Celebrate Our Archives Month Theme "People's of North Carolina" with a blog post by Patrick Cash

North Carolina's "Papa Wyche": Major General Ira Thomas Wyche and His Career

Major General Ira Thomas Wyche (1887–1981) stands among North Carolina’s most accomplished military figures of the twentieth century. Born on the isolated Ocracoke Island and educated at the United States Military Academy, Wyche’s career spanned four decades of transformation within the United States Army. His life reveals both the depth of North Carolina’s contribution to national service and the evolving nature of American military professionalism.

Ira Thomas Wyche was born on October 16, 1887, on Ocracoke Island, the son of Methodist minister William W. Wyche and his wife, Mary. Orphaned at an early age following his mother’s death and his father abandoning his family, Wyche was cared for by his grandparents and neighbors. His early life was shaped by the challenges of being raised on the isolated barrier island, a fact he would later credit for his famed resourcefulness and determination. He attended the Quackenbush School in Laurinburg and Trinity Park School in Durham, institutions that prepared promising southern students for higher education. His academic promise and family connections earned him an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, from which he graduated in 1911.

Upon entering the Academy, Wyche joined a cohort of future generals that included the likes of Omar N. Bradley and Jacob L. Devers, individuals who historians have credited with defining the  U.S. Army during World War II. Wyche’s cadet training emphasized mathematics, engineering, and the new scientific approaches to military discipline that characterized the post-Spanish-American War era.

A Professional Officer, 1911–1941

Upon graduation, Wyche received his commission to the Coast Artillery Corps but was transferred to Field Artillery, a branch that appealed to his technical precision and leadership aptitude. His early postings took him to the American West before the United States entered World War I. During the conflict, he served in the American Expeditionary Forces in France, where he joined the 10th Field Artillery Regiment, rising to temporary lieutenant colonel and commanding artillery units in the thick of combat, gaining valuable experience in both field operations and staff coordination.

Following the end of World War I, Wyche pursued a methodical career path through the professional military education system, graduating from the Field Artillery School, the Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.⁴ His assignments in these years reflected the Army’s emphasis on doctrinal development and instructional rigor. He served as an instructor and staff officer at multiple training commands, where he helped standardize the curriculum that prepared younger officers for modern warfare. This steady progression through the ranks exemplified the professionalization of the interwar U.S. Army, which increasingly valued education, merit, and technical expertise over political patronage.

World War II and the 79^th Infantry

Wyche’s leadership reached its peak during the Second World War. On June 15, 1942, he assumed command of the newly reactivated 79th Infantry Division, commonly referred to as the “Cross of Lorraine” division. The 79th Infantry Division was activated for World War I in 1917 and saw its most significant combat during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in the fall of 1918, where it played a key role in the assault on Montfaucon. During the war, the 79th demonstrated determination in advancing against entrenched German forces, but had been deactivated in 1919 following the end of the war. Reactivating and training the division was a formidable task, but Wyche’s leadership, which was characterized by a methodical approach that emphasized rigorous physical conditioning, live-fire exercises, combined arms coordination, and amphibious warfare preparation, proved to be up to the task.

The division trained at Camp Pickett, Virginia, before moving to England in April 1944 in preparation for the Normandy invasion. Wyche’s insistence on realism in training, replicating the coastal terrain, practicing beach landings, and coordinating with naval and air units, helped ensure the division’s readiness for its eventual combat role. His involvement, including front-line inspections and direct engagement with junior officers and enlistees, earned him respect and loyalty.

The Normandy Campaign and the Assault on Cherbourg

Though Wyche and the 79th Infantry Division did not land on the beaches of Normandy during D-Day itself, they would reach the sands of Utah Beach on June 12, 1944, just six days after the initial invasion. Upon arrival, the 79^th  was tasked with securing the Cotentin Peninsula and, critically, the city of Cherbourg, whose deep-water port was vital for sustaining the Allied logistical buildup in France, and its capture was a primary objective. Wyche and his men faced entrenched German forces, fortified with artillery, minefields, and natural defensive positions. Under his leadership, the 79th executed a series of coordinated assaults, culminating in the capture of Fort du Roule, a key defensive position overlooking Cherbourg. Cherbourg finally fell on June 29, 1944, after three weeks of fierce fighting. Wyche’s leadership during this phase earned commendations from senior commanders, including one from his former classmate General Omar Bradley.

Pursuit to the Seine, the Liberation of Paris, and Crossing the Rhine.

Following the breakout from Normandy through Operation Cobra in late July 1944, Wyche and the 79th Infantry Division were among the units ordered to pursue retreating German forces toward the Seine River. Under Wyche’s leadership, the 79^th executed a complex river crossing at Mantes-Gassicourt in August 1944. The operation involved rapid bridge-building, coordination with engineers and armor, and effective reconnaissance to secure crossing sites. The successful crossing helped facilitate the encirclement of German forces, leading to the eventual liberation of Paris, France.

