Archives Online at Indiana University

View options:

Search within this document:

 

Want to learn more?

  • Do you have a question about this collection?
  • Would you like to view the original items in this collection?
  • Are you seeking permission to publish or reproduce items in this collection?

Please contact the holding repository: Lilly Library, IU Bloomington

Email: liblilly@indiana.edu

Bookmark and Share

Broom mss., 1940-1957

Summary Information

Repository
Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
Lilly Library
Indiana University
1200 E. Seventh St.
Bloomington, IN 47405-5500
Phone: 812-855-2452
Fax: 812-855-3143
Email: liblilly@indiana.edu

Creator
Broom, John J. W., 1917-2000

Title
Broom mss., 1940-1957

Collection No.
LMC 1134

Extent
ca. 400 items

Language
Materials are in English

Abstract
The Broom mss., 1940-1957, consists primarily of the correspondence of John Joseph Willard, "Bill," Broom, 1917-2000, and his parents, Ida J. Broom and John J.W. Broom, Sr., during Bill Broom's World War II military service. There are also a substantial number of letters, 1944-1945, from his future wife, Dolly May Gantz, as well as from other family members, hometown friends, and college acquaintances throughout the collection.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Biographical Note

Broom attended Indiana University in the late 1930s, earning his Bachelor of Public School Music in 1939. He then began graduate work in music but joined the armed forces in 1942 before completing the masters program. Between 1942 and 1945 Broom served in the Army Air Force (later Air Force) Band stateside at Gunter Field, near Montgomery, Alabama. Letters from Broom in early 1945 are from various cities in Ohio where he was on tour with "Here's Your Infantry," a show that demonstrated military maneuvers. In the latter part of that year the letters are from Louisville, Kentucky where his band was stationed at Nichols General Hospital. Broom left the service in February 1946.

After the war, Broom returned to Indiana University to complete his Masters of Music in 1948. He then returned to Fort Wayne and served in the Fort Wayne Community Schools for until his retirement as music director in 1984. He also conducted various community bands in the Fort Wayne area and was an active member of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 58. Broom died in New Haven, Indiana, September 21, 2000.

Arrangement

The collection is organized into the following series: I. Correspondence with parents; II. Letters from Dolly May (Gantz) Broom; III. General correspondence; IV. Photographs; V. Clippings; VI. Printed.

Scope and Content Note

The Broom mss., 1940-1957, consists primarily of the correspondence of John Joseph Willard, "Bill," Broom, 1917-2000, and his parents, Ida J. Broom and John J.W. Broom, Sr., during Bill Broom's World War II military service. There are also a substantial number of letters, 1944-1945, from his future wife, Dolly May Gantz, as well as from other family members, hometown friends, and college acquaintances throughout the collection. Most of letters to Broom describe relatively mundane events: weather, news about other relatives, laundry, and local events or happenings made up the majority of topics discussed. Rarely was there any mention of the war except in relaying information about someone entering the service, though one particular letter was written on the back of a newspaper flyer that announced the surrender of Japan. Included with many of the letters sent to Broom by his parents and Dolly May were newspaper clippings from Fort Wayne area newspapers and publications describing local news and activities. Because of the sheer number of these clippings and because of the already advanced acid migration from the newspaper to the letters in which enclosed, they have been filed separately in the collection.

Separated Material

Broom's correspondence and materials during his undergraduate years at Indiana University are located in the Indiana University Archives.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information
Purchase. 2002
Usage Restrictions
Prior arrangements are not necessary before coming to the Library, however, patrons from out of town are encouraged to communicate with the Library in advance of their visits to ascertain availability of materials.

Photocopying permitted only with permission of the Curator of Manuscripts, Lilly Library.

Preferred Citation
[Item], Broom mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

Series: Box 1 I. Correspondence with parents

Folder 1 1940-1942, Sept. 

Folder 2 1942, Oct.-Dec. 

Folder 3 1943, Jan.-Mar. 

Folder 4 1943, Apr.-June 

Folder 5 1943, July 

Folder 6 1943, Aug.-Oct. 

Folder 7 1943, Nov.-Dec. 

Folder 8 1944, Jan.-Apr. 

Folder 9 1944, May 

Folder 10 1944, June-Aug. 

Folder 11 1944, Sept.-Oct. 

Folder 12 1944, Nov.-Dec. 

Folder 13 1945, Jan.-May 

Folder 14 1945, June-July 

Folder 15 1945, Aug.-Sept. 

Folder 16 1945, Oct.-1946, Jan. 

Series: Box 1 II. Letters from Dolly May (Gantz) Broom

Folder 17 1944, Jan.-Apr. 

Folder 18 1944, May-June 

Folder 19 1944, July 

Folder 20 1944, Aug. 

Folder 21 1944, Sept.-Dec. 

Folder 22 1945, Jan.-June 

Series: Box 1 III. General correspondence

Folder 23 1942, Jan.-Aug. 

Folder 24 1942, Sept. 

Folder 25 1942, Oct.-Dec. 

Folder 26 1943, Jan.-June 

Folder 27 1943, July-Dec. 

Folder 28 1944, Jan.-Apr. 

Folder 29 1944, May-June 

Folder 30 1944, July-Oct. 

Folder 31 1944, Nov.-Dec. 

Box 2
Folder 1

1945, Jan.-Mar. 

Folder 2 1945, Apr.-Dec. 

Folder 3 1946,  1957 

Folder 4 undated 

Series: Box 2 IV. Photographs

Folder 5 Man in uniform--Broom?

Series: Box 2 V. Clippings

Folders 6-8 Enclosed in parents' letters, 1942-1945 

Folder 9 Enclosed in Gantz letters, 1944-1945 

Folder 10 Enclosed in General correspondence, 1942-1944 

Series: Box 2 VI. Printed

Folder 11 Indiana University related

Folder 12 miscellaneous

Accessibility Help