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Skalski, Stan Papers Guide to the Stan Skalski Papers MS 00078

Guide to the Stan Skalski Papers MS 00078


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Special Collections Research Center

William & Mary Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
400 Landrum Dr
Williamsburg, Virginia
Business Number: 757-221-3090
spcoll@wm.edu
URL: https://libraries.wm.edu/libraries-spaces/special-collections

Finding Aid Authors: Nathaniel Baako and Peter Klicker, SCRC student assistants

Repository
Special Collections Research Center
Identification
MS 00078
Title
Stan Skalski Papers 1966-1968
Quantity
2.75 Linear Feet
Creator
Skalski, Stan
Language
English

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Conditions Governing Access:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation:

Stan Skalski Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information:

Purchase.

Processing Information:

Accessioned and minimally processed December 2009. Further arranged by Nathaniel Baako, SCRC Staff, in December 2009.  Further described by Peter Klicker, SCRC Staff, in March 2010.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of letters, 1966-1968, written by Stan Skalski to his fiancee Caren Brereton in Philadelphia. The majority of the letters concern Skalski's basic training as a Private First Class for the U.S. Army at Fort Jackson, Georgia and Fort Gordon, Georgia, and later his airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia and Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Skalski describes various training exercises and his overall acclimation to army life, but also writes at length about personal matters.  He frequently mentions family members and mutual acquaintances in Philadelphia, as well as wedding plans.  The nine months worth of letters written during Skalski's tour in Vietnam describe the activities of his patrol near the Phan Rang Air Base, located in then South Vietnam.  Skalski discusses guard duty on base and encounters with the Viet Cong in the surrounding area. He received two promotions between April and June of 1968, eventually making the rank of sergeant.  In addition to these written correspondences, the collection includes a newspaper clipping from the Screaming Eagle, a publication of the 101st Airborne Division, which mentions the activity of Skalski's patrol; two postcards without writing from Saigon; and a boarding pass for the 8346th Air Division, tactical airlift to Phan Rang. A scrapbook maintained by Skalski contains photographs of his military training, including what appears to be a mock Vietnamese village, as well as service related ephemera and artifacts.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Courtship--United States--History--20th century
  • Instructions (document genre)
  • Letters (correspondence)
  • Military bases--Photographs
  • Photographs
  • Postcards
  • Vietnam War, 1961-1975
  • Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • Skalski, Stan
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Container List

Mixed Materials Box: 1 id67521
Box 1
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id67514
    Correspondence
    1966 October 7-20
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2 id67515
    Correspondence
    1966 October 24-31
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id67516
    Correspondence
    1966 November 1-7
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id67517
    Correspondence
    1966 November 8-14
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5 id67518
    Correspondence
    1966 November 18-29
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6 id67519
    Correspondence
    1966 December 3-15
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id67520
    Correspondence
    1967 January 4-17
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 8 id307667
    Correspondence
    1967 January 18-24
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9 id307669
    Correspondence
    1967 January 25-30
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10 id307671
    Correspondence
    1967 February 2-9
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 11 id307673
    Correspondence
    1967 February 10-18
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 12 id307675
    Correspondence
    1967 February 20-28
Mixed Materials Box: 2 id67522
Box 2
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 1 id67523
    Correspondence
    1967 March 1-4
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 2 id67524
    Correspondence
    1967 March 10-20
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 3 id67525
    Correspondence
    1967 March 21-24
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 4 id67526
    Correspondence
    1967 March 25-30
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 5 id67527
    Correspondence
    1967 April 4-6
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 6 id67528
    Correspondence
    1967 April 11-19
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 7 id67529
    Correspondence
    1967 April 24-28
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 8 id67530
    Correspondence
    1967 May 2-4
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 9 id67531
    Correspondence
    1967 May 9-22
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 10 id67532
    Correspondence
    1967 May 25-29
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 11 id67533
    Correspondence
    1967 June 2-30
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 12 id67534
    Correspondence
    1967 July 3-8
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 13 id67535
    Correspondence
    1967 July 20-25
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 14 id67536
    Correspondence
    1967 July 27-31
Mixed Materials Box: 3 id67538
Box 3
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 1 id70476
    Correspondence
    1967 August 2-31
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 2 id309157
    Correspondence
    1967 September 6-11
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 3 id309159
    Correspondence
    1967 October 16-31
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 4 id309161
    Correspondence
    1967 November 15-18
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 5 id309163
    Correspondence
    1967 November 27-30
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 6 id309165
    Correspondence
    1967 December 8-18
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 7 id309167
    Correspondence
    1967 December 20-23
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 8 id309169
    Correspondence
    1967 December 26-30
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 9 id309171
    Correspondence
    1968 January 8-16
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 10 id309173
    Correspondence
    1968 January 17-28
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 11 id309175
    Correspondence
    1968 February 1-9
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 12 id309177
    Correspondence
    1968 March 2-30
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 13 id309179
    Correspondence
    1968 April 4-15
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 14 id309181
    Correspondence
    1968 April 19-22
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 15 id309183
    Correspondence
    1968 June 2-17
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 16 id309185
    Correspondence
    1968 June/July
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 17 id309187
    Correspondence
    Undated
Mixed Materials Box: 4 id309151
Box 4 (oversize)
  • Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 1 id309153
    Scrapbook
    Undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 2 id309155
    Screaming Eagle Newspaper
    1968 January 17