As the Allies advanced into Germany, the 79^th Infantry Division encountered the heavily fortified Siegfried Line during the winter of 1944-1945. Wyche’s men endured harsh conditions and fierce German resistance. In March 1945, Wyche and his men took part in Operation Plunder, the large-scale Allied crossing of the Rhine River. The success of the operation permitted Allied forces to continue their push east into Germany, capturing key military strongholds and German cities along the way, hastening the fall of Nazi Germany and the end of the war in Europe.

“Papa Wyche”: A Leader Among Soldiers

Wyche’s leadership style earned him the affectionate nickname “Papa Wyche” among his troops. He was known for personally visiting front-line units, engaging with soldiers, and personally working to address their needs and concerns. This personal touch fostered loyalty and high morale, rare among generals whose presence at the time was often limited to rear command posts.

One of Wyche’s notable innovations was the establishment of an in-division replacement training system. Recognizing the toll of combat and the need for prepared reinforcements, Wyche instituted a program that trained replacements within the division before sending them to front-line units. This system improved cohesion and reduced casualties among newcomers, providing a model adopted by other divisions.

Following the surrender of Nazi Germany, Wyche briefly commanded VIII Corps and III Corps before his appointment as Inspector General of the Army in January 1947.

The Inspector General and the Lee Investigation

In May 1947, Wyche was tasked with investigating syndicated columnist Robert C. Ruark’s allegations that Lieutenant General John C. H. Lee, commanding general of the U.S. Forces European Theater, had misused enlisted personnel in Italy and exploited Army resources for personal comfort. Wyche’s inquiry cleared Lee of the charges, concluding that Ruark’s reporting had exaggerated or misrepresented the situation. His balanced handling of the case preserved the Army’s credibility at a delicate moment when public confidence in the military became strained due to number of public controversies and budget reductions.

Wyche’s measured professionalism during the investigation earned praise within military circles and from the Secretary of the Army, who commended his objectivity and command of facts. He retired from active duty the following year, on September 30, 1948, closing a thirty-seven-year career that had bridged the U.S. Army’s transition from horse-drawn artillery to atomic-age administration. Upon retirement, Wyche moved to Pinehurst, North Carolina, where his civic engagement reflected the broader postwar veteran culture of the state, where he remained active in veterans’ organizations and civic affairs until he passed away on July 8, 1981. Upon his death, Wyche was interred at the Fort Bragg Main Post Cemetery.

Legacy and Significance to North Carolina History

Wyche’s legacy is both national and distinctly North Carolinian. His rise from Ocracoke’s maritime isolation to the upper echelons of the U.S. Army reflected the possibilities of merit-based advancement in early twentieth-century America. He stands in a lineage of Tar Heel military leaders, such as Major General John F. Morrison and General Jacob L. Devers, whose contributions shaped national policy and combat doctrine.

For North Carolina historians, Wyche represents a vital link between local heritage and international conflict. His story underscores how the state’s citizens participated in the creation of a modern, professional army during a century of global upheaval. The preservation of his papers at East Carolina University ensures that researchers can continue to study his administrative acumen, leadership philosophy, and human dimension of command. The collection includes correspondence, military orders, training materials, and reports related to the 1947 Lee investigation, materials invaluable for understanding both the institutional Army and its moral culture in the postwar world.

Wyche’s life also contributes to broader discussions of civil-military relations, wartime innovation, and the role of character in leadership. His career reflected the Army’s best traditions: discipline, adaptability, and an unwavering sense of duty. For North Carolina, he remains a model of how local upbringing and public service can intersect in the making of national history.

Philip Howard, “Ocracoke’s WWII General Ira Thomas Wyche,” Ocracoke Observer, March 26, 2025, https://ocracokeobserver.com/2025/03/26/ocracokes-own-wwii-general-ira-thomas-wyche.

Howard, “Ocracoke’s WWII General Ira Thomas Wyche.”

George W. Cullum, Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, Supplement, 1910–1920 (West Point, NY: Association of Graduates, 1920).

Ira Thomas Wyche Papers (#210), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.

United States Army, The Cross of Lorraine: A Combat History of the 79th Infantry Division, June 1942–December 1945 (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946), 3–7.

“79th Infantry Division (U.S.),” Database-Mémoire, https://www.database-memoire.eu/prive/en-us/12-present-us/191-79-infantry-division-us.

“79th Infantry Division,” US Army Divisions (ArmyDivs),https://www.armydivs.com/79th-infantry-division.

“Forgotten Fights: Assault on Fortress Cherbourg,” The National WWII Museum, https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/assault-on-fortress-cherbourg-june-1944.

Hank H. Cox, The General Who Wore Six Stars: The Inside Story of John C. H. Lee (Dulles, VA: Potomac Books, 2018), 222-225.

“General Wyche to Investigate Charges in Italy,” Time, May 12, 1947.

William S. Powell, Dictionary of North Carolina Biography: T-Z. United States: University of North Carolina Press, 1996.

Submitted by Rebecca May, Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University: ZSR Library

Location

Winston Salem, NC

Open Date

Sep 24, 2025

Deadline

Oct 27, 2025 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Description

The Z. Smith Reynolds Library seeks a library and archives professional to serve as Outreach and Reference Archivist for Special Collections & Archives (SCA). The successful candidate will provide leadership in outreach, reference, and programmatic initiatives that highlight and preserve Wake Forest University history, with a special focus on planning and implementation for the University’s Bicentennial in 2034.

