Guide to the Harry C. Schiller papers
1941-1948
Collection number: HMC-0597.
Creator: Schiller, Harry C.
Title: Harry C. Schiller papers.
Dates: 1941-1948.
Volume of collection: 0.25 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in this collection are in English.
Collection summary: Papers of a man who served in the 7th Infantry Division Band that played for soldiers in the Aleutians.
Biographical note:
Harry C. Schiller was from Southport Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. He enlisted in the United States Army in June 1941, and received his initial training at Camp Roberts, California, as a member of Company D, 88th Infantry Training Battalion. Schiller later served in the 7th Infantry Division Band, where he also played alto saxophone in the swing band. His service in the Pacific included time on Attu Island and in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Collection description:
The collection consists of the papers of 7th Infantry Division Band member, Harry C. Schiller. The collection contains documents from his initial military training in 1941; correspondence with family; programs and pamphlets from his time on Attu Island and service in the Pacific, as well as his notes and other memorabilia from his military service. The collection also includes a sonnet Schiller wrote for a poetry class in 1948 and photographic prints and negatives. Subjects of the photographs include Harry Schiller’s family and friends; the 7th Infantry Division Band; the Buddy Barrows swing band; and service in Hawaii.
Arrangement: The collection has been arranged into the following series:
Series 1: Papers; 1941-1948
Series 2: Photographs; undated, 1942-1945
Digitized copies: The Barabara Grand Opening program has been digitized and is available on Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Materials in this collection created by a federal agency are in the public domain. The collection contains materials not created by a federal agency which may be subject to copyright restrictions.
Preferred citation: Harry C. Schiller papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Separated materials: Select publications were removed from the collection and some added to the Ephemera collections or the Consortium Library’s Rare Books. Please ask an archivist for further information.
Acquisition note: The collection was purchased via Internet auction in 2002.
Processing information: This collection was arranged and described by Jeffrey Sinnott in 2002. The guide to the collection was converted to current standard and select publications removed by Veronica Denison in 2017.
Series 1: Papers; undated, 1941-1948. 0.15 cubic feet.
| Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1 | Military training documents: Cards sent to family members regarding Schiller’s arrival at duty assignments; Company passes from Co. D, 88th Infantry Training Battalion; General guard orders; Company Alert Plan | undated, 1941 |
| 2 | Correspondence with family: Includes an American Red Cross letter and memorandum concerning the health and welfare of Schiller’s father | undated, 1945 |
| 3 | Third Battalion, 32nd Infantry Memorial Service program; The Barabara (Aleut Hut), Grand Opening program; Clippings of four photographs from the U.S. Army invasion of Attu, from Yanks magazine | 1943 |
| 4 | U.S.S. Relief, AH-1, At Sea, Independence Day, 1945 (menu); The Hourglass, Seventh Infantry Division, I & E Office, Ryukyu Islands, Vol. III, No. 11 and Vol. IV, No. 62; The Daily Target, Saipan, I & E Section, Western Pacific Command, Vol. II, No. 67; Okinawa Shima (map of island) | undated, 1945 |
| 5 | News clippings: Photo of infantry barracks, Camp Roberts, California; “88th Infantrymen Stage Excellent Variety Show” by Private Willard Baumgarten, Co. D, 88th Inf. Bn.; Photo of 32nd Infantry dance, held at the Fresno Civic Auditorium; Staff photo by Pvt. Emmett Griggs; Publicity photo of Judy Garland, who sang for troops at the Fort Ord Bowl; Publicity photo of Edgar Bergen, Charley, McCarthy, Lew Costello, and Bud Abbott, who performed at the Fort Ord Bowl | undated, 1941 |
| 6 | Harry Schiller’s personal handwritten notes; Soldier’s Individual Pay Record; Shoe Purchase Certificate; Tobacco Ration Card; Hale-Kai Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii, business card; Honolulu Rapid Transit Co. Ltd. transfer tickets; South Seas at Waikiki cocktail napkin; Decorations and Service Ribbons of U.S. Armed Forces | undated, 1943-1945 |
| 7 | Sonnet written by Schiller for a class | 1948 |
Series 2: Photographs; undated, 1942-1945. 0.10 cubic feet.
