Donated by Barbara Clark, the stepdaughter of S. Cole Bradley, on December 29, 2015.
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S. Cole Bradley Papers, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.
The fragile nature of this material may limit handling.
The collection consists of letters, ephemera, and original art work created by S. Cole Bradley (1906-1994) while stationed in New Guinea, the Philippines and on Okinawa as a staff sergeant in the United States Army during World War II. The bulk of the letters are addressed to Eudora Lampman, whom he would later marry. The sketches are done in pencil as well as pen and ink with watercolors. The drawings depict everyday military life, including ships, landscapes, and servicemen at work and leisure, as well as scenes and native peoples where he served.
"Historical and Pictorial Review, Antiaircraft Training Center, Camp Stewart, Georgia. 1941." (UA33 212th .H5 1941) S. Cole Bradley was a member of Battery "G", 207th Coast Artillery (AA).
Simeon Cole Bradley was born in New Rochelle, New York on May 23, 1906 to Cornelius Cole Bradley and Elizabeth Ellis Riblet. During World War II, he served in the artillery in the United States Army. He married Eudora Grace Lampman on September 11, 1954, in Brookfield, Connecticut. Bradley died on December 21, 1994 in New Milford, Connecticut.
Most of the letters are written to Eudora Lampman, Bradley's future spouse, with one letter addressed to his "Sister". The letters are enhanced by Bradley's illustrations which complement the content. One particular letter discusses the divorce of their mutual friends, as well as Bradley's attempt to explain what a "Dear John" letter is to Eudora by penning a lengthy faux version. Most letters are incomplete, with only the illustrated first page having been saved.
The folder includes the following:
Typescript paper on Vicente Alvarez Dizon (1905-1947), copied from some reference work. Circa 1945.
A portrait sketch of Sgt. Cole Bradley, drawn by Vicente Alvarez Dizon, dated May 6, 1945.
Incomplete letter written by S. Cole Bradley to Eudora Lampman.
Typescript of Special Orders from Headquarters 102nd AntiAircraft Artillery Brigade, marked Restricted.
A copy of S. Cole Bradley's obituary and copies of local newspaper articles discussing his life's work.
Map of the Philippines from National Geographic, dated March 1945.
Carbon copy of an order placed by Bradley on May 10, 1945, for art books from Watson Guptill Pubs.
Sketch of "where I was stationed".
Souvenir menu "Thanksgiving at Sea", circa 1944 or 1945.
The folder contains an unusual ink sketch on wax (?) paper showing four pigs that when folded together make a portrait of Hitler; signed by F. Cruz, Philippines. A color print titled "Corazon Noble", dated November 1941, a supplement from "Philippine Cinema and Radio", was given to Bradley by F. Cruz. Three additional pen and ink sketches are included here.
Most of the sketches are done in pencil and depict everyday life as a serviceman in the Philippines including a sketch of "The S.S. Exchange off Finchhaven", "Hollandia", landscapes, and service men working on ships.
The sketches are done in pencil and depict military life in the Philippines including servicemen, ships, first land sighting, a guy named "Joe", and local vegetation.
The sketches are done in pencil and depict military life in the Philippines including indigenous people ("Nasalin"), ships, Guadalcanal, and servicemen playing cards ("Action Below").
The sketches are done in pencil and depict military life in the Philippines including a portrait of a man ("Aussie"), gathering for a GI movie, a helicopter landing, military ships ("Grayhound"), indigenous watercrafts ("Off Leyte"), Okinawa landscapes, Cpl. John Oelkers' portrait, and General MacArthur's headquarters in Leyte.
Most of the sketches are done in pencil and depict military life in the Philippines including scenes of the Tacloban docks, landscapes, Manila, and "Loly Beach, Okinawa". Included are sketches titled "Finchhaven", "Starboard Watch", and "Boy Scout Monument, Leyte".