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Norman J. Elzey papers

4 boxes, 1 oversize folder (5.5 linear feet)

(1890 – 1972)

bulk 1910-1920

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

Identifier 1991.020
Creator(s) Elzey, Norman James
Acquisition

The Norman J. Elzey papers were donated to the Nabb Research Center by Robert Elzey, 1991.
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 Madysen M. Eutsler, August 2017.
Related Materials

Clyde Gilbert Truitt collection (1916 – 2011)

Camp Meade Souvenir Folder (circa 1914)

29th Infantry Division Association Newsletter Collection (1993 – 2020)
Separated Materials

Oversize materials have been housed in the Nabb Research Center’s flat file system.  
Abstract

The Norman J. Elzey papers document his military service in World War I and on the Mexican Border, as well as his professional career with the Salisbury, Maryland Post Office and Philadelphia & Cape Charles Railway Post Office (RPO) from 1890-1972, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1910-1920. Materials within the collection include photographs from his service in France, newspaper clippings about the 1913 Wicomico High School Reunion, correspondence, and a scrapbook depicting the last journey of the RPO.

Biographical History

Norman James Elzey (1893-1976) was born in Salisbury, Maryland to parents Harvey Elzey (1866-1920s) and Mary Elzey (1868-1917). Elzey graduated from Wicomico High School in 1913. During the First World War, Elzey served in the National Guard’s “Old Company I” of Salisbury, Maryland and later served in the Mexican Border Service in 1916. After four years with the Salisbury Post Office, Elzey was appointed to substitute clerk in the Railway Mail Service on September 25, 1917. Elzey was reassigned in 1919 to the Transfer Office in Washington, D.C., before transferring to the Philadelphia & Cape Charles Railway Post Office (RPO) in 1921 where he remained for 43 years. Elzey was promoted to Clerk-in-Chief in 1938 until 1958 when he voluntarily resigned to become the Distribution Clerk. Elzey retired from the RPO on January 31, 1959 after 44 years of service. Norman J. Elzey married Margie Pauline Elzey (1896-1986) in Salisbury, Maryland on January 9, 1923. They had three children: Margaret Townsend (b.1918). Norman Joseph Elzey (b.1927), and Robert Edward Elzey (b. 1932).

Arrangement Statement

The Norman J. Elzey papers have been arranged into three series, MILITARY SERVICE, FAMILY AND PERSONAL, and EPHEMERA.

Military Service series documents Elzey’s military service in World War I in France and the Mexican Border service from 1914-1916. Materials include photographs, correspondence, and appointment certificates.

Family and Personal series documents Elzey’s family and career as a Distribution Clerk for the Philadelphia and Cape Charles Railway Post Office (RPO). Materials include a scrapbook, photographs, newspaper clippings, deeds, and correspondence.

Ephemera series documents Elzey’s interests in music and his children. Materials include sheet music and ticket stubs from Robert Elzey’s plays.  

