John F. Marshall Correspondence, 1945

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
Newman Library
Virginia Tech
P.O. Box 90001
560 Drillfield Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24062-9001
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (540) 231-6308
Fax: (540) 231-3694
Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], John F. Marshall Correspondence, Ms1999-006, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Summary

Extent:
0.1 Cubic Feet 1 folder
Creator:
Marshall, John F.
Abstract:
John F. Marshall, a member of Admiral William (Bull) Halsey's Third Fleet staff, offers in a letter written to Floyd McElroy, a first-hand description of the ceremony that marked the formal surrender of Japanese forces aboard U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, at the end of World War II. The collection also includes a letter from McElroy to Ernest Bernstein less than a month later that contains information about both Marshall and the letter.
Language:
The materials in the collection are in English.
Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], John F. Marshall Correspondence, Ms1999-006, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

Lieutenant commander in U.S. Navy and member of Admiral Halsey's staff, John F. Marshall writes from the scene of the Japanese surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri on September 2, 1945, at the end of World War II. He describes the surrender ceremony in detail, particularly his impressions of U.S. military leaders and representatives of other nations participating in the ceremony. The letter was written to Floyd McElroy, a friend and former colleague. Also included in the collection is a letter dated October 4, 1945. from McElroy in which he sends a photostatic copy of Marshall's original letter to Ernest M. Bernstein. It is this copy of Marshall's letter that is in the collection.

Biographical / historical:

As reporrted by Floyd McElroy, John F. Marshall's parents were missionaries in Burma prior to World War II and were evacuated to India and then returned to the United States following the Japanese invasion of Burma in December 1941. After the fall of Singapore in February 1942, John F. Marshall enlisted in the Navy and received at least part of his training at Naval Air Station Quonset Point in Rhode Island before arriving for duty in the South Pacific theater. On May 18, 1945, having attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander, Marshall reported on board the U.S.S. Missouri, the flagship of William (Bull) Halsey's Third Fleet, to join the Admiral's staff. He was on the Missouri on September 2, 1945, in Tokyo Bay when he described the official surrender of the Japanese that took place on that ship in a letter to friend and former colleague, Floyd McElroy. McElroy was Vice-President of Loomis-Sayles, & Company, an investment firm based in Boston with an office in San Francisco. Marshall worked in that San Francisco office prior to the war and, apparently returned to work there after the war.

Acquisition information:
The John F. Marshall Correspondence was donated to Special Collections in 1999.
Processing information:

The processing, arrangement, and description of the John F. Marshall Correspondence was completed prior to 2009. Additional description was completed in September 2015.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
World War, 1939-1945