Underwood, Henry L. Papers, 1924-1955
Held by The Filson Historical Society
Creator: Underwood, Henry L.
Title: Papers, 1924-1955
Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these letters, contact the Curator of Special Collections.
Size of Collection: 0.33 cubic feet
Locator Number: Mss. A U55
Scope and Content Note
Collection includes 42 letters, most of which were written by relatives and acquaintances to Henry Underwood, 374 th Engineer Battalion (Separate) while he was stationed at Camp Gordon, GA, and Camp Hood, TX, in 1942 and 1943. Some of the letters were written by female admirers. The letters from his mother and sisters provide some insight regarding the hardships experienced by African American families during World War II and of the wartime economic conditions in Cincinnati, OH. This collection has been digitized. To view a PDF scan of folders 1-5, click on the link provided in the folder list below.
Biographical Note
Henry L. Underwood was born ca. 1913, the only son of Carrie Louise Underwood. He and his four sisters grew up in Cincinnati, OH. Although this close African American family was of modest means, Henry and his sisters achieved some degree of success. He was employed at Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc., in Indianapolis, IN, in the early 1940s. He entered the U.S. Army , 374 th Engineer Battalion (Separate), in the spring of 1942 and was stationed initially at Camp Gordon, GA, and then at Camp Hood, TX, in August, 1942.
Folder List
Folder 1: Correspondence, Sept., 1924; April – July, 1942
Folder 2: Correspondence, Aug. – December, 1942
Folder 3: Correspondence, Feb. – April, 1943
Folder 4: Correspondence, May – August, 1943
Folder 5: Miscellaneous
Subject Headings
American National Red Cross
Business enterprises, Black
Camp Gordon (Richmond County, Ga.)
Cincinnati Tennis Club
Fort Hood (Tex.)
Love-letters
Underwood, Henry L. ca. 1913-
United States. Army – African American troops
United States. Army. Engineer Battalion, 374th (Separate)
Wilberforce University
World War, 1939-1945 – Economic aspects – Ohio – Cincinnati
World War, 1939-1945 – Participation, African American – History – Sources
World War, 1939-1945 – War work – American Red Cross