Guide to the Willis F. Hallock papers
1943-1945
Collection number: HMC-1503.
Creator: Hallock, Willis F.
Title: Willis F. Hallock papers.
Dates: 1943-1945.
Volume of collection: 0.4 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in the collection are in English.
Collection summary: Photographs and letters from a weather observer with the U.S. Army Air Corps who served on Shemya, Annette Island, and Adak during World War II.
Biographical note:
Willis Francis Hallock was born in 1910 in Brentwood, Long Island, New York. He was drafted into the Army in 1942 was assigned to what was then the 11th Air Corps Squadron, Weather (Regional Control), which was redesignated the 11th Weather Squadron in 1944. He was stationed at Chanute Field in Illinois, Boston, and Paine Field in Washington, before being sent to Shemya in July 1943. He was at Shemya until May 1944, when he moved to Annette Island, near Ketchikan. In February 1945, he was ordered to leave for Adak and spent a few days in Anchorage before finally arriving on Adak in March. Hallock was honorably discharged from the Army in November 1945. After World War II, he worked in the information booth for the Pennsylvania Railroad at New York’s Penn Station and later moved to San Francisco, where he worked for Pan Am. Willis Hallock died in Sonoma, California in 2007.
Collection description:
The collection consists of photographs taken by Willis F. Hallock while he was serving in Alaska during World War II, as well as letters he wrote to his sister in New York. The photographs include loose prints, as well as some that are mounted onto album pages. The photographs from Shemya depict a military camp, including the interiors and exteriors of tents and a control tower, as well members of Hallock’s squadron and scenery. The photographs from Annette island include the docks, the camp where Hallock was staying, scenery. There are also pictures of totem poles, a harbor, the USO lounge, and the Totem Room bar from the Ketchikan area. Images from Adak show Quonset huts and other military facilities, as well as service menbers and scenery. Hallock had access to a darkroom on Annette Island, and some of the prints are enlarged from their original size. In addition to the Alaska photographs, there are several images from a city outside of Alaska.
The majority of the letters are from Willis F. Hallock to his sister, Ruth Hawkins on Long Island. There is also one letter, to his niece, Ruthie Ann. The letters include descriptions of the living conditions, weather, and food at Paine Field, Shemya, Annette Island, and Adak. Hallock also writes of leisure activities, such as movies, photography, reading, and trips to Ketchikan and Metlakatla from Annette Island. There also several letters from Anchorage, where he stopped over between assignments. In some of the letters he mentions other men from his squadron.
Arrangement: The photographs are arranged in the order in which they arrived at the Archives. The letters are organized chronologically.
Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Copyright to materials created by Willis F. Hallock has been transferred to Archives & Special Collections. Materials not created by Hallock may be subject to copyright not owned by the Archives.
Preferred citation: Willis F. Hallock papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Related materials: For other collections related to World War II in Alaska, please see our World War II in Alaska topic guide.
Acquisition note: This collection was donated to Archives & Special Collections in 2025 by Willis Hallock’s niece, Ruth Ann Groh, who signed a deed of gift.
Processing information: This collection was described by Gwen Higgins in 2025.