1 Reply Latest reply on May 1, 2019 11:44 AM by Alex Daverede

    Seeking home for 4 U.S. military Japanese dictionaries, WWII.

    Tom Whitmore Newbie
    Tom Whitmore Apr 29, 2019 7:10 AM

      I have found 4 US military dictionaries of Japanese from WW2. Three are classified (Restricted, Confidential, and Secret). Are these documents still classified? Is anyone interested in such items?

       

      Fuller descriptions:

       

      GRAMMAR OF MODERN WRITTEN JAPANESE by Lehmann and Faust -- Restricted, mimeographed, side-stapled, 130 pp plus corrections (front cover has the signature of Sidney Glazer) Double-sided pages.

       

      INTRODUCTION TO MILITARY JAPANESE, introduction credited to Sidney Glazer -- Confidential, mimeographed, side-stapled, 42 pages (linen-paper covers) Double sided pages

       

      SELECTED ON DICTIONARY, prepared under the direction of the Chief Signal Officer 1 January 1945, SPSIB-1 -- not classified, spirit-duplicated, side stapled with wrap-around cover sheet (printed). Single-sided pages

       

      GRAMMAR OF THE JAPANESE WRITTEN LANGUAGE, "by J. B. Hunt" added in pen to cover: Secret classification crossed out on title page and on all pages. Spirit-duplicated, cover detached, light boards with cloth tape on spine. Single sided pages

       

      Tucked into the second volume is a notice about Glazer pulled from the web,from the Hamilton College Alumni Review (easily found through searching).

        • Re: Seeking home for 4 U.S. military Japanese dictionaries, WWII.
          Alex Daverede Adventurer
          Alex Daverede Expert May 1, 2019 11:44 AM (in response to Tom Whitmore)

          Dear Mr. Whitmore,

           

          Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

           

          The documents you have listed have been declassified; however, they must be marked in such a fashion to cancel the classification and indicate the declassification authority.  The best alternative would be canceling the classification here at our facility in College Park, Maryland. If that is not a feasible option, simply lining out the classification markings will do in a pinch. It is recommended that canceling the classification marking be done prior to donating the records to an institution.

           

          As to what institution might want these publications, it may depend upon the back story behind the publications.  If they were found as part of a family’s estate, then a local historical society may wish to accession the documents with that local connection, especially if there is a good family story with a service history.  If these publications were found in an antique shop or used book store, their value may not be as high as for a donation with a family connection. However, you might try institutions such as the National World War II Museum in New Orleans or the Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas to see if they have some interest.

           

          We wish you the best of luck in finding a new home for these historical records.

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