John H. M. McCarthy Collection
Scope and Contents
The John H. M. McCarthy Collection documents the World War II service of John H. McCarthy III and includes a daguerreotype showing John Day and his wife, Catherine Von Woerner Day. John H. McCarthy III was John H. M. McCarthy’s father, and John and Catherine Day were John H. M. McCarthy’s great-great-grandparents.
The bulk of the John H. McCarthy III photographs date from 1944-1945 and were taken during McCarthy’s time in Italy, including Foggia, Barletta, Bari, Naples, and Rome. Additional photographs were taken in Africa, France, and Switzerland. Many photographs are identified with subjects, place, and year. Photographs show troops sightseeing and at leisure, as well as life in the barracks. One scrapbook documents troops sightseeing in Rome and Vatican City. Several studio portraits show McCarthy in uniform. Three postcards were written by McCarthy to his future wife, Miss Virginia Tolkacz, and describe McCarthy’s participation in Catholic religious retreats and visits to religious sites.
Dates
- 1850-1860; 1941-1945
Conditions Governing Access
No viewing restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright restrictions may apply. The user assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright.
Biographical / Historical
John H. McCarthy III was born on January 7, 1916 and died on May 8, 2001. He worked for the Curtiss Wright Airplane Corporation at Lambert Field at the time of his enlistment for World War II. His military service included Italy, Africa, France, and Switzerland. After the war, he married Virginia Tolkacz.
John Day was born in Trier, Germany in 1815. He received his degree from the University of Berlin, and then moved to the United States. He started in New Albany, Indiana, then New Orleans, and finally settled in St. Louis. He married, but his wife died the following year in childbirth. He married again in 1850 to Catherine Von Woerner. The couple had 11 children, four of whom survived to adulthood. He is listed as working in leather goods in the city directory, and the family history says he sold saddles and other leather goods. He died in 1895 and is buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery.
Extent
0.2 Cubic Feet ( (8 folders; 1 cased image))
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The John H. McCarthy III photographs are arranged by location in alphabetical folders. The John and Catherine Day daugeurreotype is stored separately.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
No physical or technical restrictions for the photographs. Daguerreotype too fragile for use; see scan or preservation copy.
Donor Information
Collection donated by John H. M. McCarthy, 2018.
Existence and Location of Copies
Digital copies and item-level records of select images are posted as they are created and can be accessed through the Online Collections on the Missouri Historical Society website (mohistory.org/collections).
Digitized images are generated from the original item whenever possible and files are adjusted only to ensure an accurate representation. Master files are saved in TIF format and JPEG viewing files are automatically generated from the master files.
Formats
Photographs; Daguerreotype
Processing Information
Processed by Lauren Sallwasser, 2019.
- Title
- Guide to the John H. M. McCarthy Collection.
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- EAD by Lauren Sallwasser using ArchivesSpace.
- Date
- 2019
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Missouri Historical Society, Photographs and Prints Department Repository
Library and Research Center
225 South Skinker Boulevard
St. Louis MO 63105
photo@mohistory.org