Elwin E. Muzzey Papers, 1943-1956

Collection number: MC 172
Size: 6 boxes (2.0 cu.ft.)

About Elwin E. Muzzey

Elwin Eugene Muzzey was born February 16, 1923 in Hollis Depot, now part of Nashua, New Hampshire. In February 1943 he enlisted in the Army Air Force and was assigned to the Army Specialized Training Program, attending the Army Air Forces Technical School at Central State College in Edmond, Oklahoma. He spent the war on various Air Force bases in the U.S. and, for about six months after its end, in China. In April 1946 he received an honorable discharge from the Army Airways Communication System Squadron with the rank of Sergeant.

After the war, Muzzey attended the University of New Hampshire (1946-1950), majoring in Business. After graduation, he worked first for Horne's in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and then for the Rike-Kumler Company in Dayton, Ohio, both retail department stores. In April 1952 he married Virginia "Ginny" Schlimmer, a beautician at Rike's beauty salon. Before his retirement, Muzzey operated an antiques business for many years. He lives in Hubbard, Ohio.

About the Elwin E. Muzzey Papers

The Elwin E. Muzzey collection consists primarily of letters written during the years 1943-1946 while Muzzey was stationed in the U.S. and briefly in China. The majority of these letters are from Muzzey to his parents (Series I, Boxes 1-3), and from Mrs. Fred Durgin, Muzzey's mother, to him (Series I, Boxes 4-5). Additionally, there are letters written to Muzzey during the war from family members and friends, some of them also in the service (Series I, Box 5). Letters written by Muzzey to his parents from the post-war period - from UNH (late 1946-early 1950), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (late 1950-May 1951), and Dayton, Ohio (May 1951-1956) - are in Box 3. The collection also contains a small number of other items, including army documents, a 1950 UNH Tau Kappa Epsilon photograph, and Asian guide books printed by the U.S. War Department for military personnel. Of particular interest are the illustrated envelopes used to send mail to the Armed Forces during World War II, of which there are 64 different designs in the collection (Box 6).

A similar collection held within Milne Special Collections is the Maurice E. Bowes Papers (MC 245).

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

This collection is open.

Copyright Notice

Contents of this collection are governed by U.S. copyright law. For questions about publication or reproduction rights, contact Special Collections staff.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], [Folder Number], [Box Number], Elwin E. Muzzey, MC 172, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH, USA.

Acquisitions Information

Purchased: Charles Apfelbaum, dealer, Watchung, New Jersey, May 2000 (Accession number: 2000.13)

