Collection Overview
Reference Code: BWR003
Title: Town of Bridgewater World War II records
Date: 1940-1946
Creator(s): Town of Bridgewater, creator; Bridgewater Public Safety Committee, contributor; A. Evelyn Keith, compiler
Extent: 5.25 linear feet
Languages and Scripts: Materials are in English.
Scope and Content
This collection contains records related to the Town of Bridgewater’s involvement in World War II including correspondence sent by the town to military personnel, records of the Public Safety Committee, two scrapbooks with photographs of individuals in the service, and two scrapbooks with newspaper clippings about individuals in the service.
Biographical/Historical Note
The Public Safety Committee (also referred to as the Bridgewater Committee of Public Safety or the Safety Committee, and before January 1942, it was referred to as the Bridgewater Civilian Committee on Defense, the Bridgewater Civilian Committee on National Defense, the Citizens Defense Committee, the Local Defense Committee, or the Bridgewater Defense Committee) held its first meeting on July 9, 1940.
The scrapbooks in this collection are believed to have been compiled by Miss A. Evelyn Keith, town accountant, from photographs sent in by individuals serving in the military.
Keith, along with Leo F. Nourse, Arthur E. Pratt, Ronald Atwood, James R. Moore, and Edward F. McGinn, was also a sponsor of the News Scribblings from Town Hall, Bridgewater, Mass newsletter (also referred to as Scribblings) which was mailed to military personnel from Bridgewater at the end of every month from beginning in July 1943 to approximately 1946. As of August 28, 1944 approximately 850 copies of Scribblings were sent as well as 250 copies of the Boston Herald and 200 copies of the Brockton Enterprise. As of September 24, 1945, approximately 950 copies of scribblings were sent, and by November 30, 1946 this number dropped to 110. Some of the postage for Scribblings appears to have been solicited from Bridgewater residents.
Sources Used
Town of Bridgewater World War II records. Bridgewater Public Library Archives & Special Collections.
Historical reference collection. Bridgewater Public Library Archives & Special Collections.
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Item identification. Box #. Town of Bridgewater WWII records (BRW003). Bridgewater Public Library Archives & Special Collections.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
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