Guide to the Clement H. Clower papers
1939-1993, bulk 1939-1946
Collection number: HMC-0566.
Creator: Clower, Clement H.
Title: Clement H. Clower papers.
Dates: 1939-1993, bulk 1939-1946.
Volume of collection: 0.45 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in the collection are in English.
Collection summary: Primarily photograph albums of a soldier who served with the 264th Separate Coast Artillery Battalion during World War II.
Biographical note:
Clement H. Clower, a native of West Virginia, served with the headquarters company of the 264th Separate Coast Artillery Battalion during World War II. The battalion was stationed at Dutch Harbor for 34 months, from 1942 to 1945. The unit’s quarters were located on the south and east slopes of Ballyhoo Mountain on Amaknak Island, overlooking Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army base located around the towns of Unalaska and Dutch Harbor during the war was called Fort Mears.
Collection description:
The collection consists of the contents of the World War II era photograph albums of Clement Clower, a member of the 264th Separate Coast Artillery Battalion, stationed near Dutch Harbor from 1942 to 1945. The collection includes unit reunion lists from 1990 and the original photographs and newspaper clippings from the albums. The first three albums concern Clower and his battalion at Dutch Harbor, and depict soldiers, buildings, facilities, ships, and scenery in the area. The fourth album concerns Clement Clower, his family and friends in West Virginia, and his friends from military service.
Arrangement: Materials in the collection are arranged by album.
Alternative formats: Xerographic copies of the albums were made to indicate the original order. Additionally, copy negatives have been made from selected prints.
Digitized copies: Selected photographs from the collection have been digitized and can be found on Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining copies please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives and Special Collections does not own copyright to the collection.
Preferred citation: Clement H. Clower papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Acquisition note: The collection was purchased by the Archives on eBay in 2002.
Processing information: The original albums were dismantled and the collection described by Jeffrey Sinnott in 2002. The guide to the collection was converted to current standard by Gwen Sieja in 2015.
Container list:
| Box/Folder | Description | Date |
| 1/1 | 264th Separate Coast Artillery Battalion Reunion Lists (Names, addresses, and deceased unit members) | undated, 1990 |
| 1/2-3 | Photographs and newspaper clipping from Album Number 1 (197 black and white prints; 33 black and white copy negatives, xerographic copy of album ). Newspaper clipping: “Battalion to Invade Sistersville for Reunion”; By Janet Sadler, The Intelligencer, Wheeling, West Virginia; Aug. 18, 1990. Subjects of the photographs include Clement Clower and fellow soldiers of the 264th Separate Coast Artillery Battalion, the unit’s quarters on the southern and eastern slopes of Ballyhoo Mountain above Dutch Harbor on Amaknak Island, Dutch Harbor, Unalaska, facilities at Fort Mears, and the surrounding area of Unalaska Island. Soldiers identified include: Hank Bergman, J. C. Beavers, Denver Biller, Carl Borch, Zachary T. Champlin, Clement Clower, Jack T. Conner, Joe Didonati, James D. Dietrich, Bill Engle, Lawton M. Hoover, Henry Kalinoski, Tommy E. Kerr, Bill Melican, Paul W. Nickolson, Norman Olson, Sim Hing Ong, Tony Joe Panzarella, Howard L. Pyle, Wilber L. Rice, William Schmitt, Joseph B. Steve, Al Thompson, J. Tong, and Fred Vochatzer. Soldiers identified by last name only include: Beidelman, Belles, Bestor, Braemer, Christensen, Conway, Captain Earl, Eckert, Captain Fick, Fitzpatrick, Gait, Gessner, Hessler, Hubbard, Hughes, Kellites, Lambert, Doc Leith, Long, Luke, McCurry, Michel, Philabaum, Pruitt, Robbins, Scot, Taylor, Toth, Voss, Colonel Wallace, and Whitvoet. Structures identified include: Unalaska Hospital, Barracks numbers 2-4, post exchange, post chapel, recreation hall, mess hall, theatre, and the Russian Orthodox Church in Unalaska. Geographic locations identified include: Ballyhoo Mountain, Beck Cove, Broad Bay, Eider Point, Hill 200, Hill 400, Hog Island, Humpy Cove, Iliuliuk Bay, Makushin Volcano, Morris Cove, Priest Rock, Mount Pyramid, Summer Bay, Ugadaga Pass, and Ulakta Head. | undated 1943, 1990 |
