Robert L. Hoover papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Robert L. Hoover papers
- Date
- 1904-2014, undated (inclusive)
- Creator
- Hoover, Robert L., 1923-2010
- Extent
- 2.98 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Prisoners of war.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Kentucky.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Prisoners and prisons, German
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Veterans
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by format into three series: Military Service, Post-War Papers, and Artifacts.
- Preferred Citation
- 2016ms049: [identificaiton of item], Robert L. Hoover papers, 1904-2014, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Infantryman in the U.S. Army's 36th Infantry Division, POW, and veteran and community service advocate, Hoover (1923-2010) was born in Grayson County, Kentucky. He grew up in Caneyville, Kentucky, graduating from high school in 1944. He was drafted into the army shortly after in June 1944. Once drafted, Robert went to basic training at Camp Blanding, Florida and was sent with the 36th Infantry Division overseas to serve in the European Theater of World War II where he would see action from Naples, Italy to Marseilles, France. In 1945, Robert was captured by the German army near Gersheim, Germany and remained in German captivity until April 17, 1945. He would marry Bertha Young shortly after his return to the U.S. in July 1945. After the war, Robert began working in community involvement by applying to work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Soil Conservation Service and building a farm. Robert and Bertha would later move to Lexington, Kentucky. In Lexington, Robert served as an advocate for veterans and was a member of various volunteer organizations including the Lions Club and VFW. Robert's service also played an active role at Southland Christian Church.
- Scope and Content
- The Robert L. Hoover papers (dated 1904-2014, undated; 2.98 cubic feet; 8 boxes and 1 uniform) consist of correspondence, print publications, and artifacts documenting the life of Robert L. Hoover, who served in the U.S. Army's 36th Infantry Division during World War II and was a German prisoner of war (POW). The collection includes pieces from Hoover's service in the military including his high school grades (prior to his enlistment); training manuals from his time at Fort Blanding, Florida; guides and handbooks about conduct in the European theater of the war; publications acquired in Europe; and documentation of his time spent as a German prisoner of war in 1945. Other items in the collection include documentation detailing his application and service as a member of the U.S. Soil Conservation Service as well as plans for his farm; church bulletins, religious publications, and notes during his membership at Lexington's Southland Christian Church; various newspaper clippings regarding POWs, military service, flag etiquette, and patriotism; awards and certificates of recognition for community and military service; community outreach documents such as speech outlines and transcriptions from a school project interviewing Hoover; and a posthumously published memoir of his personal experiences by Bertha Hoover in 2014. The collection also contains a variety of artifacts obtained throughout Hoover's life, including various medals and awards from his service with the 36th Infantry Division, a deck of playing cards, ephemera from the front, and various articles of clothing from his military service onward.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment. Letters from Robert Hoover to Bertha Young are closed until January 1, 2026. Selected family members may have access to the letters during the closure period.
- Use Restrictions
- The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Contents of the Collection
Military service, 1904-2014
Scope and Contents
The Military series comprises materials from Hoover's time as an infantryman in Europe during World War II with the 36th Infantry Division. Correspondence contains restricted pieces between himself and his fiancé Bertha Young (Hoover), his family, and fellow soldiers following the war. The POW subseries contains records from internment with the Germans including a journal entry from his time spent in a German hospital, identification papers, and a note sent to Bertha Young at work about Robert's liberation. The printed materials section contains a variety of print publications acquired from the U.S. and Europe including training booklets, magazines, and copies of Homer's Odyssey in German and Greek, and a compilation of 19th century English poets published in 1904.
Correspondence, 1918, 1942-1947
Scope and Contents
The Correspondence sub-series primarily consists of letters from Robert Hoover to fiance and eventual wife, Bertha Young. This correspondence from Robert Hoover to Bertha Young is restricted until January 1, 2026. The rest of the series contains letters from Hoover to his parents and friends as well as letters from other soldiers to Robert.
Bertha Young Hoover World War II correspondence, 1942-1945
Scope and Contents
Correspondence from Robert Hoover to Bertha Young is restricted until January 1, 2026.
