2018-04-11 Guide to the David and Martha Gordon Correspondence, 1937-1945 SPEC.RARE.CMS.0368 Finding aid prepared by Ashleigh Minor; Courtney Bishop Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections

1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210

2016; 2018 March

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This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2020-10-08T14:03-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard David and Martha Gordon Correspondence SPEC.RARE.CMS.0368 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 1.8 Cubic feet 1937-1945 David A. Gordon and Martha Madison Gordon (previously Martha Madison Jones) were an African American couple that married in August 1943. David was a staff sergeant stationed in Tucson, Arizona during World War II. The David and Martha Gordon Correspondence contains the letters of Martha and David Gordon from 1937 through 1945. Both individuals were married previously, and early letters between them give a glimpse into their previous unhappy marriages and their initial secret courtship with each other. Some correspondence between David and his stepdaughter, Lois Ann, are also included. (4) 5" letter document boxes; (1) 2.5" letter document box English Gordon, David, 1900 Gordon, Martha Arrangement of Materials

Materials are arranged chronologically with undated material at the end arranged alphabetically.

Acquisitions Information

Unknown

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], David and Martha Gordon Correspondence, SPEC.RARE.CMS.0368, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University

Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.

Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

Processing Information

Processed by: Courtney Bishop, 2018 March; finding aid written by: Ashleigh Minor, 2016; Courtney Bishop, 2018 March.

Biographical Note

David A. Gordon and Martha Madison Gordon were an African American couple that married in August 1943. David was born in 1900 in Georgia. He was a carpenter by trade before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in Cincinnati in July 1942, after attending one year of college. He was stationed in Tucson, Arizona at Davis-Monthan Field as a Staff Sergeant for most of World War II. Martha was born in Ohio in 1903. She married Wayne Jones in 1922 at the age of 19. Together they had a daughter, Lois Ann. Martha's letters indicate that her first marriage was an unhappy one, and that Wayne was often a violent man towards her and other women. Martha and David courted secretly for several years before filing for divorce from their spouses and getting married in August 1943. They remained together until David's death in 1983 at the age of 83. Martha died in 1998 at the age of 95.

Scope and Contents

The David and Martha Gordon Correspondence contains correspondence between David and Martha Gordon. The letters begin in 1937, when both individuals were married to others. They continue through their marriage in 1943, and David's time serving in World War II until 1945. The letters depict their initial courtship and previous marriage struggles, and their daily lives during the war. There is also some correspondence between David and Lois Ann, his stepdaughter.

Gordon, David, 1900 Gordon, Martha United States. Army. Air Corps--African Americans African American soldiers--History--1939-1945 Correspondence Minorities--Family relationships--20th century Correspondence 1 5 1937 Correspondence 1 6 1938 January-March Correspondence 1 7 1938 April-June Correspondence 1 8 1940 Correspondence 1 9 1942 Correspondence 1 10 1943 May-June Correspondence 1 11 1943 August 13-24 Correspondence 1 12 1943 August 25-31 Correspondence 2 1 1943 September 1-9 Correspondence 2 2 1943 September 10-20 Correspondence 2 3 1943 September 21-30 Correspondence 2 4 1943 October 1-10 Correspondence 2 5 1943 October 11-20 Correspondence 2 6 1943 October 21-31 Correspondence 3 1 1943 November 1-10 Correspondence 3 2 1943 November 11-28 Correspondence 3 3 1943 December Receipts 1 2 1944-1945 Correspondence 3 4 1944 January-March Correspondence 3 5 1944 April Correspondence 3 6 1944 May-July Correspondence 3 7 1944 August Correspondence 3 8 1944 September 1-16 Correspondence 3 9 1944 September 17-30 Correspondence 3 10 1944 October 1-10 Correspondence 4 1 1944 October 11-20 Correspondence 4 2 1944 October 21-31 Correspondence 4 3 1944 November 1-10 Correspondence 4 4 1944 November 11-21 Correspondence 4 5 1944 December Correspondence 4 6 1945 January Correspondence 4 7 1945 February Correspondence 5 1 1945 March Correspondence 5 2 1945 April Correspondence 1 3 undated Correspondence 1 4 undated Handkerchief 1 1 undated