Collection Contents

Series 1: Correspondence,

Subseries A: Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, 1943-1956

Box 1
Box 1, Folder 1Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, March 7-10, 1943
Box 1, Folder 2Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, March 11-15, 1943
Box 1, Folder 3Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, March 16-21, 1943
Box 1, Folder 4Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, March 22-27, 1943
Box 1, Folder 5Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, March 26-April 5, 1943
Box 1, Folder 6Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, April 6-22, 1943
Box 1, Folder 7Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, April 23-May 4, 1943
Box 1, Folder 8Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, May 5-17, 1943
Box 1, Folder 9Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, May 18-24, 1943
Box 1, Folder 10Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, May 25-31, 1943
Box 1, Folder 11Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, June 1-10, 1943
Box 1, Folder 12Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, June 11-19, 1943
Box 1, Folder 13Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, June 20-July 2, 1943
Box 1, Folder 14Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, July 4-16, 1943
Box 1, Folder 15Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, July 18-30, 1943
Box 1, Folder 16Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, July 31-Aug 15, 1943
Box 1, Folder 17 Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Aug 17-Sept 10, 1943
Box 1, Folder 18Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Sept 14-28, 1943
Box 1, Folder 19Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Oct 2-18, 1943
Box 1, Folder 20Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Oct 20-Nov 20, 1943
Box 1, Folder 21Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Nov 22-Dec 3, 1943
Box 1, Folder 22Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Dec 7-28, 1943
Box 1, Folder 23Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Jan 1-13, 1944
Box 1, Folder 24Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Jan 15-23, 1944
Box 1, Folder 25Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Jan 26-Feb 18, 1944
Box 1, Folder 26Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Feb 22-March 4, 1944
Box 1, Folder 27Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, March 6-16, 1944
Box 1, Folder 28Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, March 17-27, 1944
Box 1, Folder 29Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, March 28-April 9, 1944
Box 1, Folder 30Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, April 12-22, 1944
Box 2
Box 2, Folder 1Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, April 22-30, 1944
Box 2, Folder 2Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, May 1-8, 1944
Box 2, Folder 3Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, May 9-18, 1944
Box 2, Folder 4Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, May 19-June 12, 1944
Box 2, Folder 5Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, June 13-July 4, 1944
Box 2, Folder 6Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, July 4-14, 1944
Box 2, Folder 7Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, July 6-28, 1944
Box 2, Folder 8Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, July 31-Aug 9, 1944
Box 2, Folder 9Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Aug 10-Sept 1, 1944
Box 2, Folder 10Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Sept 3-11, 1944
Box 2, Folder 11Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Sept 13-29, 1944
Box 2, Folder 12Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Oct 1-14, 1944
Box 2, Folder 13Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Nov 6-20, 1944
Box 2, Folder 14Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Nov 20-December 6, 1944
Box 2, Folder 15Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Dec 7-18, 1944
Box 2, Folder 16Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Dec 19-30, 1944
Box 2, Folder 17Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Jan 1-15, 1945
Box 2, Folder 18Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Jan 17-29, 1945
Box 2, Folder 19Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Jan 30-Feb 12, 1945
Box 2, Folder 20Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Feb 13-25, 1945
Box 2, Folder 21Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Feb 28-March 11, 1945
Box 2, Folder 22Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, March 12-April 29, 1945
Box 2, Folder 23Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, April 30-May 29, 1945
Box 2, Folder 24Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, May 31-June 22, 1945
Box 2, Folder 25Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, June 24-July 10, 1945
Box 2, Folder 26Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, July 13-Aug 5, 1945
Box 2, Folder 27Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Aug 6-25, 1945
Box 2, Folder 28Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Aug 28-Sept 11, 1945
Box 2, Folder 29Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Sept 12-Oct 5, 1945
Box 2, Folder 30Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Oct 7-Nov 5, 1945
Box 2, Folder 31Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Nov 9-Dec 8, 1945
Box 2, Folder 32Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Dec 10-30, 1945
Box 3
Box 3, Folder 1Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Jan-Feb 6, 1946
Box 3, Folder 2Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Feb 8-March 5, 1946
Box 3, Folder 3Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, March 9-27, 1946
Box 3, Folder 4Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Oct 2, 1946-March 16, 1949
Box 3, Folder 5Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, March 27, 1950-Oct 19, 1950
Box 3, Folder 6Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Oct 25-Dec 5, 1950
Box 3, Folder 7Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Dec 12, 1950-Feb 4, 1951
Box 3, Folder 8Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Feb 12-April 15, 1951
Box 3, Folder 9Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, April 21-June 21, 1951
Box 3, Folder 10Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, June 28-Sept 4, 1951
Box 3, Folder 11Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Sept 9-Nov 26, 1951
Box 3, Folder 12Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Dec 4, 1951-March 3, 1952
Box 3, Folder 13Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, March 8-June 23, 1952
Box 3, Folder 14Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, July 2-Dec 21, 1952
Box 3, Folder 15Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Jan 2-March 29, 1953
Box 3, Folder 16Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, April 18-Sept 17, 1953
Box 3, Folder 17Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Oct 2 1953-May 29, 1954
Box 3, Folder 18Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, March 27-Sept 14, 1954
Box 3, Folder 19Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Sept 29 1954-Feb 25, 1955
Box 3, Folder 20Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, March 11-Sept 8, 1955
Box 3, Folder 21Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Sept 21 1955-Jan 31, 1956
Box 3, Folder 22Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, Feb 23-July 31, 1956
Box 3, Folder 23Elwin E. Muzzey to his parents, undated
Box 3, Folder 24Elwin Muzzey to Sgt. Maurice Bowes, July 19, 1944 (1 letter)