In collaboration with the Director, Special Collections & Archives/Executive Director, Wake Forest Historical Museum, the Outreach and Reference Archivist will serve as an additional liaison between the University Archives, Wake Forest University, and the Town of Wake Forest (home of the University’s original campus) communities to prepare and plan for the 2034 bicentennial. Travel will be required between the locations, and funding will be provided for mileage reimbursement.

This is a full-time, twelve-month Librarian position with Library Faculty status. The Outreach and Reference Archivist reports to the Public Services Archivist and is a member of the Special Collections & Archives Team, one of six teams in the library. ZSR Library faculty are governed by the policies of the Librarians’ Assembly and are evaluated annually on Librarianship (70%), Scholarship and Professional Achievement (20%), and Service (10%).

Duties and Responsibilities

The Outreach and Reference Archivist will lead initiatives that connect the campus and broader community with University history and Special Collections resources. Bicentennial planning will be a major focus, but responsibilities will extend beyond 2034 to ensure sustained engagement and access.

• Bicentennial Planning & Outreach
  • Coordinate SCA’s contributions to the Wake Forest University Bicentennial.
  • Collaborate with the Wake Forest Historical Museum and other partners on exhibits, programs, and events.
  • Conduct and manage oral history interviews documenting Wake Forest history.
  • Serve on any relevant university committees.

• Access & Engagement
  • Develop reference services, subject guides, exhibits, and instructional support related to WFU history.
  • Create and manage social media content and oversee the University Timeline.
  • Promote archival resources to Wake Forest communities through ongoing outreach programs.

• Digitization & Collections Prioritization
  • Collaborate with SCA Collections Archivist and Digital Collections Librarian to identify and select high-priority collections for processing and digitization.

• Supervision
  • May supervise student assistants and volunteers.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library school or equivalent master’s degree.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse constituencies in a team-based environment.
• Excellent communication, research, and writing skills.
• Demonstrated potential to meet promotion requirements within a ranked, non-tenure track library faculty appointment.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred qualifications are not required and ZSR is committed to helping future colleagues increase their academic knowledge and/or develop preferred skills.

• One to two years of experience in an archives and/or special collections environment.
• Experience conducting and managing oral history projects, including metadata creation.
• Familiarity with metadata schema such as DACS and Dublin Core, and with other library and archival descriptive and content standards.
• Demonstrated skills in project management.

Salary and Rank

Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. The anticipated rank is Assistant Librarian, with a minimum starting salary of $60,000 annually plus a comprehensive benefits package including professional development support. The budget for this position is limited to the Assistant Librarian rank. Librarians appointed at the Assistant rank are expected to achieve promotion to Associate within the time frame defined by the ZSR Librarians’ Assembly Governing Document.

About ZSR Library and Wake Forest University

The Z. Smith Reynolds Library, with a collection of over 1.9 million volumes, materials expenditures of over $6 million, and an operating budget of over $14 million, serves over 5,500 undergraduates and more than 2,800 graduate and professional students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of Medicine, School of Law, School of Business, School of Divinity, and the School of Professional Studies.

Wake Forest University is a private liberal arts institution consistently ranked among the nation’s top universities. Wake Forest combines the resources of a research university with the intimacy of a smaller college, offering small classes, strong faculty-student engagement, and Division I athletics. The University is deeply committed to public service and engagement with the world, as reflected in its motto, “Pro Humanitate.”

The campus is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, ideally situated between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic coast. To ensure a safe learning and working community, Wake Forest University conducts background checks on the final candidate. Wake Forest seeks to recruit and retain a diverse faculty and staff to enhance the excellence of the University and to offer students a wide variety of perspectives and ways of learning.

Application Instructions

Interested applicants should submit the following materials through Interfolio at https://apply.interfolio.com/174591: a cover letter addressing required and preferred qualifications (typically no more than two pages), curriculum vitae, and contact information for three professional references. Questions may be directed to Rebecca May, search committee chair, at petersrb@wfu.edu. For full consideration, applications should be received by October 27, 2025, when review will begin. Review will continue until the position is filled.

Submitted by John O'Connor, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has reopened our application for the Library Archives Operations Manager position. We are a great library and medium-sized collection focused on improving the diversity of, discoverability of, and access to our collections. Please post to your list at your as soon as possible. We appreciate your help!

_____________________________________________________________

APPLY at the Mecklenburg County HR Application Portal

Library Archives Operations Manager

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

“Follow your calling, Find your career”    

Please apply by 10/9/25

Salary Range $67,095.00 - $100,642.00

This is an exempt (salaried) position. Pay rates are based on education, skill, experience level and internal equity. Internal equity considerations include an assessment of the applicant’s salary history and qualifications in comparison to the market rate and requirements for the job.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is one of America’s leading urban public libraries, serving one of the country’s great emerging metropolitan areas in North Carolina. Our library system serves a community of approximately one million citizens in the city of Charlotte and the towns of Matthews, Pineville, Mint Hill, Davidson, Cornelius, and Huntersville – all located in Mecklenburg County. Accessible and welcoming to all, our library celebrates the joy of reading, fosters learning and growth, connects people to each other and the world, and inspires individuals with what they can achieve. Through our 20 locations, online, and through targeted outreach, we deliver exceptional library services and programs with a mission to create a community of readers and empower individuals with free access to information and the universe of ideas.

