Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Andrew L. McCaskey, Sr. papers, 1904 - 2008, bulk 1934 - 2008 |
Catalog Number |
17.2.001 |
Object Name |
Manuscript Collection |
Donor |
McCaskey, David I. and Andrew L. McCaskey, Jr. |
Scope & Content |
Papers of Andrew L. McCaskey, Sr., 1916 - 2009. The personal archives reflect his career as a member of the U.S. Army Air Force during WWII, a regional writer and radio broadcaster and a technical writer for the Dunham-Bush space conditioning company. He was also a farmer and was a newspaper reporter early in his life. Much of the material consists of McCaskey's occasionally published freelance writings, including short stories, poetry, reflections and scripts. The collection includes scrapbooks and clippings and loose ephemera collected by McCaskey over his lifetime. These include notebooks on writers and writing and subjects of local and world interest. Also included are materials reflecting McCaskey's interests as a local historian, genealogist, member of the Ruritan Club, hobby radio operator, lifelong learner, active member of the Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church (Augusta County, Va.) and his interests in natural history, world history, art and anthropology. The records are arranged in fourteen series, two of which have been further arranged into subseries. Series 1, Writers scrapbooks, are scrapbooks with clippings about writers and literature kept by Andrew L. McCaskey. McCaskey annotated and also wrote his own material within the scrapbooks. Series 2, His Writings, are poems, short stories, plot ideas, drafts, character sketches, scripts and reflections written by McCaskey. Information on the marketing of his freelance writings is also included here. Three of McCaskey's short stories published in the UVA magazine, Crust, are also found here. Series 2, Subseries a, Down our Way play, was a play that McCaskey wrote concerning a controversial proposal to dam to the Middle River near New Hope, Va. It was performed at Fort Defiance High School in Augusta County, Va. The subseries contains scripts for the play, draft materials and publicity. Series 3, Shenandoah Valley Writers, consists of materials that McCaskey clipped and compiled on fellow writers in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. In addition, McCaskey saved newsletters of the Valley Writers Workshop and they are included here. Series 4, Journals, This box contains a few journals written by McCaskey, not including his WWII soldier's notebook. Series 5, WWII era notebooks and early life materials. WWII materials include notebooks that McCaskey kept while stationed in England with the 8th US Army Air Force. Many of the booklets are signed and dated by McCaskey. Some include the word 'Goose,' in quotation marks, apparently his nickname. The series includes the following: War diaries titled, "Cambridge Notes," "London Notes," and "Clips." Correspondence from the time. The publication, Woodrow Wilson in Retrospect, edited by Raymond F. Pisney. McClure Press, 1978. Pfc. Andrew L. McCaskey's remarks, "A Visit to President Woodrow Wilson's Birthplace in Staunton" appears p. 16-17. Although the anthology was published in 1978, McCaskey wrote the remarks on the occasion of his visit to the Birthplace of Wilson in June 1943 after returning from six day's furlough. Also included is Pisney's companion anthology, Woodrow Wilson: Idealism and Reality, McClure Press, 1977. Remarks given by Thomas G. McCaskey during the Annual Woodrow Wilson Luncheon of the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace Foundation, November 5, 1969, appear on pages 42 - 44 as "Woodrow Wilson: Perspectives of Present and Future". Two matchings printed leaves and cards on what do and say if found in Russia and material to show to indicate the soldier is an American. Single leaf mimeographed newsletter, "Operation Trolley" from the Four Hundred Sixty Seventh Bombardment Group in WWII. The newsletter tells of places that the troops will travel in Belgium and Germany and the cultural and military significance of these areas. Black leather wallet that McCaskey carried in WWII. Inside are a wartime photograph of McCaskey smiling, a photograph of McCaskey in uniform with his wife (top of heads cut out of photograph) and a photograph of a cute calf. McCaskey's soldier's individual pay records and 1942 immunization register were also in the wallet. Several matching comical printed certificates shaped like a banknote that state, "Witchcraft Veteran of 4 Battles." The battles are Battle of Normandy, Battle of Northern France, Air Offensive Europe and Battle of Germany. Brightly printed all over. Comical images depicting military air flight and bombing. Small booklet about the Queensberry All Service Club, a London WWII All Forces Club. Three chess manuals that were important to McCaskey during the war. All are signed by him February 10, 1944, in Norwich, England. WWII Catholic and Jewish soldiers' prayer books. McCaskey was not of Catholic or Jewish faith but collected the books because they were of interest to him. WWII arial photograph. McCaskey's War Department, Basic Field Manual, Infantry Drill Regulations, 4 Aug 1941 and his special edition of the Official Guide to the Army Air Forces AAF: A Directory Almanac and Chronicle of Achievement, 1944. Booklet, "The Writer," Vol. VII. New Series. No. 5. August 1945. British magazine for aspiring authors (such as McCaskey). Tourist booklets