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HAROLD J. "HAL" ALFORD PAPERS

 Collection
Identifier: TMD51

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The bulk of the Harold J. Alford Papers consists of correspondence between Hal and his wife Winifred during his service in Italy. Other correspondence includes letters from Alford's University of Washington mentor George Savage, correspondence between Hal and his parents, and letters from Hal and Winifred to both families.

The papers also include Alford's military papers from R.O.T.C. and Reserve Infantry training; from Fort Benning, Georgia.; Camp Croft, South Carolina; and ephemera dating from 1941-1945. One folder contains a photocopy of a portion of The PCT Relays: First Exploration documenting Alford's participation in the survey. An aerial photograph of Camp Hale, circa 1943, is the only photograph in the collection.

SERIES 1 CORRESPONDENCE 1942-1946 BOX 1

This series contains letters written by Alford and Winifred to both sets of parents and correspondence between Alford and Winifred when he was stationed at Camp Hale and during the time of his service in Italy from December 1944 until his return to the United States in 1945.

SERIES 2 MILITARY PAPERS 1937-1968 BOX 1

This series includes Alford's military papers from his Reserve Officer's Training Corps program; his training at Ft. Benning, Geeorgia, and Camp Croft, South Carolina; ephemera dating from 1941-1945; a single aerial photograph of Camp Hale, Colorado; and a photocopy of a 1968 publication of The PCT Relays: First Exploration.

SERIES 3 OVERSIZE 1942-1944 OVFF 1

This series contains photomechanical prints of 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment, Company I; 87th Mountain Infantriy Regiment, Headquarters; and 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment, Compan K. The majority of men in Company K are identified.

Dates

  • 1937-1968

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

ACCESS:

The collection is open for research.

COPYRIGHT:

All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from material in the collection should be discussed with the appropriate librarian or archivist. Permission for publication may be given on behalf of the Denver Public Library as the owner of the physical item. It is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained by the customer. The Library does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or publication rights of the manuscript held by the writer, heirs, donors, or executors. Reproduction restrictions are decided on a case-by-case basis.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Harold Judd "Hal" Alford was born June 9, 1917 in Nebraska to Fred B. and Grace R. Alford. He graduated from West Seattle High School in 1934 and from the University of Washington in 1938. He also received his 2nd Lieutenant's commission through the Reserve Officer's Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) program on June 10, 1938 at the University. He married fellow graduate student Winifred Alma Rastede of Pierce, Nebraska (1912-1997) on June 26, 1941. Alford worked briefly for theSeattle Times before being sent to Fort Benning, Georgia, where the Alford's son Frederick George Alford, was born (1942-1990). Alford received his Captain's commission at Camp Croft, South Carolina in 1943. While at Camp Croft, he was assigned to attend the School for Special Services in Lexington, VA, following which he was assigned to the headquarters of the 10th Mountain Division at Camp Hale, CO.

Alford served as Special Services Officer for the divison during the war, then was transferred to Fifth Army Headquarters in Florence, Italy, to service as Special Servces Officer with the Army of Occupation. Following World War II, Alford remained in the Army and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. The couple had a second child, daughter Sally Alford Jenkins, after the war. Alford died on September 26, 2009 in Kingston, Washington.

Extent

1 boxes (1 linear foot)

1 oversize folder

PROVENANCE:

Gift; Harold Alford; 2002-2003.

SELECTION OF RELATED MATERIAL

The Western History/Genealogy Department has additional collections containing material related to Harold J. "Hal" Alford and the10th Mountain Division including:

10th Mountain Division Records TMD1

10th Mountain Division Database Records TMD2

National Association of the 10th Mountain Division Records TMD40

SEPARATED MATERIAL

As Special Services Officer for the 10th Mountain Division, Alford was responsible for the radio show "Camp Hale Story" broadcast by KOA radio between October 1943 and March 1944. The radio scripts, along with Alford's correspondence with KOA radio were transferred to TMD1, 10th Mountain Division Records.

Alford also created "Hale & Hearty," an evening of entertainment for the men, and an orientation program for incomng 10th Mountain Division troops to supplement the Army's orientation program created by Frank Capra. The radio scripts for these programs were transferred to TMD1, 10th Mountain Division Records.

SIZE:

Number of boxes: 1 (1 linear foot)

Oversize: 1 file folder

LOCATION:

TMD51

PROCESSED AND ENCODED BY:

Moya Hansen

April 15, 2015

PROJECT MANAGER:

Abby Hoverstock

Title
HAROLD J. "HAL" ALFORD
Date
April 2015
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Denver Public Library, Western History and Genealogy Repository

Contact:
10 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy
Denver CO 80204 United States