Location: 
Library Administration Center
510 Stitt Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28213
*Note: this position is expected to primarily work at the LAC after the new Main Library has opened, but will be required to perform some reference shifts (weekly) in the Main Library as well*

Schedule:
40 hours per week. Typically 8-5, though some schedule flexibility is available (e.g., 8:30-5:30, etc.). Occasional Work From Home on an ad hoc basis is allowed with manager permission, but primary duties of the role require in-person work. Occasional weekend work may be required with weekday schedule adjustments as needed.

Position Summary:
The Archives Operations Manager is responsible for the development and management of archival collections. This role is responsible for ensuring the acquisition, preservation, discoverability, and accessibility of archival materials in accordance with professional standards and developing archival collection policies and procedures. This role manages the work of 2 Librarians who provide archival and special collections processing.

Essential Functions:

• Lead archival collection development through the acquisition, processing, arrangement, description, and preservation of physical and digital archival materials.
• Manage Librarian work on digitization, special collections processing, and archival collections development.
• Provide leadership in the ongoing development and implementation of archival standards and best practices for physical, digitized, and born-digital collections.
• Follow international archival and metadata standards and practices to provide accurate arrangement, description, and discovery for the Library’s archival collections.
• Create original accession and resource records for each collection in the archive using Encoded Archival Description (EAD) metadata schema.
• Create and maintain relationships with community partners to develop archival collections.
• Assist with other aspects of Archives and Special Collections duties, to include reference, programming, outreach, and innovative projects within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community in addition to archival duties.

Job Requirements

Minimum Qualifications: 
Minimum of five years of progressive, specialized experience in archives that yields the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position.

Education:
Master’s degree in Library Science (or equivalent such as MIS, MSIS, MLIS, MSLS, etc.) from an ALA-accredited institution; preference for concentration in either physical or digital archives.

Licenses and Certifications:
NC Public Library certification required or must be obtained within a specific timeframe.

Equivalent Education & Experience Accepted? Yes

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated knowledge of archival standards (such as NARA 1571, DACS, EAD, etc.) related to documents, maps, newspapers, photographs, artifacts, textiles, and digital records.
• Working knowledge of archival management systems (such as ArchivesSpace)
• Knowledge of MARC metadata standards.
• Coursework or professional development related to digital archives.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge in:

•  Current trends and developments in archival sciences.
• Acquisition, processing, arrangement, description, and preservation of physical and digital archival materials

Skilled in: 

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, presentation skills, and public speaking skills including the ability to adjust communication style to interact effectively with users of different ages, backgrounds, and abilities
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and self-directed learning.

Ability to: 

• Building Partnerships: Identifying opportunities and taking action to build strategic relationships between one’s area and other areas, teams, departments, community groups or organizations to help achieve business goals.
• Communication: Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the information provided.
• Decision Making: Identifying and understanding issues, problems, and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions independently; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequence.
• Information Monitoring: Setting up ongoing procedures to collect and review information needed to manage an organization or ongoing activities within it.
• Technical/professional Knowledge and Skills: Having achieved a satisfactory level of technical and professional skill or knowledge in position-related areas; keeping up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise.
• Work Standards: Setting high standards of performance for self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks.

Computer Skills:

• Excellent command of various computer applications including Microsoft Office Suite.
• Above average command of computers and comfort discussing basic digital preservation topics.

Work Environment:
Works in an office setting with moderate noise

Selection:
This classification has been identified as having a role in the development of ADA compliant technologies and for which the incumbent agrees to follow County policies to the best of their abilities in order to meet these obligations.

Reasonable Accommodations Statement:
To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer Statement:
This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, requirements or working conditions. Other duties may be assigned based on business need and the supervisor’s request. Mecklenburg County reserves the right to revise the job description at any time. Designated positions may be required to assist in emergency and/or disaster situations.

APPLY at the Mecklenburg County HR Application Portal

Join us in celebrating Archives Month and America's 250 with a series of free, virtual Lunch and Learn talks related to the different peoples of North Carolina, and the roles they have played in the country's history, and how we preserve related records. Our first talk will be next Wednesday!

SNCA Archives Month Lunch and Learns

October 1st, 12-1pm, Promise and Peril of Handwritten Text Recognition & Artificial Intelligence in Archives

Ben and Sara Brumfield, creators of From the Page, will be speaking about using AI for transcription of archival documents. Not all transcription is the same. Documents transcribed by humans or different kinds of AI have different strengths and weaknesses that affect how archives can use them responsibly. We'll go deep into three transcription methods: human transcription by staff or volunteers, handwritten text recognition via tools like Transkribus, and generative text from large language models like ChatGPT. Then we'll talk about where AI works and where it fails. Finally, we'll look at two ways we are trying to implement responsible AI to help humans -- both volunteers and staff -- in FromThePage.

