Florence Green Shay and Thomas Reed Shay papers
Collection
0498-MDHC
Florence Green Shay of Baltimore, Maryland served in World War I in the Army Nurse Corps in France. Her son, Thomas Reed Shay of Denver, Colorado, served in World War II as an Army radio technician in Europe. The collection consists of a diary written by Florence Green Shay, correspondence, photographs, memorabilia, and a newspaper clipping. The majority of these materials document the service of Florence Green Shay in World War I and of Thomas Reed Shay in World War II.
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1.75 Linear Feet (3 letter size Hollinger boxes and 1 half-size Hollinger box)
The Florence Green Shay and Thomas Reed Shay papers cover the period from 1918 to 1958. The collection consists of a diary written by Florence Green Shay, correspondence, photographs, certificates, and a newspaper clipping. The majority of these materials relate to the service of Florence Green Shay in World War I and of Thomas Reed Shay in World War II.
Florence Green Shay was born in Maryland on October 19, 1892 and died on August 17, 1980 in Colorado. She attended Western Maryland College and the Nursing School of the Maryland General Hospital. Following her graduation in 1917, she joined the Army Nurse Corps and in March 1918 was assigned to active duty in the American Expeditionary Force. From July 1918 to February 1919, she worked at Base Hospital 42 in France. Following her discharge in April 1919, she returned to Baltimore. By 1922, she had married Raymond Shay (1893-1986), resided in Denver, Colorado, and would soon give birth to two children: Thomas Reed Shay (1923-2002) and Patricia Shay Groswold (1928-1996).
Thomas Reed Shay, the son of Florence Green Shay, was born in Denver, Colorado on July 26, 1923 and died on May 14, 2002 in Ormond Beach, Florida. Following high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in June 1942 and served as a radio technician in Europe during World War II. He was discharged in January 1946.
This collection is organized into two series.
The Florence Green Shay and Thomas Reed Shay papers were donated by the granddaughter of Florence Shay to the University of Maryland Libraries in May of 2018.
The Florence Green Shay and Thomas Reed Shay papers were processed in March 2019. All staples and metal paper clips were removed. Letters were placed in acid-free folders and in acid-free boxes and were arranged chronologically.
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives