Winifred Barbour Simpson papers

The Winifred Barbour Simpson papers mostly contain materials that she produced and scrapbooks that she compiled in the 1930s and 1940s. Other materials found in this collection were produced or collected by Leonard W. Simpson (Winifred's future husband) during his service in the US Army from 1943 to 1945.

Winifred compiled two of her three scrapbooks while matriculating through Charlotte Technical High School in the early 1930s. These scrapbooks reveal that she was an active and popular student. She also had some creative ability, as she composed poetry and drew pictures. Most of her poetry is found in the last of her three scrapbooks--which she kept while working for the war effort in Washington, DC.

Winifred began dating Leonard W. Simpson in the early 1940s, and the two corresponded regularly during his years in the military. She used V-mail to correspond with Leonard (he normally responded with postcards), and many of her V-mail letters feature not only her writing, but also her art work--a very rare thing. Some of her V-mail drawings include self-portraits or portraits of Leonard.

Other papers and some of the photographs in the collection indicate that Winifred was a member of the Episcopal Church in Charlotte and she seems to have been an active member.

The collection also includes a small but significant series of materials that Leonard Simpson compiled or collected during WWII, including his induction notification, USO handbook for soldiers, the US Army songbook, a form letter from President Roosevelt (reminding service personnel of their duty toward advancing democracy), and other military materials. The collection also contains the postcards that Simpson wrote to Winifred during the war. The accumulation of these materials makes this collection an excellent primary source for World War II history and its impact on the American civilian population.