Meeting Link: https://ecu.webex.com/ecu/j.php?MTID=ma67f0fae4834aa872bb38159719c7012 

Meeting number: 2863 354 7342

Meeting password: JSixBswm342

October 8th, 12-1pm, Show-and-Tell Panel

• Zachary Tumlin, Project Archivist for the Duke Family Papers, Duke University, speaking about Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans and his project to process her family papers 

• David Gwynn, Digitization Coordinator and Associate Professor, UNC-Greensboro, speaking about a LGTBQ oral history project

• Karina Burbank, Special Collections Research Center Student Exhibit Curator, North Carolina State University, speaking about NC State Fair collection

Meeting link: https://ecu.webex.com/ecu/j.php?MTID=m4ced025702ab75834a7c414f25b8f02d

Meeting number: 2865 211 5631

Meeting password: 7MxjYmYPr37

October 29th, 12-1 pm, Archives Influencing Art

Winston-Salem based artist Sauda Mitchel will speak about her work utilizing printmaking and QR code technology as a creative non-traditional access method linking viewers to archival repositories, curated exhibitions, and aggregated data.

Meeting link: https://ecu.webex.com/ecu/j.php?MTID=m75148041e64ccd4aa1ada69317fd972b 

Meeting number: 2633 436 2260

Password: GupstPgd369 

Dear SNCA Members,

After careful research and thoughtful discussion, the SNCA Board has made the decision to adjust our annual membership dues. This change will allow us to continue offering high-quality educational programs, support the annual conference, and sustain the overall health of our organization.

Beginning with your next membership renewal, the new rates will be as follows:

• Regular Membership: $30 (previously $25)
• Student Membership: $10 (previously $12.50)

We believe this adjustment will not only help maintain the quality of programming our members expect but also make student membership more accessible, with the hope of encouraging greater student involvement in SNCA.

This decision was not made lightly, and we remain committed to transparency with our membership. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out directly to Patrick Cash, President, at cashpa18@ecu.edu or Randall Bowman, Membership Chair, at rbowman@elon.edu.

Thank you for your continued support of SNCA and for the vital role you play in strengthening our community of current and future archivists across North Carolina.

Sincerely,

Patrick Cash, President

Randall Bowman, Membership Chair

In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Joyner Library Special Collections has been highlighting items from the East Carolina Manuscripts Collection that relate to the conflict and the individuals who served. See also the 1st and 2nd and 3rd and 4th and 5th and 6th and 7th and 8th and 9th and 10th and 11th and 12th and 13th and 14th and 15th and 16th and 17th posts. The following post was contributed by Patrick Cash. 

Warning: The following content features accounts of war and human suffering. Content may be upsetting to some.

As World War II neared its end in Europe in early 1945, Allied forces advancing from both the east and west encountered one of the most harrowing aspects of Nazi brutality—the concentration and extermination camps.¹ These camps, designed to imprison, exploit, and ultimately exterminate millions of people, primarily Jews but also political prisoners, Romani people, and other persecuted groups, were discovered in various stages of operation or abandonment.² The liberators, including American, British, Soviet, and Canadian troops, discovered skeletal survivors, mass graves, and evidence of systematic genocide.³ The liberation of these camps marked not only the end of the Holocaust but also the beginning of a long and painful recovery process for the survivors.⁴ Additionally, the evidence found during the liberation of the camps would play an important role in prosecuting Nazi soldiers at the Nuremberg Trials.⁵

Entrance to Gusen I Concentration Camp, near Mauthausen, Austria, after being cleaned up by U.S. Army, 1945. Image from Alvis Mewborn Papers (#1159), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.

The Liberation of the Camps

The first major camp to be liberated was Majdanek, located near Lublin, Poland, in July 1944. The rapid Soviet advance caught the Nazis off guard, and much of the camp remained intact, providing clear evidence of mass murder.⁶ Auschwitz, the largest and most infamous extermination camp, was liberated by the Red Army on January 27, 1945. Soviet troops found approximately 7,000 survivors, along with vast amounts of evidence—gas chambers, crematoria, and warehouses filled with the personal belongings of the victims.⁷ As the Western Allies advanced through Germany in the spring of 1945, they uncovered additional concentration camps.⁸ The U.S. Army liberated Buchenwald (April 11), Dora-Mittelbau (April 11), and Dachau (April 29), among others.⁹ British forces reached Bergen-Belsen on April 15, finding over 60,000 prisoners suffering from starvation and disease.¹⁰ The horrors witnessed in these camps left deep impressions on the liberators, some of whom documented their experiences to ensure that the world would never forget.¹¹

The Humanitarian Crisis

Liberation did not mean immediate relief for survivors.¹² Many were too weak to eat solid food, and disease spread rapidly in the overcrowded, unsanitary conditions.¹³ Allied medical personnel faced enormous challenges in treating thousands of malnourished and diseased individuals.¹⁴ Typhus outbreaks, in particular, claimed many lives even after liberation.¹⁵ Military doctors, nurses, and relief organizations worked tirelessly to save as many lives as possible.¹⁶ For many survivors, freedom came with the realization that they had lost their entire families.¹⁷ Displaced persons camps were established to provide temporary shelter and international efforts were made to help survivors rebuild their lives.¹⁸ The United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) played a crucial role in assisting displaced persons, though many faced continued hardships and struggled to find permanent homes.¹⁹

Survivors of Gusen I Concentration Camp receiving medical care, 1945. Image from Alvis Mewborn Papers (#1159), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.