Correspondence with Bertha Young, 1942 April-1943 June
Correspondence with Bertha Young, 1943 July-1944 June
Correspondence with Bertha Young, 1944 June-July
Correspondence with Bertha Young, 1944 August
Correspondence with Bertha Young, 1944 August-September
Correspondence with Bertha Young, 1944 September-November
Correspondence with Bertha Young, 1944 December
Correspondence with Bertha Young, 1945 January-May
Correspondence with Bertha Young, 1945 May-December
Correspondence with Bertha Young, V-Mail, 1944 November, 1945 January
Assorted correspondence and cards, 1918, 1942-1946
Comical post cards from Robert and Bertha, 1942-1943
Greeting cards from Robert to Bertha, 1942-1944
Note from Robert to Bertha about reporting to draft board, 1944
Blood donation card from Bertha to Robert, 1944 August 12
Letters from Robert to his parents, 1944 June 19-1945 June 3
Notes, cards from other soldiers to Robert, 1946-1947
Unsent letter fragments, circa 1943-1945
"Goodbye," "Welcome Home" cards, 1944, 1945
Letters from other soldiers to Robert, 1945 September-1946 March
Notice of classification, V-Mail from Robert to his mother and family, 1918 January 9, 1944 September-1945 June
Prisoner of war, 1945
Printed materials, 1904-2014
"Soldier's Story" anthology biographical sketch, 2014
World War II 50th commemorative handouts, 1995
Order for induction, service record, circa 1943
Certificate of Recommendation (primary school report), 1944
IRTC Camp Blanding Handbook, Basic Field Manual, circa 1943
Rations books, War Claims Commission, 1942, 1948
Blood donation card, daily prayer card, 36th Infantry Division Pictoral History ads, circa 1944
Classification cards, small religious cards, 36th Infantry Division campaign map, savings bonds stamp book, 1943-1945
"Soldiers at Basic Training," Camp Blanding, FL, 1944
36th Infantry Division Campaign Maps, IRTC I am a Doughboy, Outfit News of Your Old Unit, 1944-1945
Recovered personnel promotion request, censorship test, 1945 September 25, circa 1943
"Now That You are in the Service" letter by Clyde L. Breland, circa 1944
Pocket Bible and chaplain Bible, other religious handouts, circa 1945
"He is Doing His Job," Our Flag, The Story of the 36th Infantry Division, Handbook of Information, Special Services FUN Directory, Nothing Can Stop the Air Corps..., Military Maps from World War II, 1942-1945
Selected Poems of Carl Sandburg, Manual of Privileges, Rights, and Benefits, 1943, 1946
Photographies de Paris, Pocket Guide to Paris and Cities of Northern France, Intelligence Bulletin, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Other Poems (Les Classiques Pour Tous), "Paree" cartoons (some in French), 1944-1945
Great English Poets of the XIX Century, Notes to Great English Poets of the XIX Century, 1904
Homer's Odyssee (in German and Greek), 1942
Newspaper article on 36th Infantry Division's return, 1945 May 29
Transportation, return paperwork, 1945
"1945 Victory at Last" stamps, map of prison camps and hospitals in World War II, copy of "Instrument of Surrender-Japan", World War II Veterans Committee Eisenhower ad, picture of the U.S.S. Monticello, circa 1945-1990
Post-war papers, circa 1947-2012
Scope and Contents
The Post War series comprises papers from Robert Hoover's post-war life. Community involvement contains papers from his service as an advocate for veterans' rights and stint as a farmer and conservation aid in the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. Church materials includes pieces from his membership with Lexington's Southland Christian Church, selected religious pamphlets related to his time as a conservationist, and sermons with notes from various sermons and meetings.
Community involvement, circa 1947-2012
Conservation aid application, circa 1947
Farm, conservation plans, 1958-1976
Soil Conservation Service, 1962-1987
Miscellaneous newspaper clippings, World War II Memorial brochure, circa 1995
Tributes, acknowledgements, 1995-2012
Disabled American Veterans Commanders Club certificate / Veterans Affairs POW appreciation certificate, 1983 / 1998 September 18
Purple Heart, POW/MIA, flag etiquette clippings, 1987 May-2011 May
Public outreach, assorted clippings, 1945-2015
Volunteer service, 1979-1996
Church materials, circa 1950-1998
Southland Christian Church membership certificate, church publications featuring Robert, 1970 November 6-1993 December 15
Assorted religious readings, church notes, circa 1950-1990
The Voice of Southland Christian Church issues, 1975-1998
Artifacts, 1945-1992, undated
Scope and Contents
The Material artifacts series comprises pieces of material culture from Robert's service and involvement with veterans' organizations post-war. Medals contains a variety of service awards he received from his time serving including his Purple Heart, POW medal, and World War II victory medal. Assorted has a variety of pieces from Robert's service years including playing cards, shotgun shells, dog tags, patches, assorted foreign currency, and his wallet (with a picture of Bertha inside). The textiles portion of this series includes Robert's shaving kit, multiple uniform caps, uniform socks and ties, and a Purple Heart t-shirt.
Textiles, undated
Cotton shaving bag, undated
Shaving kit, undated
Ex-POW cap, undated
Purple Heart cap, undated
Uniform socks, undated
Uniform socks, undated
Uniform cap, undated
Uniform tie, undated
Purple Heart t-shirt, undated
Army uniform shirt, undated
Army uniform pants, undated
Army uniform jacket, undated
Medals, 1992, undated
Bronze Star, 1992
World War II Victory medal, undated
Good Conduct medal, undated
World War II POW medal, undated
Purple Heart, undated
Collection of military awards, undated
Combat Infantry medal, undated
Rifle and Mortar medal, undated
Assorted, 1945-1992, undated
Uncle Sam playing cards, 1942
Robert's wallet, picture of Bertha, 1945
Bullet, shrapnel from capture, 1945
Weltkrieg bracelet, undated
Dog tags, 1944
American ex-POW patch, 1992
American ex-POW tie, 1992
Rifle round, 1945
36th Infantry Division "T" patch, 1945
Unknown military patch, 1945
French, German, Italian, British, and American coins, undated
Weapons cleaning kit, undated
Shot gun shell, 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.
