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Richard P. Newton Family papers

 Collection 0098-MDHC

Correspondence comprises the largest portion of theRichard P. Newton Family papers and documents the daily lives of Richard Newton, Dorothy Speilman Newton, Lillian Boehm, and some of their friends. The collection also contains religious, legal, and genealogical documents, a pair of torpedo-shaped earrings, holiday cards, and photographs. Also included are issues of two military publications: Plans of the Day and Radio Press News from the USS George K. MacKenzie (DD-836). The correspondence focuses on domestic concerns and military life. The documents include certificates commemorating religious and school events, union membership, and military life. The majority of the photographs are not identified or dated. They consist of individual and group photographs and views taken from and on a ship, probably the USS George K. MacKenzie (DD-836) at sea.

Dates

  • 1925-1956
  • Majority of material found within 1951

Use and Access to Collection

This collection is open for research.

Duplication and Copyright Information

Photocopies of original materials may be provided for a fee and at the discretion of the curator. Please see our Duplication of Materials policy for more information. Queries regarding publication rights and copyright status of materials within this collection should be directed to the appropriate curator.

Extent

0.75 Linear Feet

Scope and Contents

The Richard P. Newton Family papers span the years 1925 through 1956, with the bulk of the material dating between January and November 1951. Correspondence comprises the largest portion of the material and documents the daily lives of Richard Newton, Dorothy Speilman Newton, Lillian Boehm, and some of their friends. The collection also contains religious, legal, and genealogical documents, a pair of torpedo-shaped earrings, holiday cards, and photographs. Also included are issues of two military publications: Plans of the Day and Radio Press News from the USS George K. MacKenzie(DD-836) .

The correspondence focuses on domestic concerns and military life. The documents include certificates commemorating religious and school events, union membership, and military life. The majority of the photographs are not identified or dated. They consist of individual and group photographs and views taken from and on a ship, probably the USS George K. MacKenzie (DD-836) at sea.

Family History

Richard P. Newton, Sr., was born on October 3, 1925, probably in Baltimore, Maryland, the second son of Robert J. Newton and Lillian Newton. Robert and Lillian eventually divorced and Lillian married Mike Boehm. Richard became engaged to Dorothy Anna Speilman on September 20, 1944. They married in early 1945, presumably in Baltimore, while Richard was on leave from the U. S. Naval Torpedo Station, Norfolk, Virginia. They had two children, Diana, born before 1950, and Richard P. Newton, Jr., born after 1951.

Richard served in World War II and the Korean War as a torpedo man, second class. In 1944, he was stationed aboard the USS Thornhill (DE-195) in Portland, Maine. Also that year he attended school at the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island. In 1945, he was in Norfolk, Virginia, for training and waiting to go aboard a ship in Orange, Texas. In 1950, when the Naval Reserve was called for duty in the Korean War, Richard was stationed on the USS George K. MacKenzie (DD-836) in the Pacific. He died on January 20, 2004, in Parkville, Maryland.

Dorothy Speilman Newton was born May 1, 1926, probably in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1943, she was a member of the Soap and Glycerine Workers Union of the American Federation of Labor. In 1944, she lived with her future mother-in-law, Lillian Boehm, and worked in the bar Lillian owned in Baltimore. After her marriage Dorothy still worked in the bar and lived above it as late as 1950. Lillian had moved to Stevensville, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore and lived there with her husband, son and Dorothy and Richard's daughter, Diana. By March 1951, the bar had been sold and Dorothy had moved into a house she and Richard purchased. She searched for a new job and finally found one doing "highly secret" work in a manufacturing plant (letter to Richard dated March 27, 1951). She died on August 16, 2000, in Parkville, Maryland.

Arrangement

The collection is organized into five series:

Series 1
Correspondence
Series 2
Other Documents
Series 3
Ephemera
Series 4
Photographs
Series 5
Memorabilia

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

The University of Maryland Libraries purchased the Richard P. Newton Family papers from Charles Apfelbaum in 2004.

Processing Information

The collection was acquired with no discernible order. Subsequently it was divided into five series: correspondence, other documents, ephemera, photographs, and memorabilia. The materials have been placed in acid-free folders and stored in acid-free boxes. The photographs have been placed in Mylar sleeves.

Title
Guide to the Richard P. Newton Family papers
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by Terry Ann Sayler.
Date
2004-11-01
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Library Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives

Contact:
University of Maryland Libraries
Hornbake Library
4130 Campus Drive
College Park Maryland 20742
301-405-9212