T. J. Van Metre Papers

1942-1944
Manuscript Collection #331
Portions of this collection are digitized (1 item)
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Creator(s)
Van Metre, T. J. (Thaddeus Johnson), 1907-2003
Physical description
0.22 Cubic Feet, 141 items , consisting of personal correspondence, photographs, an Officer Data Card, and a typescript history of the USS North Carolina.
Preferred Citation
T. J. Van Metre Papers (#331), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
No restrictions

Papers (1942–1944) consisting of personal correspondence, photographs, officer data card, typescript history of the USS North Carolina, benefits from insurance.

Biographical/historical information

Thaddeus Johnson Van Metre (b. 1907) was a 1930 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Among his ship commands were the Hilary P. Jones (1944–1946) and the Kennebec (1949–1950). Admiral Van Metre also commanded Service Squadron 42 and the Naval Station, Norfolk (1957-1959) prior to retiring in 1959. During World War II he served in various capacities aboard the USS North Carolina (1941–1944).

Scope and arrangement

For the most part the material consists of correspondence (1942-1944) written from aboard the USS North Carolina. These letters provide insight into shipboard life during World War II. Running throughout the papers are comments on the North Carolina, officers, films, and liberties taken. Van Metre's papers vividly illustrate the psychological problems associated with war: death, boredom, depression, liberty, leisure activities to relieve the monotony, homesickness, etc. Also of interest are comments on the outcomes of the battles of Guadalcanal and Tunisia (January 1942; May 1943), a war bond drive aboard the North Carolina that raised $100,000 (October 1942), benefits of military insurance policy (January 1943), and the setting up of a traffic organization for American Export Airlines in England (July 1943).

A typescript history of the USS North Carolina is also included. This document reflects most aspects of the ship's career.

Administrative information
Custodial History

February 8, 1977, 141 items; Papers (1942-1944) consisting of personal correspondence, photographs, and miscellaneous. Gift of Rear Admiral T.J. Van Metre, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Rear Admiral T. J. Van Metre

Processing information

Processed by B. Herring, April 1978

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Related material

T. J. Van Metre Oral History Interview (#OH0041), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA

USS North Carolina Battleship Collection (#292), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.

Key terms
Personal Names
Van Metre, T. J. (Thaddeus Johnson), 1907-2003
Corporate Names
American Export Airlines
North Carolina (Battleship : BB-55)
United States. Navy--Military life
United States. Navy--Officers--Correspondence
Topical
Guadalcanal, Battle of, Solomon Islands, 1942-1943
Savings bonds--United States--History
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Tunisia
World War, 1939-1945--Finance
Container list
Box 1 Papers (1942–1944) consisting of personal correspondence, photographs, officer data card, typescript history of the USS North Carolina, benefits from insurance.