Subject Terms

  • No subject terms specified

Inventory List

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Series I: Military Service

Box 1

1.      Postcard, Norman Elzey to his Mother, 1916 June 29

2.      Correspondence, Norman Elzey to his Mother, 1916 July-October

3.      Correspondence, Camp Meade, 1918 July 2

4.      Photographs, Norman Elzey and Friends, France, 1919 January 9

5.      Foreign Currency, 1916-1919

6.      Photographs, Mexican Border Service, Texas, 1910s

7.      Appointment Certificate, Norman J. Elzey, 1916 October 4

8.      Armed Forces Certificate, Norman J. Elzey, undated

9.      Honorable Discharge Certificate, Norman J. Elzey, 1917 August 1

10.  Honorable Discharge Certificate, Norman J. Elzey, 1919 June 4

11.  Pocket New Testament, Norman J. Elzey, 1918

12.  Hymns and Prayers for the Use of the Army and Navy, Norman J. Elzey, 1917 August

13.  Pocket Dictionary, Norman J. Elzey, 1914

14.  Pocket New Testament, Norman J. Elzey, 1930s

15.  Ration Book, Norman J. Elzey, 1942

16.  Ration Books, Norman and Margie Elzey, 1942

17.  Ration Book, Robert Elzey, 1942

18.  Transcribed War Diary, Co. “D” 32nd Armored Regiment, 1944-1945

19.  Membership Cards, Norman Elzey, Veterans of World War I of the USA Inc., 1969-1972

20.  Membership Cards, Norman J. Elzey, Salisbury Lodge of Perfection, 1969-1972

21.  Membership Cards, Norman J. Elzey, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1941-1942, 1969

22.  Membership Cards, Norman J. Elzey, Wicomico Lodge No. 91, 1969-1972

23.  Correspondence, Norman J. Elzey and the Department of Justice, 1930 July 11

24.  Envelope, Norman J. Elzey Military Records, undated

25.  Navy Orders Card, USS Leviathan, undated

26.  Booklets, “Call Me Spearhead,” undated

Series II:  Family and Personal

Box 2

1.      Marriage Certificate, Norman Elzey and Margie Townsend, 1923 January 9

2.      Newspaper Clipping, Norman J. Elzey, 1972 October

3.      Newspaper Clipping, Norman J. Elzey Obituary, 1976

4.      Newspaper Clipping, Wicomico High School 1912 Football Team, undated

5.      Senior Portrait, Norman J. Elzey, 1913

6.      Photograph, Margie Pauline Elzey, 1920s

7.      Photograph, Bob Elzey, 1950s

8.      Photograph, Molly Hudson, 1930s

9.      Photograph, Elzey Family, 1890s

10.  Photograph Photocopy, Elzey Family, 1890s

11.  Photographs, Boats, 1954-1955

12.  Newspaper Clipping, Mexico Border Veteran Gets Check, 1971 August 9

13.  Photograph, School Boys, 1910s

14.  Correspondence, Norman Elzey to the Veteran’s Benefit Office, 1971 August 10

15.  Correspondence, American Postal Workers Accident Benefit Association, 1973 April 6 and 18

16.  Photographs, Railway Post Office Final Journey, 1940s

17.  Correspondence, United States Senate to Norman Elzey, 1920 May 27

18.  Newspaper Clipping Photocopies, Railway Mail Service, undated

19.  Correspondence, Wicomico High School Class of 1913 Reunion, 1950s

20.  Correspondence, Edward Jones to Norman Elzey, 1958

21.  Newspaper Clipping, Wicomico High School Class of 1913 Reunion, 1958 July 14

22.  Newsletter, the Gold Stripe, 1932

23.  Postcard, to Norman Elzey, 1934 September 5

24.  Correspondence, Joseph Lavin to Norman Elzey, 1971 March 26

25.  Newspaper Clippings, Obituaries, 1950s-1970s

26.  Newspaper Clipping, Alfred Truitt, undated

27.  Substitute Payment Ticket, Robert Elzey, 1986 November 5

28.  Newspaper Clipping, “the Old ’97,” 1963 September 22

29.  Newspaper Clipping, Postal Service, 1966 January 9

 

Box 3

1.      Newspaper Clipping, Gazette of the United States, 1789

2.      Newspaper Clipping, Marriage Announcement, undated

3.      Photographs, Men’s Track Team, 1910s

4.      Photograph, Veteran’s Banquet, 1960s

5.      Photographs, Banquet, 1960s

6.      Newspaper Clipping, Veterans of Foreign Wars 50th Anniversary Memorial Service, 1972 October 21

7.      Envelopes, to Robert Elzey, 1977

8.      Prayer Book for Soldiers and Sailors, 1941

9.      Blank Notebook, Norman J. Elzey, undated

10.  Booklet, 50th Anniversary Veterans of Foreign Affairs, Salisbury, Maryland, 1972 October

11.  Agreement, Diamond State Telephone Company and Delmar Road Telephone Company, 1910 August 20

12.  Bill of Sale, Otis Lloyd and Robert Elzey, 1955 May 2

13.  Deed, Levin Parsons to W.F. Allen and William Cooper, 1903 April 15

14.  Conditional Sales Contract, Riverside Motor Company to Norman Elzey, 1921 November 17

15.  Deed, S. Franklin Woodcock to Norman and Margie Elzey, 1903

16.  Stock, Wicomico County Farm Bureau Cooperative Association, 1947 April 14

17.  Newspaper Clipping, “Old Ram,” 1957 March 20

Series III: Ephemera

18.  Farmers Label, Dames Quarter Tomatoes, 1912

19.  Sheet Music, Forget-Me-Not, 1918

20.  Sheet Music, On the Shore of Tripoli, 1920

21.  Sheet Music, Attractive Pieces for Young Pianists, undated

22.  Sheet Music Cover, Haviland’s Dance Folio No. 1, undated

23.  Play Ticket, Wicomico High School, 1949 April 1

24.  Fall Athletic Dance Ticket, Robert Elzey, Wicomico High School, 1949 December 2

25.  Membership Card, Norman Elzey, Industrial Union Group, undated

 

Box 4

1.      Newspaper, the Torch, 1971 January

2.      Scrapbook, Railway Mail Service, 1920s-1950s

3.      Newspaper, Maryland V.F.W. Bulletin, 1971 January

4.      Sheet Music, “Sweet Chimes of Long Ago,” Bromo-Seltzer 171 Popular Songs Collection, 1900s

5.      Sheet Music, the Famous Star of the Sea, 1883

6.      Sheet Music, “Gertrude’s Dream Waltz,” Beethoven, 1903

7.      Sheet Music, “Anne Laurie,” Bromo Seltzer 74 Popular Songs Collection, 1910s

8.      Sheet Music, “Love Me and the World is Mine,” Dave Reed Jr., 1906

9.      Sheet Music, “In the Valley of the Moon,” 1913

10.  Sheet Music, “Electric Light Gallop,” C.W. Durkee, 1904 April 13

11.  Sheet Music, “Scottish Belle Waltzes,” Fred L. Ryder, undated

12.   Sheet Music, “Loves Golden Star,” 1900s

13.  Sheet Music, Danube Waves Waltz, Ivanovici, 1902

14.  Sheet Music, “Watermelon Am Good Enough for Mine,” 1904

15.  Sheet Music, “Mexicana,” 1905

16.  Sheet Music, “A Trip to Niagara,” 1904

17.  Sheet Music, “News Boy Schottische,” 1904

18.  Sheet Music, “Easy Teaching Pieces,” 1909

19.  Sheet Music, “Sweetest Girl of All,” Bromo-Seltzer 171 Popular Songs Collection, 1910s

20.  Sheet Music, “Easy Teaching Pieces,” 1904

21.  Sheet Music, “Old Black Joe,” undated

22.  Sheet Music, “Chearie,” undated

23.  Sheet Music, “On the Banks of Lovelight Bay,” 1913

24.  Sheet Music, “On the Road to Home Sweet Home,” 1917

25.  Sheet Music, Paddle Addle in Your Little Canoe,” 1917

26.  Photograph Print, USS KROONLAND, undated

 

Oversize

1.      Appointment Certificate, Norman J. Elzey, 1917 March 10

2.      Diploma, Norman Elzey, Wicomico High School, 1913 June 3

3.      Photograph, Men’s Track Team, 1920s

 

 

Artifacts

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Attachments

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