| Folder | Item | Description | Dates |
| 8 | 1-12 | Harry Schiller in uniform at U.S. Army base with his mother, Fay Lincoln Schiller, and father, Frank A. Schiller, and friends | 1942 August |
| 8 | 12-20 | Barrows Band with Harry Schiller playing saxophone | undated |
| 8 | 21-25 | 7th Division Band with Harry Schiller playing saxophone | undated |
| 8 | 26 | “Seventh Division Band: Tram[section]- Harwich – Hanrahan – Holliday -Peterson – Waits – Wilson, Bass [section]- Buckley – Moore – Belieu- R. Moore -Glocken – Wismar, Drum [section] – Shutes – Fontaine – Means – Kidwell, Trum [section]- Halverson – Way – De Meo – Wiseman – D.W. Smith – Lepage -Egelston – Stohl – Smith, Horn [section]- Kelley – Paye – Feldsted – Hoskins, Flute [section] – Strange – Ebclar. Ostendorf, Clari [section]- Hutchinson – Arnold – Golder – McConnell – Mello – Dylong – Waters – Boudouin – Baly -Capps, Sax [section]- Iaccobitti – Schiller – Fenlon – Canedy, Bari [section]-Melvin – James, Bandleader-Mr. Brush” Band performing in Hawaii | undated |
| 8 | 27-28 | “A picture of most of the men in the swing band. Left to right standing. Ostendorf – Bari-Sax – a Chicago boy. – Harwich, on Trom. – Petersen Trom. – Simmons Guitar.- Moore Bass- Arnold – Ten. Sax – Holliday Trom. – Daly Alto sax – Stafford Trumpet – Lyons Drums. Kneeling left to right. De Meo Trumpet – Schiller Alto sax. – Paye vocalist – Way Trumpet.” | 1944 June 11 |
| 8 | 29 | Harry Schiller playing saxophone in 7th Division Swing Band | undated |
| 8 | 30 | “October 1943, Dust Bowl” Harry Schiller standing between buildings on military base | 1943 October |
| 8 | 31 | “A jive session in the (mess tent) Garage, H.C.S.” | undated |
| 8 | 32 | “Nov 1, 1944, Dear Harry: To a Fine Sincere & true Friend. May our Friendship continue on and on until all eternity, Your Pal, Raymond” Sailor playing clarinet | 1944 November 1 |
| 8 | 33 | Man playing piano | undated |
| 8 | 34 | Soldier standing near barracks door for 3rd Platoon, Co. D, 88th Infantry Training Battalion | undated |
| 8 | 35 | Soldier lying in bed in hospital ward | 1945 October 4 |
| 8 | 36 | Man in dress coat holding hat | undated |
| 8 | 37 | “Oahu – 1944 – Posin’ -Wish you were here – “ Harry Schiller in Hawaii | 1944 |
| 8 | 38 | “Another pose” Harry Schiller swinging golf club | 1944 |
| 8 | 39 | Two soldiers standing in clearing | 1944 |
| 8 | 40 | “November 1943, Somewhere in Hawaii, Saxes: Hutch, Strange, Daly, Schiller and McConnell” Band practicing | 1943 November |
| 8 | 41 | Harry Schiller and woman standing on sidewalk | undated |
| 8 | 42 | Two older women and small boy sitting at kitchen table | undated |
| 8 | 43 | “George Maedel & Ed – Gene calls George Ba” Young man holding a child, and older man standing next to them | 1944 May 1 |
| 8 | 44 | Woman on sidewalk holding a child | 1944 May 1 |
| 8 | 45 | Harry Schiller’ mother and father standing in front of fenced yard | undated |
| 8 | 46-52 | Mr. and Mrs. Schiller and neighborhood children and friends | undated |