Robert Lee Bort WWII scrapbook and photograph album
Abstract
The Robert Lee Bort WWII scrapbook and photograph album (dated 1942-1946, undated; 0.25 cubic feet; 1 box) consists of a scrapbook/photograph album documenting Bort's time working at the weather station located at the Sturgis Army Airfield in Sturgis, Kentucky, during World War II.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Robert Lee Bort WWII scrapbook and photograph album
- Date
- 1942-1946, undated (inclusive)
- Creator
- Bort, Robert Lee, 1924-2013
- Extent
- 0.25 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Military meteorology.
- Sturgis (Ky.)
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Kentucky.
- Preferred Citation
- 2018av002: [identification of item], Robert Lee Bort WWII scrapbook and photograph album, 1942-1946, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Robert Lee Bort (1924-2013) of Beloit, Wisconsin, served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Drafted in 1943, Bort completed basic training at Amarillo Air Field, afterward serving a ground crew member at Chanute Field, Illinois. While at Chanute Field, he learned to read precision weather instruments and qualified as a weather observer and teletype mechanics. He transferred to Sturgis Army Air Field in Sturgis, Kentucky, in April 1944.
- Scope and Content
- The Robert Lee Bort WWII scrapbook and photograph album (dated 1942-1946, undated; 0.25 cubic feet; 1 box) consists of a scrapbook/photograph album documenting Bort's time working at the weather station located at the Sturgis Army Airfield in Sturgis, Kentucky, during World War II. The scrapbook contains photographs, documents and memorabilia from Bork's years as a key weather observer and teletype mechanic. The album contains photographs of the men he worked with at the weather station in Sturgis, almost all identified by name, and usually shown working. There are numerous shots of airplanes such as a B-17; C-46; L-5; and C-47 planes as well as several gliders. The planes are shown on the ground, on the runway, or in the sky. Included are photographs of the Headquarters building, the tower, the operations building, views of airstrips, and aerial views of the camp. Most of the contents are captioned in ink. Additionally, the scrapbooks contains 10 pages of family photographs, starting with Bort's childhood and ending with his pre-war year spent at the University of Wisconsin.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Contents of the Collection
Dedication page: Robert Lee Bort // United States Army // May 28, 1943 --, 1943 May 28
Postcard and Western Union telegram from Robert Lee Bort to his mother Mrs. Holden Bort, 1943 May 6
Photograph of Robert Lee Bort with family members and a Christmas card from the University of Wisconsin marching band; Granny -- Aunt Dee -- R.L.B -- Mary -- Dad, 1942
Newspaper clippings, undated
Photograph of the Chicago and North Western train, Robert Lee Bort laying in his dorm bed reading, and a freshman report card from the University of Wisconsin, 1942-1943
Request for Pass letters signed by Robert Lee Bort, from Sturgis Army Air Field requesting to go home, 1944-1945
Portrait of Robert Lee Bort in uniform and several uniform chevrons, including one of the Army Air Force; Private First Class // U.S. Army Air Corps, undated
Photo of Robert Lee Bort with barrack friends and newspaper clippings tracking his arrival and departure from Camp Grant, Illinois and Amarillo Army Air Field, Texas, 1943
Photographs from Sturgis, Kentucky of a spring flood and a camp dog named Skunk, 1944
Four photographs of men of different United States Army ranks in Sturgis, Kentucky, undated
Three photographs of Sergeant J. Magidow and Master Sergeant forecaster Lucas in front of map in Sturgis, Kentucky, 1945 April 19
Three photographs of Master Sergeant forecaster Lucas and Lieutenant Maupin in front of map in Sturgis, Kentucky, undated
Two photographs of Sergeant J. Magidow and Lieutenant Maupin in front of map and one photograph of B-17 plane grounded in Sturgis, Kentucky; three photographs of Robert Lee Bort working at a desk loose between pages 12-13, undated
Three photographs of airplane ramps and runways in Sturgis, Kentucky; C-46 // C-47 // L-5 planes grounded, undated
Three photographs of airplane ramp, fire station and dog in Sturgis, Kentucky, undated
Envelope with short story inside written by Staff Sergeant Frederick J. Rodgers and typed by Robert Lee Bort; titled The Tale of the Princess and the Weather Men, 1945 March 19
Weather Report for February 1945 sent to the Base Weather Station at the Sturgis Army Air Field in Sturgis, Kentucky, 1945 March 1
Newspaper clipping about a piano recital, 1945 August 13
Four photographs of a C-46 airplane on a ramp, newspaper clippings, and part of a Good Conduct Medal, 1944-1945
Newspaper clippings and army chevrons signifying Robert Lee Bort's transfer to Chanute Field, Illinois and promotion to Staff Sergeant, 1945
Numerous army chevrons and a blue triangular patch of weather speciality, undated
Four photographs of a grounded row of gliders on field in Sturgis, Kentucky, undated
Four photographs of the campground, including the tower, operations building, and Robert Lee Bort's barracks in Sturgis, Kentucky, undated
One photograph of headquarters building and tower in Sturgis, Kentucky; one photograph of Robert Lee Bort standing next to a glider; one cartoon patch, undated
Three photographs of Corporal Depew and Goth in front of and in a grounded glider; one photograph of Corporal Corlew at the Theodolite machine in Sturgis, Kentucky, undated
Four photographs of Corporal Corlew and Robert Lee Bort each at the Theodolite machine, undated
Four photographs of Corporal Corlew, Sergeant Magidow, Lieutenant Burroughs, and Beck inside the station using the Theodolite, forecaster's table, weather charts, and maps, undated
Two photographs of Lieutenant Burroughs inside the station; two photographs of corporal Paschall and Goth outside the operations building, undated
One photograph of Robert Lee Bort on an anemometer support; one photograph of a grounded plane in Sturgis, Kentucky, undated
Newspaper clippings and army chevrons, 1942-1944
Newspaper clippings including a group photo of Mrs. Holden Bort at a Red Cross ceremony, undated
Enlisted man's temporary pass, newspaper clipping, and Christmas greeting card from Chanute Field, Illinois, 1946
Christmas menu from Chanute Field, Illinois, 1943
Newspaper clipping, army chevrons, and three photographs of planes in air in Sturgis, Kentucky, 1944
Photograph of unidentified man on couch, undated
Two photographs of Robert Lee Bort and a dog, undated
Three photographs of Bort family members, undated
Personnel document of Robert Lee Bort from the University of Wisconsin, 1943 May 19
Certificate of Merit from Beloit YMCA Hobby Show and newspaper clippings, 1946
Newspaper clippings about the Beloit Thermal Dusters model airplane club, 1946 August
Newspaper clipping with group photo of the Thermal Dusters model airplane club, 1946 September 18
Photographs and documents from a model airplane competition in Marshalltown, Iowa, undated
Document from model airplane competition in Marshalltown, Iowa, undated
Newspaper clippings about the Thermal Dusters model airplane club and a band concert, undated
Newspaper clippings and documents from model airplane competition in DeKalb, Illinois, 1945 July 2
Newspaper clippings and photographs of the Thermal Dusters model airplane club, 1946 May 4
Photographs of Bort family members; Dad and Uncle Dick, undated
Three photographs of unidentified child, possibly Robert Lee Bort; loose portrait of Mary Isabelle Bort in wedding gown between pages 54-55, undated
Two photographs of an unidentified child, possibly Robert Lee Bort, undated
Photograph of unidentified child, possibly Robert Lee Bort, undated
Photograph of unidentified child, possibly Robert Lee Bort, on a pony, undated
Portrait of three unidentified children, undated
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Table of Contents
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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
