Special Collections Research Center
Paul Dresser Papers
Dresser, Paul
MS 00206
/repositories/2/resources/8589
2.5 Linear Feet
1940-1963
1944-1947
English
Conditions Governing Use
Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, papers, photographs, newsletters, and publications of Paul Dresser from his service in the Fifth Army during World War II. As a member of the Officer leadership of the Army Group, Dresser worked closely with General Clark, Commander of the Fifth Army throughout the war.
Dresser participated in the landing of American forces in North Africa (Operation Torch) and served briefly under General Patton during this campaign. Included in his papers is a sign that served as written communication for the landing forces under the leadership of Patton. Dresser sent home carbon copies of Patton's immediate correspondence with Generals Eisenhower and Montgomery to his wife for safe keeping. A letter to require the complete surrender from the Sultan of Morocco is included in the messages Dresser kept.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Paul Dresser, Jr., 2016.
Preferred Citation
Paul Dresser Papers, 1940-1963, bulk 1944-1947, Special Collections Research Center, William and Mary Libraries.
Arrangement
The first series of the Paul Dresser papers reflect his personal correspondence with his wife, and papers concerning his Army career. Subsequent series follow movement as Dresser fought in operations with the Fifth Army during World War II starting in Africa, then to Italy, and finally Vienna. During Dresser's tour in Vienna, his wife and two children were permitted to visit and temporarily live with him at this duty station. Photographs were created into a sparate series based on their general subject matter. Those phtotgraphs that were annotated are documented clearly within this series. Dresser kept many field pamphlets and publications concerning the Fifth Army and the war in general in Europe. This includes a large amount of travel guides and otherwise ephemeral documentation. Together, they serve as a vivd snapshot of the life of Army soldiers in Occupied Europe following World War II.
Dresser also kept most of the Stars and Stripes publications he recieved while serving overseas. The Algiers, African, and Italian Stars and Stripes have been cataloged separately.
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945--Italy
Operation Torch, 1942
United States. Army. Army, 5th
Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945
Personal Papers/repositories/2/archival_objects/337664EnglishCorrespondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376701940-194211Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/337671194312Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376721944 March- September13Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376731944 October- December14Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376741945 January- February15Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376751945 March16Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376761944 April17Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376771945 April- May18Field Artillery Papers/repositories/2/archival_objects/337678194119Farewell Party Program/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376791942 July 3110Power of Attorney/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376801942111Provisions for Dependents/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376811942112Detail Orders for Court/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376821942113Special Orders/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376831943-195114Promotion to Lieutenant Colonel/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376841945115Retirement Papers/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376851963116Army Officer's Notebook with enclosures/repositories/2/archival_objects/337686117Ration cards and money/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376871940-1946118United States Flag Armband and Fifth Army Patch/repositories/2/archival_objects/337688119Miscellaneous Papers and keepsakes/repositories/2/archival_objects/337689120African Front/repositories/2/archival_objects/337665EnglishGeneral Patton message to soldiers prior to commencement of Operation Torch/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376901942 November121General Patton letter to Sultan of Morocco/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376911942 November 10122General Patton letter to General Eisenhower/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376921942 November 11123General Patton letter to General Eisenhower/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376931942 November 15124General Patton letter to General Marshall/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376941942 November 15125Headquarters Western Task Force Report/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376951942 December 27126Headquarters Western Task Force News Releases/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376961942127Headquarters Guidelines on Censorship/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376971942128African Front Booklets/repositories/2/archival_objects/3376981942129Victory Across North-Africa Souvenir with enclosures /repositories/2/archival_objects/3376991942130Warfront Newsletters/repositories/2/archival_objects/3377001942131Italian Front/repositories/2/archival_objects/337666EnglishFifth Army Headquarters in Vienna/repositories/2/archival_objects/337667EnglishPhotographs/repositories/2/archival_objects/337668EnglishPamphlets, Publications, and Newspaper Clippings/repositories/2/archival_objects/337669English