Subseries B: Mrs. Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, 1943-1950

Box 4
Box 4, Folder 1Mrs. Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Aug.3, 1940; March 1-9, 1943 (9 letters)
Box 4, Folder 2Mrs. Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, March 19-27, 1943 (7 letters)
Box 4, Folder 3Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, March 30-April 7, 1943 (7 letters)
Box 4, Folder 4Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, April 8-19, 1943 (10 letters)
Box 4, Folder 5Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, April 20-30, 1943 (10 letters)
Box 4, Folder 6Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, May 1-7, 1943 (6 letters)
Box 4, Folder 7Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, May 8-18, 1943 (8 letters)
Box 4, Folder 8Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, May 19-26, 1943 (8 letters)
Box 4, Folder 9Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, May 27-June 3, 1943 (15 letters)
Box 4, Folder 10Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, June 24-July 1 1943 (7 letters)
Box 4, Folder 11Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, July 2-21, 1943 (12 letters)
Box 4, Folder 12Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, July 22-August 18, 1943 (18 letters)
Box 4, Folder 13Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Aug 20-31, 1943 (10 letters)
Box 4, Folder 14Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Sept 1-17, 1943 (13 letters)
Box 4, Folder 15Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Sept 20-27, 1943 (8 letters)
Box 4, Folder 16Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Sept 28-Oct 8, 1943 (10 letters)
Box 4, Folder 17Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Oct 9-19, 1943 (10 letters)
Box 4, Folder 18Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Oct 20-Nov 13, 1943 (11 letters)
Box 4, Folder 19Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Nov 15-24, 1943 (9 letters)
Box 4, Folder 20Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, March 30-April 7, 1943 (10 letters)
Box 4, Folder 21Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Dec 8-17, 1943 (9 letetrs)
Box 4, Folder 22Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Dec 22-31, 1943 (12 letters)
Box 4, Folder 23Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Jan 1-12, 1944 (9 letters)
Box 4, Folder 24Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Jan 13-Feb 12, 1944 (17 letters)
Box 4, Folder 25Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Feb 14-29, 1944 (13 letters)
Box 4, Folder 26Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, March 2-27, 1944 (18 letters)
Box 4, Folder 27Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, March 28-April 11, 1944 (11 letters)
Box 4, Folder 28Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, April 14-25, 1944 (10 letters)
Box 4, Folder 29Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, April 26-May 8, 1944 (11 letters)
Box 4, Folder 30Mrs.Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, May 9-30, 1944 (13 letters)
Box 5
Box 5, Folder 1Mrs. Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, June 1-20, 1944
Box 5, Folder 2Mrs. Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, June 21-July 5, 1944
Box 5, Folder 3Mrs. Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, July 6-14, 1944
Box 5, Folder 4Mrs. Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, July 15-31, 1944
Box 5, Folder 5Mrs. Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Aug 1-31, 1944
Box 5, Folder 6Mrs. Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Sept 2-21, 1944
Box 5, Folder 7Mrs. Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Sept 22-30, 1944
Box 5, Folder 8Mrs. Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Oct 2-14, 1944
Box 5, Folder 9Mrs. Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Nov 9-Dec 8, 1944
Box 5, Folder 10Mrs. Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Dec 9-30, 1944
Box 5, Folder 11Mrs. Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Jan 1-10, 1945
Box 5, Folder 12Mrs. Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Jan 11-31, 1945
Box 5, Folder 13Mrs. Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Feb 1-9, 1945
Box 5, Folder 14Mrs. Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Feb 10-20, 1945
Box 5, Folder 15Mrs. Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Feb 22-28, 1945
Box 5, Folder 16Mrs. Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, March 1-9, 1945
Box 5, Folder 17Mrs. Fred Durgin to Elwin E. Muzzey, Sept 23, 1950 and undated

