Roy C. Trimiar letters, 1939-1943

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Summary

Abstract:
Roy C. Trimiar was an African-American U.S. Army veteran, who served as a private in the Q.M. Det. SC-CASC, Colored, and the Ser. Det. SC-4th, Colored, 1942-1943. He was born in Homer, Georgia and lived much of his life in Cooleemee, North Carolina. He was married to Lola Wood Trimiar (1909-1996). Collection primarily includes letters from Trimiar to his wife in Cooleemee and Mocksville, NC (89 items). The letters begin with their courtship (1939) in Cooleemee, but mainly date from Trimiar's service in the U.S. Army Colored Troops stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., and Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.
Extent:
0.6 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English.
Collection ID:
RL.11894

Background

Scope and content:

Collection primarily includes letters from Trimiar to his wife, Lola Wood Trimiar, in Cooleemee and Mocksville, NC (89 items). The letters begin with their courtship (1939) in Cooleemee, but mainly date from Trimiar's service in the U.S. Army Colored Troops stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., and Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. Topics include army life; his jobs; Sunday services; trips to town; concerns about money and (apparently late) payment of wages; opinions of the Japanese; hopes for a discharge because of his age; and strategies to avoid racism. The letters also demonstrate his concern for his wife and their home, including support for her social activities and worry over tight finances, food rationing, and her safety. Includes letters to Trimiar from Lola (17 items) and other friends, receipts, business correspondence, and his draft letter. Acquired as part of the George Washington Flowers Collection of Southern Americana.

Biographical / historical:

Roy C. Trimiar (1901-1989) was an African-American U.S. Army veteran, who served as a private in the Q.M. Det. SC-CASC, Colored, and the Ser. Det. SC-4th, Colored, 1942-1943. He was born in Homer, Georgia and lived much of his life in Cooleemee, North Carolina. He was a retired employee of Erwin Cotton Mills in Cooleemee, and he had also worked at Cannon Mills Co. and Rose's Department Store in Salisbury. He was married to Lola Wood Trimiar (1909-1996), who was born in Tocoa, Georgia. They were both members of the Ervin Temple CME Church in Rowan County.

Acquisition information:
The Roy C. Trimiar letters were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2001.
Processing information:

Processed by Laurin Penland, April, 2021

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2001-0236.

Arrangement:

Organized chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the Rubenstein Library's Citations, Permissions, and Copyright guide.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Roy C. Trimiar letters, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1gf03