Indiana Historical Society - Manuscripts & Archives
User Information
Biographical Sketch
Scope and Content Note
Folder Listing
Cataloguing Information
Processed by
Chris Harter
25 March 1998
VOLUME OF COLLECTION: 1 manuscript box, 1 oversized folder; visual materials include 1 box, 1 oversized folder, and 1 photograph album
COLLECTION DATES: ca. 1943-1952
PROVENANCE: Harry E. Meyers, Naples, FL 34105
RESTRICTIONS: The photograph album (folder 15) is very fragile; use is restricted to the photocopies of the album's pages.
REPRODUCTION RIGHTS: Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained in writing from the Indiana Historical Society.
ALTERNATE FORMATS: None
OTHER FINDING AIDS: None
RELATED HOLDINGS: None
ACCESSION NUMBERS: 1998.0033
NOTES:
Harry Eugene Meyers (b. 1914), the son of Harry B. and Tirzah Alice (Harrison) Meyers, was born near Chicago, Illinois. He was educated at Shortridge High School in Indianapolis and earned an A.B. degree in economics from Indiana University (1936). Meyers married Martha Louise Archer (d. 1985) in 1935.
Meyers served in the United States Navy during World War II. He entered as ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserves in 1943. He trained at Fort Schuyler (NY), Harvard University, and Alameda, California, before joining the staff of Admiral Thomas Kinkaid, Commander of the 7th Fleet in New Guinea. Meyers headed top secret communications concerning war operations and planning in that area of the Pacific Theater. He participated in the Leyte Gulf and Lingayen Gulf operations. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Cleveland, which was General George MacArthur's command ship. The Cleveland was sent to Okinawa and Tokyo, and served as the communications center for the Japanese surrender ceremony. Meyers sent the dispatch to the U.S. Armed Forces that the surrender had been signed on Sept. 2, 1945. He was released from active duty in January 1946 with the rank of lieutenant.
Meyers was the president of Sharp Ford in Indianapolis from 1946 to 1979, and was the director of Shelby Federal Savings Bank for 17 years. He also served as director of the Universal Finance Corp., the Indianapolis Auto Trade Association, and the Indiana Ford Dealers Association.
Source: Material in the collection.
This collection consists of papers relating to Harry E. Meyers' military service during World War II. They are arranged chronologically. Included are Meyers' military assignment records (1943-1952), naval dispatches, envelopes noting the United States' occupation of Japan, military identification sheets, and material regarding Meyers' trip to Australia (December 1944). Printed items include: The Signal, the yearbook of the Naval Training School at Harvard University; Teton Diary, a printed scrapbook of photographs; a Personal Information Booklet for U.S.S. Teton crewmembers; a U.S. Navy Lookout Manual; and a map of Oceania and Australia.
The collection contains a number of photographs and a photograph album, which document Meyer's time at naval training school and his duties in the Pacific Theater. The album is very fragile and use is restricted. The album's pages have been photocopied for use. Some of the photographs in the album have duplicate prints located in folder 14. Also present is a group photograph of the 18th Indoctrination Class of the Naval Training School at Fort Schuyler.
Artifacts include two decks of playing cards, "International aircraft silhouettes spotter cards" and "Seamanship cards: Rules of the Road". The cards were used by the armed forces for recreation and as forms of training.
Miscellaneous materials include biographical material, a photocopied account of the Battle of Leyte Gulf by Meyers, and a typescript of the speech made by Japan's Emperor Hirohito regarding that nation's surrender during World War II.
FOLDER CONTENTS
1 The Signal, 1943
2 (VC) Naval Training School, Fort Schuyler, 18th Indoctrination Class (See: OVA storage)
3 Military Records, 1943-1944
4 Re: Trip to Australia, 1944
5 Military Records, 1945 Jan.-June
6 Military Records, 1945 July-Dec.
7 Naval Dispatches, 1945
8 Envelopes--August 29, 1945
9 Teton Diary, ca. 1945
10 Military Records, 1946; 1952; n.d.
11 Personal Information Booklet: U.S.S. Teton; Lookout Manual; New War Map of Oceania and Australia
12 Military Identification Sheets
13 (ART) Playing Cards (R 1970-1971)
14 (VC) Photographs
15 Photograph Album (See also: Visual Collections)
16 Miscellaneous
MAIN ENTRY: Meyers, Harry E. (Harry Eugene), 1914-
SUBJECT ENTRIES: Meyers, Harry E. (Harry Eugene), 1914-
United States. Navy--Handbooks, manuals, etc.
United States. Naval Training School (Harvard University)
Teton (General communications vessel : AGC-14)
Cleveland (Light cruiser : CL-55)
World War, 1939-1945--Pacific Ocean--Photographs
World War, 1939-1945--Pacific Ocean--Naval operations, American
World War, 1939-1945--Pacific Ocean--Communications
World War, 1939-1945--Pacific Ocean--Maps
World War, 1939-1945--Japan--Peace
Rule of the road at sea
Philippine Sea, Battles of the, 1944
Airplanes--Recognition
Playing cards--United States
Australia--Description and travel
Oceania--Maps
END