Subseries C: Others to Elwin E. Muzzey, 1938-1956

Box 5
Box 5, Folder 181943-1944 Letters
  • Annie Ainscow, April 15-Sept. 9, 1943 (2 letters)
  • Mollie Bottoms, March 9, 1943 (1 letter)
  • Elsie Bowes (cousin), May 3-Sept 9, 1944 (5 letters)
  • Elva E. Bowes (aunt), March 26, 1943-Sept 12, 1944 (2 letters)
Box 5, Folder 19Maurice Bowes (cousin), Feb. 28, 1942-Dec. 26, 1943 (12 letters)
Box 5, Folder 20Maurice Bowes (cousin), Jan 19, 1944-Jan 18, 1945 (8 letters)
Box 5, Folder 211943-1944 Letters
  • Reverend and Mrs. Brockway, Aug 10, 1943-Nov 20, 1944 (2 letters)
  • Lucienne Cadorette, Oct 28, 1946-March 9, 1947 (3 letters)
  • Dorothy Cane, April 7, 1943 (1 letter)
  • Central Christian Church, Pittsburgh, Oct 12, 1943-Jan 3, 1944 (3 letters)
Box 5, Folder 22Betty Cross, March 14, 1943-Dec. 12, 1944 (12 letters)
Box 5, Folder 231942-1943 Letters
  • Robert Duncan, Feb 28-April 23, 1943 (4 letters)
  • Harold Elliot, April 12-May 26, 1943 (3 letters)
  • Grover Farwell, Jr., April 26-Oct 17, 1943 (4 letters)
  • E. Fitzpatrick, July 11, 1943 (1 letter)
  • Katherine Gerasis, March 11, 1942 (1 letter)
Box 5, Folder 241944 Letters
  • Mrs. H. Gilmore, July 7, 1943-June 10, 1944 (2 letters)
  • Ernie Hardy, March 28, 1941-Dec 10, 1944 (14 letters)
Box 5, Folder 251943-1944 Letters
  • Robert Haynes, May 8, 1940-May 1, 1943 (3 letters)
  • Barbara Knapp, March 14-May 1, 1943 (3 letters)
  • Nelson R. Lewis, Nov 19-Dec 19, 1944 (3 letters)
  • Fred N. Lowe (grandfather), Dec 22, 1943-May 8, 1944 (2 letters)
  • Beverly Lund, Feb 24, 1942-Dec 26, 1944 (5 letters)
  • William Kenneth Lund, March 11-Sept 30, 1943 (2 letters)
  • Henry T. Lynn, Nov 10, 1943-March 18, 1944? (3 letters)
  • Glenn Mayes, May 5, 1946 (1 letter)
  • Irving Mellman, Nov 15-Dec 12, 1943 (2 letters)
  • Paul A Milholland, Jr., Aug 19, 1944 (1 letter)
  • Donald Moore, Feb 7-March 21, 1944 (2 letters)
Box 5, Folder 26Patricia Murphy, March 24-Sept 5, 1943 (7 letters)
Box 5, Folder 27Verna Muzzey, March 11-Dec 7, 1943 (8 letters)
Box 5, Folder 281944 Letters
  • Verna Muzzey, Jan 5-Sept 5, 1944 (6 letters)
  • Mr. Muzzey (Dad), June 1943-Dec 22, 1944 (4 letters)
  • Ernest Muzzey, Nov 13, 1944 (1 letter)
Box 5, Folder 29Arleen O' Mara ("Irish"), April 26, 1941-Nov 29, 1942 (7 letters)
Box 5, Folder 30Arleen O' Mara ("Irish"), Feb 9-Dec 20, 1943 (6 letters)
Box 5, Folder 31Arleen O' Mara ("Irish"), Jan 10, 1944-Feb 2, 1945 (11 letters)
Box 6
Box 6, Folder 11943-1944 letters
  • Betty Parker, March 12-July 3, 1943 (3 letters)
  • Phil Pehda, August 28, 1943 (1 letter)
  • Mrs. Winfield (Rozilla) Reed, June 1-Dec. 14, 1944 (2 letters)
  • Pearl C. Rideout, March 11-Nov. 24, 1944 (6 letters)
Box 6, Folder 2Leonard Rule, Oct. 17, 1942-Feb 16, 1945 (26 letters)
Box 6, Folder 31943, 1946 Letters
  • Edson Skinner, Dec 21, 1943 (1 letter)
  • George F. Steger, Aug 21, 1943 (1 letter)
  • Betty Van Horn, Oct 10, 1943-June 19, 1944 (5 letters)
  • Mrs. P.B. Van Horn, Dec. 7, 1943 (1 letter)
  • Norman Wasson, Sept 4-Nov 24, 1946 (2 letters)
Box 6, Folder 41942-1944 Letters
  • Chris B., Nov 19, 1944 (1 letter)
  • Earl, May 22, 1944 (1 letter)
  • Howard B., Nov 23, 1943 (1 letter)
  • Marion, March 13, 1943 (1 letter)
  • Ralph, Aug 24, 1942 (1 letter)
  • Unidentified letter, May 5, n.y. (1 letter)
Box 6, Folder 51938, 1952-1956 Letters
  • To Mrs. Fred (Frieda) Durgin from: Dad and Gramp, Sept 29-Dec 24, 1938 (2 letters)
  • Virginia Schlimmer Muzzey ("Ginny"), Jan 2, 1952-April 25, 1956 (6 letters)
  • Nellie, Dec.31, 1954 (1 letter)
  • O.W. Tippett, Tippett Jackson & Nolan, Inc. Advertising, June 23, 1953 (1 letter)