The Liberation of Mauthausen and the Role of the 131st Evacuation Hospital

One of the last major concentration camps to be liberated was Mauthausen, located in Austria.²⁰ Unlike the infamous camps of Auschwitz or Bergen-Belsen, Mauthausen was classified as a “Category III” camp, meaning the camp would only hold prisoners whom the Reichssicherheitshauptamt, or Reich Main Office for Security (RSHA) deemed “severely incriminated, especially previously convicted criminals and those that were deemed to be associated with criminals.²¹ It housed political prisoners, resistance fighters, Jewish citizens, and other groups deemed enemies of the Nazi regime.²²

Mauthausen was established in 1938 following the Anschluss (Germany’s annexation of Austria) and became the center of a network of subcamps.²³ The camp was notorious for its brutality, particularly in the Wiener Graben quarry, where prisoners were forced to carry heavy stones up the “Stairs of Death.”²⁴ Many prisoners were worked to exhaustion, beaten, or outright executed.²⁵ As the Allies closed in, the Nazis attempted to destroy evidence of their crimes, forcing prisoners on death marches and evacuating records.²⁶ However, thousands of prisoners remained in the camp when the 11th Armored Division of the U.S. Third Army arrived on May 5, 1945.²⁷

The 11th Armored Division’s Role

The 11th Armored Division, part of General George S. Patton’s Third Army, played a critical role in the liberation of Mauthausen.²⁸ As they moved into Austria, soldiers encountered refugees and heard reports of atrocities at the camp.²⁹ Upon arrival, they found thousands of emaciated prisoners, many too weak to walk.³⁰ The initial response of the liberators was a mix of shock and swift action.³¹ Soldiers provided food and medical care to survivors, although some initially overfed prisoners, unintentionally causing harm to their fragile digestive systems.³² Military personnel documented the conditions with photographs and testimonies, ensuring that the crimes committed at Mauthausen would not be forgotten.³³

Survivor Stories from Mauthausen

Survivors of Mauthausen have provided harrowing accounts of their experiences.³⁴ One such survivor, Simon Wiesenthal, who later became a famed Nazi hunter, was among those liberated at the camp.³⁵ He had endured years of forced labor and near-starvation but survived to seek justice for those who had perished.³⁶ Another survivor, Francisco Boix, a Spanish Civil War refugee, was forced to work in the camp’s photography lab, where he secretly saved incriminating photographs of SS officers and camp conditions.³⁷ These photographs would later serve as crucial evidence in the Nuremberg Trials.³⁸ Eliezer Adler, a Jewish survivor, recalled the arrival of American troops: “I could barely lift my head, but I saw them—they looked like angels. I had not seen kindness in years, and suddenly there was warmth and hope.”³⁹ Adler’s story, like many others, highlights the shared experiences of those who suffered in Mauthausen.⁴⁰

The Work of the 131st Evacuation Hospital

The 131st Evacuation Hospital, a U.S. Army medical unit, was among the first medical teams to enter Mauthausen.⁴¹ Their primary task was to stabilize survivors, many of whom were suffering from starvation, typhus, and other diseases.⁴² The sheer scale of the crisis overwhelmed medical staff with limited supplies and personnel.⁴³ Efforts to rehydrate and nourish survivors were complicated because their bodies could not process regular food.⁴⁴ Special diets were introduced to help them regain strength, and makeshift hospitals were set up within the camp.⁴⁵ The 131st Evacuation Hospital worked alongside other medical units, including captured German doctors and nurses, to treat thousands of patients.⁴⁶

Photograph of a soldier standing beside the cemetery at Camp Gusen Concentration Camp in Gusen, Austria, taken by Alvis Mewborn during his service in the U. S. Army in World War II. Image from Alvis Mewborn Papers (#1159), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.

The Persecution of Nazi Soldiers

Following the war, many of the Nazi soldiers and camp officials responsible for the atrocities at Mauthausen were prosecuted.⁴⁷ The Mauthausen-Gusen Trials, held between 1946 and 1947, convicted numerous SS officers, guards, and collaborators of war crimes.⁴⁸ Some, such as Franz Ziereis, Mauthausen’s commandant, were killed or committed suicide before they could stand trial.⁴⁹ Others were executed or sentenced to long prison terms.⁵⁰ The trials were instrumental in setting legal precedents for crimes against humanity and reinforcing the importance of justice for the victims of the Holocaust.⁵¹ However, many perpetrators managed to escape justice, blending into post-war society or fleeing to other countries.⁵² 

