November already? Looks like your SCRC processing team is overdue for a new finding aids blog post, but don’t worry, because this month we’re featuring an exciting personal papers collection that is now available for use in the Special Collections Research Center. As usual the finding aid is available on our website or at the link included below.
Jay A. Urice, Jr. papers, C0327
Collection processed by Meghan Glasbrenner
A collection of correspondence, photographs, and ephemera created and collected by Jay A. Urice, Jr. Born on April 22, 1927 in Mt. Kisco, New York to Jay Adams, Sr. and Marguerite (Nesbitt) Urice, Jay, Jr. left his home in upstate New York to join the Merchant Marine, serving as a cook on the S.S. Pocket Canyon circa 1948. During the Korean War he continued his services as a cook, joining the U.S. Army as a Private First Class in the Army 40th Infantry Division, 3rd Battalion, 223rd Regimental Combat Team, spending time stationed in both Japan and Korea. Following his time in the U.S. Army, Jay, Jr. married Doris Meinweiser and moved to Barrett Township, Pennsylvania, where he spent most of his life working in hotel management at nearby Buck Hill Falls and Skytop Lodge. He passed away on April 3, 2007.
Photograph of Jay, Jr. (standing, last on the left) and others while stationed with the U.S. Army in Sendai, Japan, January 1952, C0327
The collection’s correspondence consists primarily of letters sent by Jay, Jr. to his parents, with the majority sent during his time stationed in Japan and Korea during the Korean War. These letters document his time serving with the U.S. Army and discuss his experiences in temporary bivouac shelters, daily camp life and work in Sendai, Japan, and his arrival and experiences in Korea starting in 1952.
First page of a letter from Jay, Jr. to his mother and father, January 2, 1952, C0327
Letter sent from Jay, Jr. to his mother and father while stationed in Korea, March 3, 1952, C0327
Additional correspondence includes personal letters received by Jay, Jr. during the 1940s – early 1950s from family and friends, including a large number from Barbara “Tommy” Tompkins (possibly Jay, Jr.’s girlfriend at the time), as well as two formal letters regarding his education, including transcripts and a diploma.
Letter from Barbara “Tommy” Tompkins to Jay, Jr., January 8, 1945, C0327
The collection also includes photographs and negatives, depicting both Jay, Jr.’s family and friends and his military service, as well as newspaper clippings, souvenir postcards, and general mementoes and ephemera.
Photograph and back inscription reading “Just a few of the cooks. We never seem to be together at one time”, C0327
Photograph of service members sleeping on the deck of a ship and the sign on the entrance to the “Cooks Room”, circa 1950s, C0327
Photographs depicting Jay, Jr. and his family and friends, most without identifying inscriptions, circa 1940s, C0327
Follow SCRC on Social Media and look out for future posts on our Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky accounts. To search the collections held at Special Collections Research Center, go to our website and browse the finding aids by subject or title. You may also e-mail us at speccoll@gmu.edu or call 703-993-2220 if you would like to schedule an appointment, request materials, or if you have questions.
