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John Satterfield Papers

1 box (1 linear feet)

(1942 – 1946)

Edward H. Nabb Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury, University, Salisbury, Maryland

Identifier 2021.006
Creator(s) John Satterfield
Acquisition

Donated by Bill Satterfield on March 9, 2021. 2021.006
Language(s) English
Use Records are open for research. Copyright, including literary rights, belongs to the author(s) or their legal heirs. Permission to publish or reproduce must be obtained from the Nabb Research Center which extends beyond "fair use."
Preferred Citation "Item, collection title and identifier, box # and folder # (if applicable), Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland."
Attribution Finding Aid written by Rihana Stevenson, September 2021
Related Materials

Bill Satterfield collection (1783 – 1945)
Separated Materials See Nabb Center Staff
Abstract

Letters from John Satterfield to his then-girlfriend Sarah Owens, and his mother Lucy Satterfield, spanning his service in World War Two as well as his life afterwards.

Biographical History

John Hutton Satterfield started his military service in Fort Dix, New Jersey in 1942. His career began as a Military Police (MP) officer who guarded bases in New York, also travelling across the continental U.S to escort Prisoners of War. In August of 1943 Satterfield was transferred to Camp Patrick Henry in Norfolk, VA to prepare for travel overseas. His time began in Africa, then he travelled to Sicily later that year. In 1944 Satterfield was transferred to Italy, France, and Germany, with shorter trips to Monaco, Switzerland, and the UK. During his time abroad Satterfield faced many health problems and adjustments to life in foreign countries. In March of 1944 he began attending Radio School and the following year he spent time in northern France continuing his work as an MP. In November of 1945 Satterfield returned to his home in Dover, Delaware. Upon his return, he arranged to see his fiancée Sarah Owens at her family home in Wilson, NC. The following year the two married and Sarah moved with John to Dover.

Scope and Content Note

This collection details the life and experiences of John Satterfield during his service in World War Two. His letters were sent to his girlfriend, and eventual wife, Sarah Owens, as well as his mother. The collection also contains photographs, newspapers, and poetry from John’s service throughout the continental U.S, Africa, and Europe from 1942 to 1946. 

Series 1 contains notes from John and Sarah Satterfield's son Bill regarding his understanding and the contextual knowledge for the correspondence

Items from subseries 1.1 feature Satterfield’s relationship to Sarah Owens and details the progression of his life in the military. Some correspondence contains postcards, greeting cards, and images from his various stations.  

Items from subseries 1.2 feature Satterfield’s relationship to his mother Lucy Satterfield and contains a greeting card and photographs. 

Items from Series 2 are images of John Satterfield in various regions of the world with other members of his company, and a tour of Pompeii while in Italy.  

Items in series 3 are newspapers detailing pivotal moments of the war, as well as various church publications. 

Series 4: Ephemera contains ration cards, poems, and a map of southern Italy from Satterfield’s travels  

Arrangement Statement
  • Arranged in chronological order by month
  • Correspondence (Series 1) has two subseries between Sarah Owens (1.1) and Lucy Satterfield (1.2) 
  • Series 1 also consists of contextual notes created by John and Sarah Satterfield’s son, Bill. 
  • Photographs (Series 2)
  • Newspapers and Church publications (Series 3)
  • Ephemera (Series 4)

Subject Terms

  • Topical Terms
    • Newspapers
    • Personal Correspondence
    • Photography
    • Postcards
    • World War, 1939-1945
  • Personal Names
    • Courtship
  • Location Terms
    • Africa
    • Delaware
    • Europe
    • Germany
    • Italy

Inventory List

The inventory list for this item is hidden due to its length. Click the button below to view it.

  1. Series 1: Bill Satterfield papers  
  2. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, January 1943 
  3. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, February 1943 
  4. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, March 1943 
  5. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, April 1943 
  6. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, May 1943 
  7. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, June 1943 
  8. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, July 1943 
  9. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, August 1943 
  10. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, September 1943 
  11. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, October 1943 
  12. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, November 1943 
  13. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, December 1943 
  14. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, January 1944 
  15. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, February 1944 
  16. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, March 1944 
  17. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, April 1944 
  18. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, May 1944 
  19. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, June 1944 
  20. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, July 1944 
  21. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, August 1944 
  22. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, September 1944 
  23. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, October 1944 
  24. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, November 1944 
  25. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, December 1944 
  26. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, January 1945 
  27. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, February 1945 
  28. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, March 1945 
  29. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, April 1945 
  30. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, May 1945 
  31. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, June 1945 
  32. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, July 1945 
  33. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, August 1945 
  34. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, September 1945 
  35. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, October 1945 
  36. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, November 1945 
  37. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, December 1945 
  38. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, January 1946 
  39. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, February 1946 
  40. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, March 1946 
  41. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, April 1946 
  42. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, May 1946 
  43. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, June 1946 
  44. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, July 1946 
  45. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, August 1946 
  46. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, September 1946 
  47. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, October 1946 
  48. Subseries 1.1 (Sarah Owens): Correspondence, November 1946 
  49. Subseries 1.2 (Lucy Satterfield): Correspondence, December 1942  
  50. Subseries 1.2 (Lucy Satterfield): Correspondence, November 1942  
  51. Subseries 1.2 (Lucy Satterfield): Correspondence, October 1942  
  52. Subseries 1.2 (Lucy Satterfield): Correspondence, September 1942  
  53. Subseries 1.2 (Lucy Satterfield): Correspondence, August 1942  
  54. Subseries 1.2 (Lucy Satterfield): Correspondence, January 1943 
  55. Subseries 1.2 (Lucy Satterfield): Correspondence, February 1943 
  56. Subseries 1.2 (Lucy Satterfield): Correspondence, March 1943 
  57. Subseries 1.2 (Lucy Satterfield): Correspondence, April 1943 
  58. Subseries 1.2 (Lucy Satterfield): Correspondence, May 1943 
  59. Subseries 1.2 (Lucy Satterfield): Correspondence, June 1943 
  60. Subseries 1.2 (Lucy Satterfield): Correspondence, July 1943 
  61. Subseries 1.2 (Lucy Satterfield): Correspondence, August 1943 
  62. Subseries 1.2 (Lucy Satterfield): Correspondence, October 1943 
  63. Subseries 1.2 (Lucy Satterfield): Correspondence, November 1943 
  64. Subseries 1.2 (Lucy Satterfield): Correspondence, December 1943 
  65. Subseries 1.2 (Lucy Satterfield): Correspondence, January 1944 
  66. Subseries 1.2 (Lucy Satterfield): Correspondence, February 1944 
  67. Subseries 1.2 (Lucy Satterfield): Correspondence, March 1944 
  68. Series 2: Photographs  
  69. Series 3: Newspapers & Church publications 
  70. Series 4: Ephemera

Artifacts

John Satterfield’s dog tags, necklace pendant, pink doll pants 

Attachments

None