Merchant Marines – USN medal for bravery, 1932 Sep.

The William C. Wallace Papers contain information on William C. and Jean (Baker) Wallace and their daughter Mary (Wallace) Baker. Mary was responsible for collecting the papers. The collection consists primarily of correspondence, photographs, and genealogy information. There are family letters and over 200 photographs dating from the late nineteenth century to the late twentieth century.

Series I, William C. Wallace Family, contains information on the Wallace family and their antecedents, dating from 1887 to 1995. The materials are organized according to subject or family member. Materials include scrapbooks and yearbooks from William and Jean’s time at Coshocton High School; materials pertaining to William’s time serving in the Merchant Marines; legal documents; documents and newspapers from the Coshocton (OH) Tribune, where William was managing editor; papers of Fredrick and Lettie (Burns) Wallace, William’s parents; World War II correspondence between William and Jean; an oral history “The Story of My Life” by Gram Wallace (Jean Laird Wallace); and correspondence and engagement announcement of Mary (Wallace) Baker. Of particular note are a deck work log, and a medal and plaque received due to lifesaving efforts in 1932; an Olive Branch Commencement program dated 1894, the oldest original document in the collection from Lettie (Burbs) Wallace; a school program from 1887, the second oldest original document in the collection, in which Fredrick Wallace gave the “Class Prophecy”; correspondence between Fredrick Wallace and his mother during Fredrick’s time in the army in 1898; and the WWII correspondence of William and Jean Wallace, which is arranged in the original grouping order the materials were received upon donation.

Series II, Genealogy, contains documents from 1805 to 1995 created or accumulated by Jean (Laird) Wallace and Mary (Wallace) Baker primarily for the purpose of gathering a genealogical record, apparently with the goal of joining the Children of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution. This series includes information on the Burns, Cecil, Sweet, and Wallace families, with information dating circa 1700 to 1995; however, all copies in this series are from the twentieth century. There are lineages, family Bibles, obituaries and memoirs, and family history materials covering these families from approximately when they came to North America, as early as 1700, to 1995. Much of the correspondence in the collection is typed copies of originals; it is unknown if the originals still exist and if they do, where they are located. The series also contains over 200 photographs, including two tintypes. Photographs are a non-organized group of pictures from two albums and loose photographs in the collection. The earliest dated photograph is from April 12, 1912, but there are many that appear to be much earlier. The collection also includes two tintypes. Some photos are labeled with names, but many of these only have first names.