 11item 4
Plan of the Day, November 26, 1950 series 2box 2folder 11item 5
Plan of the Day, January 2, 1951 series 2box 2folder 11item 6
Plan of the Day, January 20, 1951 series 2box 2folder 11item 7
Plan of the Day, January 21, 1951 series 2box 2folder 11item 8
Plan of the Day, February 8, 1951 series 2box 2folder 11item 9
Plan of the Day, September 28, 1951 series 2box 2folder 11item 10
Plan of the Day, October 3, 1951 series 2box 2folder 11item 11
Radio Press News, December 17, 1950 series 2box 2folder 11item 12
Radio Press News, January 1, 1951 series 2box 2folder 11item 13
Radio Press News, January 9, 1951 series 2box 2folder 11item 14
Radio Press News, February 2, 1951 series 2box 2folder 11item 15
Radio Press News, November 4, 1951 series 2box 2folder 11item 16
Tax exemption certificate, 1951 series 2box 2folder 11item 17
CINCPACFLT home town release, undated series 2box 2folder 11item 18
Disabled American Veterans identification tag, undated series 2box 2folder 11item 19
Disabled American Veterans contribution collector card, undated series 2box 2folder 11item 20

Series 3: Ephemera, undated (2 items)

This series is comprised of a Gibson Art card envelope and a graphic on brown paper with "Peace from Nagasaki" in red ink.

DescriptionSeriesBox / ReelFolder / Frame
Gibson Art card envelope, undated series 3box 2folder 12
"Peace from Nagasaki" graphic on brown paper, undated series 3box 2folder 13

Series 4: Photographs, 1943 and undated (20 items)

This series consists mostly of unidentified and undated photographs of individuals, groups, and views of water and ships probably taken from a ship. The group photograph of the Boot Company, Naval Training Station, Newport, Rhode Island, is dated October 1943; fifteen of the men signed their names and addresses on the reverse. All photographs have been transferred to the Photograph Collection.

DescriptionSeriesBox / ReelFolder / FrameItem
Photographs, 1943 and undated series 4box 3folder 1
Boot Company, Naval Training Station, Newport, R. I., October 1943 series 4box 3folder 1item 1
Nora and John Burns, Verso: "To a best friend a gal & a guy ever had. Love Nora and John Burns, undated series 4box 3folder 1item 2
[Man in Navy uniform] unidentified, undated series 4box 3folder 1item 3
[Man in doorway] unidentified, undated series 4box 3folder 1item 4
[Woman holding infant] unidentified, undated series 4box 3folder 1item 5
[Boy seated] unidentified, undated series 4box 3folder 1item 6
[Woman outside] unidentified, undated series 4box 3folder 1item 7
[Open sea with ship and mountains in background] unidentified, undated series 4box 3folder 1item 8
[Open sea] unidentified, undated series 4box 3folder 1item 9
[Open sea from with ship railing in foreground] unidentified, undated series 4box 3folder 1item 10
[Open sea with two ships and peninsula in background] unidentified, undated series 4box 3folder 1item 11
[Open sea with many ships in background] unidentified, undated series 4box 3folder 1item 12
[Open sea with view of village, hillside] unidentified, undated series 4box 3folder 1item 13
[Open sea with ship railing and porthole on left] unidentified, undated series 4box 3folder 1item 14
[View of island through two ship ports] unidentified, undated series 4box 3folder 1item 15
[Men aboard ship] unidentified, undated series 4box 3folder 1item 16
[Ship deck] unidentified, undated series 4box 3folder 1item 17
[View of ship passing with metal circular equipment in foreground] unidentified, , undated series 4box 3folder 1item 18
[View of ship passing] unidentified, undated series 4box 3folder 1item 19
[Overhead view of USS George K. MacKenzie (DD-836)], undated series 4box 3folder 1item 20

Series 5: Memorabilia, 1944 (2 items)

This series consists of two torpedo-shaped silver/metal-colored earrings in an envelope addressed to Dorothy Spielman and postmarked November 23, 1944. These materials have been transferred to the memorabilia collection (#1779).

The box inventory for this series is not currently available online. Please refer to the series description above for a broad description of the materials or contact the department for more information.

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