Series 2: Miscellaneous

Box 6
Box 6, Folder 6Army Documents, including special orders, diploma for completion of course for Engineering and Operation clerks, transcript of academic record, photostat of certificate of honorable discharge, Army Air Forces Certificate of Appreciation for War Service, and Veterans Administration certificate of eligibility
Box 6, Folder 7Pocket Guide to Burma
Box 6, Folder 8Orientation booklet for China, for US Military Personnel
Box 6, Folder 9"What You Should Know About China"
Box 6, Folder 10Pocket Guide to India
Box 6, Folder 11"A Guide Book to Calcutta, Agra, Delhi, Karachi & Bombay"
Box 6, Folder 12Hollis Newsletter (Lifeline), August 1943-July 1944
Box 6, Folder 13Hollis Newsletter (Lifeline), Aug 1944-Feb 1945
Box 6, Folder 14Church Service Programs, 1945-1946
Box 6, Folder 15-17World War II envelopes (64 different designs, in all)
Box 6, Folder 18UNH TKE fraternity material; TKE Holiday Greeting (in roll)
Box 6, Folder 19Miscellaneous items:
  • Hollis welcome home program
  • Photograph of 3 young women, one of them Arleen O'Mara (see above Box 5 f.31)
  • Christmas menu, Chunking, China, Dec 25, 1945
  • Carbon of poem, "Chinese Panoroma [sic]," and photocopies of newspaper clippings
Finding Aid Image TEMP
Collection
Elwin E. Muzzey, 1950
[TKE photo]

Collection Content

Subjects

Genealogy & Family Papers
Military History
World War II
Hillsborough County, NH

Formats

Letters & Postcards
Military Papers
Request Info