| 1/4-5 | Photographs from Album Number 2 (81 black and white prints; 2 black and white copy negatives, xerographic copy of album). Subjects of the photographs include Clement Clower and fellow soldiers of the 264th Separate Coast Artillery Battalion stationed at Dutch Harbor on Amaknak Island, and Clower’s family in West Virginia. Soldiers identified include: Marvin Adams, W.D. Bailey, J.C. Beavers, Hank Bergman, Denver Biller, Carl Borch, Zachary T. Champlin, Don Chappalear, Clement Clower, Emmett Conrad, M. Coombs, James D. Dietrich, Vince Gardner, Martin E. Hayes, Lawton M. Hoover, Bill Melican, Bill N. Lipscomb, Sim Hing Ong, Howard L. Pyle, Bernard Ringler, John C. Sariotis, Homer Sears, Gordon Smith, and Al Thompson. Soldiers identified by last name only include: Barrend, Belles, Clingingsmith, Cottman, Emmons, Pa Finnegan, Graber, Lambert, Micheals, Mize, Lieutenant Shannon, Van Lack, Van Pelt, Walling, and Wather. | undated, 1943 |
| 1/6 | Original album pages with mounted clippings from Album Number 2 plus loose clippings (Pages 15-31). Most of the mounted newspaper clippings concern West Virginia and U.S. Naval Reserve basketball player John Abramovic. The loose newspaper clippings concern the Aleutian Campaign during World War II. | undated, 1943, 1944 |
| 1/7-8 | Photographs from Album Number 3 (78 black and white prints; 1 color print; 22 black and white copy negatives; xerographic copy of album). Subjects of the photographs include Clement Clower and fellow soldiers of the 264th Separate Coast Artillery Battalion stationed at Dutch Harbor on Amaknak Island, and area facilities and scenery. Also included are two pictures of Attu Island and Massacre Bay there, a photo of the wreckage of a Japanese Zero on Akutan Island in 1942, and a color photo of Joseph B. Steve and his wife in 1993. Soldiers identified include: Clement Clower, John Harden, Martin E. Hayes, Lawton M. Hoover, Henry Kalinosky, Charles F. Laskowski, Edward Lloyd, Paul W. Nickolson, Norman Olson, Beaver Payne, Michael Ray, Robert Reno, Thurmond S. Reynolds, William Schmitt, Homer Sears, William L. Tippie, and Gerald Walker. Soldiers identified by last name only include: Craig, Greer, Scot, Vivion, Von Kenner, and Col. Wallace. Structures and facilities identified include: Unalaska Hospital (bombed June 4, 1943); Submarine Base Navy 151; Dutch Harbor during the air raid on June 3, 1942; Shoreline Road in Unalaska Village; Unalaska as viewed from the south; Ballyhoo Road; and ships in the harbor and bay. Geographic locations identified include: Amaknak Island, Ballyhoo Mountain, Dutch Harbor, Eider Point, and Iliuliuk Bay. | undated, 1942, 1993 |
| 1/9-10 | Photographs from Album Number 4 (102 black and white prints; 1 black and white copy negative; xerographic copy of album). Subjects of the photographs are primarily Clement Clower, his family and friends in West Virginia, and portraits and other photos of friends from military service. There are also group portraits of a basketball and baseball team of which Clower was a member. People identified include: Keith Broke, Clement Clower, George Deadrick, Hank DeNault, John Dyer, Jack Graves, John Green, Jim Harmon, Merle Hedrick, Jim Hill, Ray Hill, James Francis Honce, Byron Howse, Forest Kendall, Buck McAvoy, Bill Melican, Delmar Mongold, Dick Mongold, Merle Mongold, Sim Hing Ong, Jesse Riggleman, Evers Roberts, Charles Roby, Virgil Shanholtz, Jim Shuba, Raymond Spence, Ivan Swick, Ralph L. Thompson, Frank Turley, John A. Vinson, and Joe Wimer. “Kendall Making Headlines At Navy Pre-Flight School”; circa 1942. Mounted newspaper article on basketball player and coach Forest Kendall. | undated, 1939-1946 |