Footlocker
Object number2016.25.2 a,b
Date1941-1945
MediumWood; Metal; Brass; Paint; Paper; Leather; Fabric; Ink
Credit LineGift of Betty Arenth
DescriptionRectangular wood footlocker with black metal and brass edging and fixtures. Exterior is maroon or dark brown. Three-latches along front, center latch has hole for attachment of lock. Leather handles on either end. Three hinges along back side. Underside is black with three unfinished horizontal wood runners. Interior is lined with light brown paper with geometric pattern. Detached Railway Express Agency travel tag found inside footlocker.Dimensionsa only: 12.125 × 33.5 × 21 in. (30.8 × 85.1 × 53.3 cm)b only not including cord: 2.375 × 4.625 × 1.5 in. (6 × 11.7 × 3.8 cm)
b only including cord: 2.375 × 9 × 1.5 in. (6 × 22.9 × 3.8 cm)
Inscriptions(a)
Top of lid has white stenciled text “MARY T. SULLIVAN /2ND LT ANC N760142”.
Proper left end has white stenciled text “MARY T. SULLIVAN / 2ND LT. N-760142”.
Proper right end has yellow stenciled text “Mary T. Sullivan” above white stenciled text “2ND LT. N-760142”; bottom right corner has yellow stenciled text “Bradford Pa. / U.S.A.”
(b)
One side has handwritten To and From addresses that are faded and difficult to read.
Marks(b)
Black printed text on one side “WAR WON’T WAIT / Railway Express provides fast trans- / portation for the things the nation / need to win the war—and for vital / home-front necessities, too. . . . / RAILWAY EXPRESS / AGENCY INC. / Nation – Wide Rail – Air Service”.
Other side has railroad company logo in top right corner with printed text “RAILWAY / EXPRESS / AGENCY”.
Historical NotesPart of WWII collection related to United States Army Nurse Mary T. Sullivan. Mary Sullivan used these materials while serving as a nurse with the U. S. Army medical corps during World War II. A native of Bradford, PA, Mary was in nursing school when the war broke out, and was one of multiple students in her class who agreed to an accelerated graduation program in exchange for service in the Army. Mary served mainly as a psychiatric nurse and worked at U. S. Army facilities in England assisting with men injured in the Normandy invasion and subsequent European campaigns. She had completed much of her service in Europe and was on leave in London when V-E Day was announced. Like many Army nurses, Mary was set to continue her service in the Pacific, and this trunk was packed and ready to go to the Philippines when the atomic bomb was dropped and the war ended.
Related person
Mary T. Sullivan
Related institution
United States Army Nurse Corps
Related institution
United States Army
Related institution
Railway Express Agency Inc.
On View
Not on view
1941
1936
1943-1946
1940-1947
c. 1773
c. 1989
1949-1990