Guide to the Archival Collections.pdf - Missouri History Museum

1963 "March on Washington" for jobs and freedom; two publications, dated 1952 and 1963,
regarding Harris Teachers' College; St. Louis Public Schools' publication titled "Desegregation
of the St. Louis Public Schools" (September 1956); transcripts of public hearings before the
Board of Education, City of St. Louis, April 2 and 8, 1963; transcripts of meetings of the
Citizens' Advisory Committee to the Board of Education, City of St. Louis, April-May 1963;
report titled "School District Organization in St. Louis County, Missouri" (June 1962); and other
papers regarding the desegregation of the St. Louis Public Schools.
Cite as: Irving Alexander Williamson, Sr., Papers, Missouri History Museum Archives, St.
Louis.
A1753
Willis Family.
Papers, 1840-1865. 2 folders (approximately 50 items)
William B. Willis came to St. Louis in 1864. He went into business with Geo. H. Wiley and
Co. in 1865; 1866-1868 he was of the firm Willis and Yeager. He had his own company,
William B. Willis and Co., 1868-1874, and then the firm became William B. Willis and Son. The
company lasted until 1877.
Spratt family correspondence, Galena, Illinois, 1853, 1864-1865; series of letters of W.B.
Willis, St. Louis, to wife, Ellen Spratt Willis, in Galena, with discussion of Civil War, family and
friends.
Cite as: Willis Family Papers, Missouri History Museum Archives, St. Louis.
A1799
Willis, Ruth Lightner ( -1994).
Papers, 1940-1952. 3 manuscript boxes
St. Louisan Ruth Lightner Willis was the daughter of Bruce and Anna Lightner. In the winter
of 1944 she married Staff Sergeant Ralph Willis, who was stationed at Jefferson Barracks in St.
Louis. Ralph was later stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky; Pine Camp, New York; Fort Dix, New
Jersey; and Camp Bowie, Texas, with the 754th Tank Battalion. Ralph was shipped to Australia
in March 1941, and returned to the United States in late 1943 or early 1944. In November 1944
he transferred to the 59th Armed Infantry and in January 1945 was ordered to France, where he
saw action. Ralph and Ruth Willis had two children: Ralph, Jr., and Sharon. The letters suggest
that the couple had marital difficulties, and they may have later divorced. Ruth died December
17, 1994, in St. Louis.
Collection contains 274 letters of Ralph Willis to his girlfriend and future wife, Ruth
Lightner, while he served in the U.S. Army during World War II and in postwar years.
Collection also contains a total of 62 wartime letters of the following U.S. servicemen to Ruth
Lightner: Edward Nachtweih, Harry Bratton, Ray Bainter, Donald Cork, John Labbanez, James
McCormick, William Karpechi, Henry Rasbenau, Joe Sedletzeck, and Charles Woselik.
Finding aid available.
Cite as: Ruth Lightner Willis Papers, Missouri History Museum Archives, St. Louis.
Willkie, Wendell
See Wendell Willkie presidential campaign newsclipping collection.
A1754
Wills collection, 1793-1874. 4 folders (approximately 150 items)
Collection of various wills by mainly St. Louisans or Missourians. The collection is arranged