Alvis Mewborn and His Service

One of the soldiers serving in the 131st Evacuation Hospital was Alvis Whitted Mewborn, a North Carolina native who enlisted in the U.S. Army on October 21, 1941.⁵³ Mewborn served as a Master Sergeant and was stationed at Camp Gusen I, a subcamp of Mauthausen, from April to November 1945.⁵⁴ During his time at the camp, Mewborn helped provide medical care, food, clothing, and proper burials for those who perished.⁵⁵ The 131st Evacuation Hospital built a cemetery and chapel as part of their efforts to bring dignity to the victims.⁵⁶ He also documented the experience, photographing the camp, its survivors, and surrounding towns such as Ulm, Enns, and even the bombed remains of Hitler’s and Goering’s residences in Berchtesgaden.⁵⁷ His photographs of the war are available in the East Carolina Manuscript Collection as part of the Alvis Mewborn Papers (#1159).⁵⁸

Conclusion

The liberation of Nazi concentration camps was a defining moment during the final months of World War II in Europe.⁵⁹ It exposed the full extent of Nazi atrocities and brought long-overdue relief to countless survivors. The evidence uncovered not only documented the unimaginable suffering endured by millions but it also served as a foundation for the pursuit of justice through the Nuremberg Trials.⁶⁰ Remembering the stories of survivors, liberators, and those who perished ensures that the lessons of the Holocaust remain a vital part of our collective memory.

For sources and notes, see https://library.ecu.edu/specialcollections/2025/05/08/the-liberation-of-nazi-concentration-camps-at-the-end-of-world-war-ii/.

Appointment: Health Sciences Librarian

Emma Barrett-Catton joins the University Libraries as a health sciences librarian, effective June 2, 2025.

Read online: https://library.unc.edu/news/appointment-health-sciences-librarian/

Photo: https://library.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Featured-Barett-Catton-2025-scaled.jpg

The University Libraries is pleased to announce the appointment of Emma Barrett-Catton as health sciences librarian, effective June 2.  

In this role, Barrett-Catton will provide information, instruction and research services for patrons at the Health Sciences Library. She will provide educational support for the health affairs schools by developing and leading workshops, course sections, and asynchronous resources. Barrett-Catton will also collaborate on and provide support for research projects with health affairs schools and the UNC Medical Center. 

Barrett-Catton previously served as a Carolina Academic Library Associate in the Health Sciences Library. She holds an M.S. in Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design from the University of Montana. Barrett-Catton earned her B.S. in Bioengineering from Santa Clara University.

Joyner Library Special Collections has been highlighting items from the East Carolina Manuscripts Collection that relate to the conflict and the individuals who served. See also the 1st and 2nd and 3rd and 4th and 5th and 6th and 7th and 8th and 9th and 10th and 11th and 12th and 13th and 14th and 15th and 16th posts. The following post was contributed by Patrick Cash and John Dunning. 

In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Joyner Library will host a new exhibit, In Their Footsteps: Exploring World War II Through Archival Records, opening May 13th, 2025. Featured across the first, third, and fourth floors of the library, the exhibit aims to tell the story of the Second World War from an American perspective via photographs, records, diaries, oral histories, film, posters, and other artifacts. Through these materials, the voices of those who experienced the conflict are alive and remembered.

While the exhibit will undoubtedly feature the major battles and events of the war, such as the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Invasion of Normandy, or D-Day, portions of the exhibit will also be devoted to less-covered aspects and events. These include topics such as propaganda, rationing, life on the home front in Eastern North Carolina, the experience of minority service members, the internment of Japanese Americans, the Holocaust and its survivors, and the trials faced by prisoners of war. The stories of soldiers and sailors on the frontlines who served in the United States Army, Navy, and Marine Corps will be heavily featured through materials documenting action in the European and Pacific Theatres of War, while also highlighting the service of women and volunteers who served at home and abroad in WAVES, SPARs, and the American Red Cross. Over 100 physical and digital items from the East Carolina Manuscript Collection will be displayed, with over 600 additional items related to World War II featured in our Digital Collections repository.

In Their Footsteps, curated by Patrick Cash, Manuscripts Curator, and John Dunning, Digital Archivist, will be on display until December 2025. For more information about the exhibit or to arrange special tours, please email specialcollections@ecu.edu. Can’t wait until then? Check out our blog series Remembrance and Records: World War II Through Archival Collections.

Learn more about each by visiting their websites at the links below:

• Archival Methods - https://www.archivalmethods.com/
• Aviary Platform - https://www.aviaryplatform.com/
• ECU College of Education Master of Library Science Program - https://education.ecu.edu/idp/library-science-masters/
• From the Page - https://www.fromthepage.com/landing
• Hollinger Metal Edge - https://www.hollingermetaledge.com/
• NC LIVE - https://www.nclive.org/
• University Products - https://www.universityproducts.com/
• Z. Smith Reynolds Library, Wake Forest University - https://zsr.wfu.edu/

Over the next year, in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Joyner Library Special Collections will be highlighting items from the East Carolina Manuscripts Collection that relate to the conflict and the individuals who served. See also the 1st and 2nd and 3rd and 4th and 5th and 6th and 7th and 8th and 9th and 10th and 11th and 12th and 13th and 14th and 15th posts. The following post was contributed by Patrick Cash. 

During World War II, as men were deployed to combat roles, the United States faced an urgent need for personnel to support the war effort on the home front and overseas. To address this issue, the U.S. Coast Guard established the Women’s Reserve, commonly known as SPARs. This all-female unit played a significant role in ensuring the efficiency of the Coast Guard’s operations and paved the way for greater integration of women in the military.