for London and Norwich and a copy of the book, Redstone, Lilian J. Our East Anglian Heritage. London: Methuen & Co., LTD., first published 1939. Signed by McCaskey 28 Feb, 1944 with his later address label applied. Travel diary for a November 1973 trip back to Norwich, England (where he had served in WWII.) Also includes McCaskey's signed copy of the Oak Leaf yearbook, published by the Class of 1932 Radford High School (Radford, Va), his high school report notebooks, and other materials from his early life. Series 6, Daily Themes, are daily editorials in which McCaskey reflected on local, national, personal and political topics of interest. Some of these were broadcast on local radio on the Candid Comment show. Series 6, Subseries a, On Topic blog, was the continuation of Daily Themes as an electronic weblog, published circa 2002 - 2009. Series 7, Music, is music composed by McCaskey as well as some popular pieces that he accumulated, reflective of the time. Series 8, Scrapbooks and miscellany, consists of scrapbooks and loose and clipped articles and ephemera saved by McCaskey. The materials are on a variety of subjects with frequent themes of science, nature, travel, birding, art, history and anthropology. Series 9, Genealogy, is family history materials compiled by McCaskey. Includes some email and other correspondence on genealogical topics, especially families from Ireland and Scotland. Family names include McCaskey, Driver, Herman, Connelly and Caskie. There is an unsigned woman's diary (possibly Mrs. Samuel Driver) from 1904 - 1911. She writes of early Bridgewater College history and happenings with Church of the Brethren families in Rockingham Va. The folder holds a circa 1935 photograph of the Lofton Farm in Weyers Cave, Virginia. Pictured on the steps of the farmhouse from left to right are Carolyn Driver, an unknown girl, Mary Frances Driver (standing), Irvin David Driver (seated in front of Mary Frances), Mary Click Driver, Willie Long Driver, an unidentified woman or girl (hidden by plant), and Irma Long Driver. The site where farmhouse was standing is now the Harshbarger Subdivision. The house was begun in 1858 by a Mr. Burke, and purchased and completed in 1870 by Samuel S. Driver. Clay was dug and brick was fired in a field northeast of the house. Series 10, Broadcasting literature, contains materials collected and used by McCaskey during his career in regional broadcasting. Series 11, Hobby radio, is McCaskey's materials about home amateur radio. Series 12, Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church, is McCaskey's files on his church. The assorted materials include administrative files, church mailings, Sunday School teaching materials, notes on church history and the script for a cantata which he wrote on the church history. Series 13, Local history, is an assorted group of materials collected by McCaskey on Virginia history, especially the history of Rockingham County and Augusta County. Included is information on local historic and contemporary people, features on local buildings, information on American Indians and regional folklore. There are also some of McCaskey's original writings on local history. Includes his copy of the biography of local WHVA news radio broadcaster Robinson Wip, III by Nancy Boundurant Jones, Harrisonburg (Va.), 1983. Series 14, Personal materials, contains material, arranged as found, on McCaskey's personal and civic life. There are some family photographs, obituaries, wedding announcements, funeral bulletins, McCaskey's high school diploma, written and email correspondence and information about clubs and groups of which he was a member. Irma McCaskey's Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (Kappa Chapter, Staunton, Va.) materials are included here. The first item in the group is a group photograph of Company 'A', 7th Medical Training Battalion, Camp Lee, Va., March 1942. McCaskey is identified in the included key. Box list: Series 1- Writers scrapbooks Box: 1 Series 2- His writings Box 2 - 5 Series 2- Subseries a- Down our Way play Box 6-7 Series 3- Shenandoah Valley writers Box 8 Series 4- Journals Box 9 Series 5- WWII era notebooks and earlier life materials Box 10, Box 10a Series 6- Daily Themes, 1938 - July 1971 Box 11 Series 6- Daily Themes, Aug. 1971 - 1978 Box 12 Series 6- Daily Themes, 1979 - May 1985 Box 13 Series 6- Daily Themes, June 1985 - 1989 Box 14 Series 6- Daily Themes, 1990 - 1995 Box 15 Series 6- Daily Themes, 1996 - March 2001 Box 16 Series 6- Daily Themes, April 2001 - 2003 Box 17 Series 6- Daily Themes, 2004 - 2008, and miscellany Box 18 Series 6- Subseries a- On Topic blog Box 19 Series 7- Music Box 20 - 21 Series 8- Scrapbooks and miscellany Box 22 - 23 Series 9- Genealogy Box 24 Series 10- Broadcasting literature Box 25 Series 11- Hobby radio Box 26 Series 12- Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church Box 27 Series 13- Local history Box 28 - 30 Series 14- Personal materials Box 31 - 33 |
Collection |
Alexander Mack Memorial Library Special Collections |
People |
Driver, Carolyn Driver, Charles Driver, Irma Long Driver, Irvin David Driver, Mary Click Driver, Mary Frances Driver, Willie Long McCaskey, Andrew L., 1916 - 2009 |
Subjects |
Augusta County (Va.) History. Authors, English. Driver Family. Genealogy. McCaskey Family. Radio broadcasting. Virginia Rockingham County. Rockingham County (Va.) History. Weyers Cave (Va.) History. Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924. |