PHILIP A. LUNDAY PAPERS
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The collection spans 1943-2005 and relates primarily to Lunday's World War II experiences. Papers include correspondence, memoirs and reference files, which Lunday assembled while writing Tramway Builders with Charles M. Hampton. Also included are scrapbooks, photograph albums and numerous working papers generated during the creation of the 10th Mountain Division database.
Letters, which Lunday sent to various family members during World War II, comprise a significant portion of the series. The letters were originally contained in envelopes glued to pages in two scrapbooks making access difficult. To prevent damage and improve access, letters were removed from the envelopes and filed in this series. During processing of the collection, letters and envelopes were individually numbered from 1 to 136 to facilitate cross-referencing. Additional correspondence, related to the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division, is also included. Copies of Lunday's memoirs, along with his reference files, form another portion of the series. Lundy's role in the creation of the 10th Mountain Division database is documented through correspondence, worksheets, test data, reports and planning materials. Limited memorabilia completes the series.
Three photograph albums and limited loose photographs comprise the series. The first album documents the restoration of an M29 Cargo Carrier (Weasel) and the ceremonies that marked its donation to the Colorado History Museum. Color photographic prints span 1943 to 1997 with the bulk of the photos from 1997. Photographs include extensive captions. A brief history of the vehicle's development and vehicle specifications are included with the album. This album was formerly designated 10th Mountain Division Photograph Album 44.
The second and third photograph albums document Lunday's military experiences. Although there is some overlap between the two albums, one concentrates primarily on Lunday's training at Purdue University, Fort Leonard Wood (Missouri) and Camp Swift (Texas). This album, formerly designated album 47A, also covers some of Lunday's early time in Italy. The other album, formerly designated album 47B, includes large selections of text, copies of military orders, newspaper clippings, rosters, citations and other military papers in addition to photographs. This album primarily covers the Italian Campaign and Lunday's post-war assignments.
Two scrapbooks comprise the series. The first covers Lunday's basic training and his time at Camp Swift (Texas). The second documents the Italian Campaign and post-war assignments. Scrapbooks contain primarily newspaper clippings and correspondence from Lunday to family members. Limited military papers are also included. Envelopes containing Lunday's letters are glued to scrapbook pages, making access to the enclosed letters difficult. To prevent damage and improve access, the letters have been removed and filed in Box 1, Series 1. During processing of the collection, letters and envelopes were individually numbered from 1 to 136 to facilitate cross-referencing.
Dates
- 1943-2005
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
Philip A. Lunday was born August 18, 1924 in Billings, Montana, the son of George A. and Paula (Larson) Lunday. Lunday's father, who worked as a salesman, had been wounded during World War I.
Lunday grew up hunting, camping and fishing. In 1942, he graduated from Billings High School, where he played varsity football. Following graduation, he drove trucks and fought forest fires for the U.S. Department of the Interior at Yellowstone National Park.
Lunday began skiing at Montana State University, where he completed one year of college before his induction into the U.S. Army on June 1, 1943. He reported to the reception center at Fort Douglas, Utah and received basic infantry training at Camp Fannin, Texas. Selected for the Army Specialized Training Program, Lunday was assigned to Purdue University to study mechanical engineering. When the Army cancelled the program, Lunday was transferred to basic engineering school at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He later received vehicle maintenance training at the Atlanta Ordnance Depot near Conely, Georgia.
In 1944, Lunday volunteered for the "ski troops" and joined the 10th Mountain Division at Camp Swift, Texas. Assigned to the 126th Mountain Engineering Battalion's Company D, he arrived on November 6th, 1944, the same date on which the Division reorganized from the 10th Light Division (Alpine) into the 10th Mountain Division.
Assigned to the motor pool, Lunday learned that Company D was a one-of-a-kind engineer unit, trained to erect aerial tramways and to work with high explosives and demolition. During combat operations in Italy, Lunday helped to install the aerial tramway that transported supplies and wounded soldiers during the battle for Riva Ridge. He also ferried heavy equipment and tanks across Lake Garda.
Following the War, Lunday returned to Camp Carson, Colorado. When the 10th Mountain Division was inactivated in November 1945, he was transferred to the 75th Field Artillery Battalion. He received an honorable discharge from the service in January 1946 and returned to school.
Lunday played football for Montana State University, competing in the 1947 Harbor Bowl game against New Mexico. He received a BS degree in industrial engineering in 1949.
Lunday's career with IBM Corporation spanned thirty-four years. He began as an engineer in 1949 and moved to senior marketing representative in 1958. He served as a project manager from 1965 to 1972 and as a consultant to the corporate legal staff from 1972 until his retirement in 1983.
Lunday wrote two books about the 10th Mountain Division, one self published. He served as President of the New Mexico Chapter of the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division and was named Santa Fe Citizen of the Year in 1988. Lunday has also served as assistant district manager of the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE).
Lunday and his wife, Frances, have four children.
Extent
2 Boxes (1.5 linear feet)
1 OVBox
2 Photo OVBoxes
Other Finding Aids
PROVENANCE:
GIft; Philip A. Lunday; 1994-2009.
SIZE:
Number of Boxes: 2 (1.5 linear feet)
Oversize: 1 OVBox
Oversize: 2 Photo OVBoxes
LOCATION:
TMD31
PROCESSED BY:
Dennis Hagen
September 2009
PROJECT MANAGER:
Ellen Zazzarino
- Books. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Camp Swift (Tex.) Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Correspondence. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Lunday, Philip A. -- 1924- -- Archives.
- Military records Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- National Association of the 10th Mountain Division, Inc.
- Photographs. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Scrapbooks. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Ski troops. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United States. -- Army. -- Engineers Battalion, 126th.
- United States. -- Army. -- Mountain Division, 10th.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- PHILIP A. LUNDAY PAPERS
- Date
- September 2009
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Denver Public Library, Western History and Genealogy Repository