World War II-MacBrayne Collection

The collection consists of a World War II scrapbook of photographs and documents compiled by Nan MacBrayne Eastmond; a few items relating to the donation of the MacBrayne scrapbook to the Newark Public Library; and unrelated documents concerning World War II servicemen Frank McTague of Newark and Joseph Basilone of Raritan, NJ. The McTague document is a power of attorney granted to his wife, Nina Hortense P. McTague, also of Newark (1944). Photocopied biographical and memorial material related to Congressional Medal of Honor winner Sgt. John Basilone, after whom a park was named in Newark.

The Nan Mac Brayne World War II scrapbook contains a large collection of wartime memorabilia, documents, and photographs. Included is correspondence, clippings, postcards, greeting cards, tickets, programs (theater, church events), army pamphlets, and photographs from many wartime venues - Alaska, Hawaii, Iwo Jima, Canada, Guadalcanal, Italy, and Korea; at least one of the servicemen pictured are identified as from Newark. Much of the correspondence is written by Nan MacBrayne to her family at 172 Grafton Ave., Newark; some is addressed to her from servicemen. Much of the ephemera relates to Nan's time in London. There is a double page of cut stationery logos from military bases around the United States. Clippings include major events of the period, including the death of President Roosevelt and VE Day, 1945. Army-issued pamphlets, newsletters, and entertainment schedules (in London) are included. Loose items related to the scrapbook include: a typescript copy of a long letter from Nan MacBrayne to her family, May 23, 1945, telling of her flight across the English Channel on a "Victory Tour, or aerial survey, of war-damaged Belgium and Germany; correspondence regarding the donation of the scrapbook to the Newark Public Library; and a brief biographical sketch of Nan by her children (with accompanying computer disk labeled "Nan M. Eastmond, Bio, Pictures").