The Origins of SPARs

The name “SPAR” was derived from the Coast Guard’s motto, “Semper Paratus” (Always Ready). The establishment of SPARs was authorized on November 23, 1942, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Public Law 773, allowing for the creation of a women’s reserve in the Coast Guard. This move followed the example set by the Navy’s WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) and the Women’s Army Corps (WAC).

Captain Dorothy C. Stratton, formerly the Dean of Women at Purdue University and an officer in the WAVES, was appointed as the first director of SPARs. Under her leadership, SPARs recruited thousands of women eager to serve their country.

November 1943 issue of Topside. Topside was a monthly publication of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, 4th Naval District. Item from U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Records (#559), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.

Recruitment and Training

Women who joined SPARs underwent similar rigorous training as their male counterparts. Initially, recruits trained at Hunter College in New York before moving to specialized training schools at various locations across the country. SPAR officers were trained at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, marking the first time women were permitted to train at a U.S. military service academy.

To join SPARs, women had to be U.S. citizens between the ages of 20 and 36, have completed at least two years of high school (though most had more education), and pass strict physical requirements. The Coast Guard sought women with professional and technical skills, including those with experience in clerical work, communications, engineering, and maritime-related fields.

Roles and Contributions

SPARs were assigned to various duties that freed up male servicemembers for combat roles. They took on administrative, clerical, and operational responsibilities, including:

• Radio Operations and Communications: Many SPARs worked as radio operators, deciphering and transmitting critical messages.
• Storekeeping and Supply Chain Management: They ensured that supplies and equipment were effectively distributed to support Coast Guard operations.
• Yeoman Duties: SPARs served as secretaries, typists, and clerks, handling essential paperwork and logistical tasks.
• Health and Medical Services: Some women served as pharmacists, hospital aides, and dental technicians.
• Intelligence and Cryptography: A select group worked in intelligence, assisting with codebreaking and other classified operations.

The presence of SPARs was particularly important in keeping domestic stations operational. Many were stationed at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C., and at district offices and training centers across the United States. While they did not serve in combat, their work was crucial to maintaining the efficiency and security of Coast Guard activities.

Spotlight on Dorothy Kurtz

One notable member of SPARs was Dorothy E. Kurtz. Born in the Bronx, New York, in 1922, Kurtz enlisted in the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve in 1943 at age 21. She served until 1946, taking on various roles that were essential to the Coast Guard’s mission during the war. Her dedication exemplified the commitment and patriotism of women who joined SPARs.

After her active service, Kurtz remained deeply connected to the Coast Guard community. She was an active member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, contributing her time and expertise to support ongoing missions. Her involvement extended to the Dolphins Women’s Veterans Organization, where she served as chaplain and historian, preserving the legacy of women veterans.

Kurtz’s commitment to service was evident in her volunteer work beyond the Coast Guard. She dedicated 25 years to the Senior Friendship Center and volunteered with the Red Cross during times of tragedy in Florida. Her life of service left a lasting impact on her community and the Coast Guard family.

Dorothy Kurtz passed away on September 12, 2016, at the age of 93. Her funeral was attended by Coast Guard Auxiliary and active-duty members, who gathered to honor her contributions and legacy. Captain Holly Najarian, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, remarked, “Ms. Kurtz was a trailblazer in not only her words but in her actions. Her dedication to the Coast Guard was evident in her tenacity to spread the word to scores of young up-and-coming service members.”

To see an oral history film, visit https://library.ecu.edu/specialcollections/2025/03/20/spars-the-women-who-served-in-the-u-s-coast-guard-during-world-war-ii/

Overcoming Challenges and Breaking Barriers

Despite their contributions, SPARs faced challenges stemming from societal expectations. Many in the military were skeptical of women’s capabilities in traditionally male-dominated roles. Nevertheless, SPARs proved their value through their dedication and competence. By the end of the war, they had firmly established themselves as an essential component of the Coast Guard.

One of the most significant barriers broken by SPARs was their presence at the Coast Guard Academy. Though women were only admitted as reservists at the time, their success set the stage for the permanent admission of female cadets decades later.

The Legacy of SPARs

By the time SPARs was officially disbanded in July 1947, over 11,000 women had served in the organization. SPARs veterans, like Dorothy Kurtz, continued to contribute to their communities and the Coast Guard Auxiliary, leveraging their wartime experience in new and impactful ways.

SPARs’ legacy continued long after World War II. In 1973, women were officially integrated into the active-duty Coast Guard, building on the precedent set by SPARs. Today, women serve in all capacities in the Coast Guard, including command and combat roles, a testament to the pioneering contributions of SPARs.

Conclusion

SPARs were more than just a wartime necessity; they paved the way for greater opportunities for women in the U.S. military. Their service during World War II proved that women were fully capable of handling critical military responsibilities, helping to pave the way for future generations of female service members. As we reflect on their contributions, we recognize SPARs as an integral part of American military history, embodying the Coast Guard’s motto—”Semper Paratus, Always Ready.”