]> Finding Aid for the Charlesanna L. Fox Papers, 1942-1947 Processed by: Linda Jacobson; machine-readable finding aid created by: Cat S. McDowell University Archives & ManuscriptsThe University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC, USA
2008 Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: November 2008. Description is in English. Finding aid was prepared using DACS. Finding Aid for the Charlesanna L. Fox Papers, 1942-1947 University Libraries, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro &hdrnguscua; Descriptive Summary The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. University Archives & Manuscripts. Fox, Charlesanna L. Charlesanna L. Fox Papers, 1942-1947 WV0049 Material in English. ca. 25 items For current information on the location of these materials, please consult University Archives & Manuscripts. Charlesanna L. Fox of Asheboro, North Carolina, served in the Navy Library Service from 1942 to 1947. The Charlesanna L. Fox Papers date 1942-1947 and 1999 and 2008, and contain correspondence, newsletters, newspaper clippings, photographs, and oral history interview which document Fox's service as a librarian with the U.S. Navy. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

 Copyright Notice

Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

 Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Charlesanna L. Fox Papers (WV0049), Betty H. Carter Women Veterans Historical Project, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC, USA.

 Acquisitions Information

Gift of Charlesanna Fox on 4 March 1999. Addition given on 27 May 2009.

Processing Information

Processed by Linda Jacobson, December 1999

Encoded by Cat S. McDowell, November 2008

 Biographical Note

Charlesanna L. Fox of Asheboro, North Carolina, attended North Carolina College for Women (now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro). After graduation in 1930, she taught history in Maxton, North Carolina, until she took a job at a Washington, D.C., library in 1934. She returned home three years later to attend library school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After graduating from library school, she worked first in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and then in Knoxville, Tennessee, where she was when World War II began.

In May 1942, Fox took the Civil Service exam, and was soon thereafter contacted by the Navy Library Service. She was sent to Washington, D.C., for three months to put together monthly book installments to send to U.S. Navy ships and stations. Then, from November 1942 until November 1945, she served as the first camp librarian at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where she directed the creation of six libraries. She was then sent to Pearl Harbor to be the 14th Naval District Librarian, where she remained until she left the Navy Library Service in June 1947. After two years in Knoxville, Fox spent thirty years as a Randolph County librarian in Asheboro before retiring.

 Collection Overview

The Charlesanna L. Fox Papers primarily document her experience as camp librarian at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The collection contains correspondence, photographs, and biographical information during her service at the two locations--in addition to printed materials, including newspaper clippings and various souvenirs--that Fox collected while there. The collection also contains two clippings from 1951, a 1999 oral history interview with Fox, a circa 1940 informational booklet How to Organize a Community Film Information Center, and two 2008 Randolph County Public Library newsletters that include feature stories about Fox.

Collection Arrangement

The Fox Collection is organized into the following series: Papers, Printed Material, Newspaper Clippings, and Oral History Transcript.

Detailed Description of the Collection Papers, 1942-1947 Correspondence, General, 1943-1944, 1947 Related to Camp Lejeune Libraries, 1942-1945 Biographical Material, 1942-1947 Photographs Camp Lejeune, 1942-1945 Hawaii, 1945-1947 Aircraft Carrier Diagram (see Oversize Box 2) Printed Material Souvenirs from Hawaii, 1945-1947 Brochures, Maps, Menus, Postcards, Military Booklets, Clipping, and Programs (see also Oversize Box 2) Printed Materai The Harbor Times, 16 May 1946; 24 January 1947 The Randolph County Public Library News, July 2008; October 2008 How to Organize a Community Film Information Center, circa 1940 Newspaper Clippings New River Pioneer (Marine Newspaper) New River, NC, 26 November 1942 10 Libraries Offer Marines Variety, Camp Lejeune Globe, 10 May 1944 Miss Fox, Camp Librarian, Slated for Hawaii Duty, Camp Lejeune Globe, 24 October 1945 Organization Largest in Marine Corps, Camp Lejeune Globe, ca. 1945 Tears of Joy Honolulu Star Bulletin, 9 August 1946 Tidal Wave Pictorial, The Honolulu Advertiser, ca. 1946 Camp Lejeune is Sprawling City with 60,000 Inhabitants, Greensboro Daily News, 11 March 1951 Pearl Harbor, Dec 7, 1941, Greensboro Daily News Feature Section, 2 December 1951 Transcripts Oral History Interview, 4 March 1999

Fox discusses her family background in North Carolina, including her mother’s experiences at the State Normal and Industrial College (now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro) with Charles McIver at the turn of the twentieth century. Fox also discusses her own time at NCCW, especially Dr. Wade Brown, the Dikean Society, her studies, campus activities, and dormitory life.

Topics related to her time at Camp Lejeune include the layout of the camp, including Tent Camp and Hadnot Point; the men’s reactions to having women on base; the organization of the camp libraries; creating a library for Dutch Marines who came to North Carolina for training; VJ Day; the Camp Council; and Armed Services Editions. Concerning her time at Pearl Harbor, Fox recalls traveling from San Francisco on the USS Lurline; getting help transporting magazines; admiration of the Roosevelts; working with enlisted men; post-war downsizing of Pearl Harbor; monthly book shipments sent to ships and stations; and the organization of the Navy Library Service. Post-war recollections include her work with the UNCG Alumnae Association and Friends of the Library, and the Randolph County Library.

Online Catalog Headings

Materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

World War, 1939-1945--Participation, Female. North Carolina College for Women--Alumni and alumnae--Interviews. Librarians--United States--Interviews. Military libraries--United States--History--20th century.