Beineman/McSorley World War II letters and papers
Scope and Contents
The Beineman/McSorley papers are comprised mostly of letters written between husband and wife, John & Alta (Beineman) McSorley, during the United States' involvement in World War II.
The interest of the letters and papers lies in what prolific letter writers the couple was. Letters are dated nearly every day, from one or the other, from 1943 to 1945. Most of Alta's letters relate to life at home with her family, telling of the death of their dog and her father. Most of John's letters revolve around Army life: training, waiting, then action. A few of John's letters were written on U.S. Army stationery, and a few of these have overt Allied propaganda styling.
Among the papers are a scrapbook Alta kept during John's time away, and some photographs of the couple together, at home or while Alta visited John stateside. Many photographs also depict John and Army personnel in European cities.
One copy of the local newspaper, the Catholic Campaigner, dated December 3, 1944, is also part of this collection. It is housed with other newspapers in Coll. 259, the GRPL Newspapers collection.
Dates
- 1941-1945
Creator
- Beineman, Barbara (Donor, Person)
Biographical / Historical
John James McSorley (1912-1972) was the son of Irish immigrants Daniel and Mary Cox McSorley. John was born in and spent his entire life in Grand Rapids, and worked as a retail grocery manager during his young adulthood. John enlisted in the United States Army in Kalamazoo in March 1943, and was discharged as a private in October 1945. John went abroad during the later part of the war, spending at least some time in Paris and the French countryside.
Alta Beineman McSorley (1913-1996) was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, to Otto & Lillian Springborn Beniman(n). The family moved to Grand Rapids by the time Alta was six years old, as the 1920 Census showed them living on Shamrock Street. Alta attended high school at South High for at least three years, and worked as a seamstress in a local laundry as a young adult.
John & Alta were married in Kent County in June 1939. They did not have any children, and both died and were buried in Grand Rapids. John died in 1972, and Alta in 1996. Both are interred in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Extent
2 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Beineman/McSorley papers are comprised mostly of letters written between husband and wife, John & Alta (Beineman) McSorley, during the United States' involvement in World War II. John enlisted in the United States Army in March 1943 and was discharged in October 1945. He went abroad during the later part of the war, spending at least some time in Paris and the French countryside. The couple wrote letters nearly every day. Most of Alta's letters relate to life at home in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her family, telling of the death of their dog and her father. Most of John's letters revolve around Army life: training, waiting, then action. Among the papers are a scrapbook Alta kept during John's time away, and some photographs of the couple together, at home or while Alta visited John stateside. Many photographs also depict John and Army personnel in European cities.
- Title
- Finding aid for the Beineman/McSorley World War II letters and papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Heather Edwards
- Date
- February 2018
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library Street NE
Grand Rapids Michigan 49503 USA
616-988-5497
localhis@grpl.org