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Harry S. Holcomb photograph collection

 Collection
Identifier: P1402

Scope and Contents

The Harry S. Holcomb photograph collection consists of 2 boxes containing 26 images. Box 1 contains black-and-white photographs of Holcomb's military service, his career as a police officer for the railroad, and his family. Box 2 consists of 5 panorama photographs of groups of men in the United States military taken at Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; and Camp Dix, New Jersey.

Dates

  • 1910-1930

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Harry S. Holcomb photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.

Biographical Note

Harry Sherman Holcomb was born on June 12, 1888, in Holt County, Nebraska, to Louisa Matilda Entley and Richard D. Holcomb. He entered the United States Army in 1910 and became part of the United States 2nd Cavalry Regiment, also known as the 2nd Dragoons. Holcomb was first stationed in the Philippine Islands as part of the United States occupation force. In 1912, Holcomb was transferred with his unit to Texas to secure the destabilized border during the Mexican Civil War. On November 21, 1915, Harry Holcomb married Ruby Belle Rood; together, they had four children.

When the United States entered the First World War in 1917, Holcomb moved into the field artillery and fought in the American Expeditionary Force in France. The next year, his first child was born and he returned to the United States. For a time he worked at Coronel Military Academy in Texas. During the 1920s, Holcomb became a police officer for the New York Central Railroad, a profession he kept for a quarter century. Holcomb became an excellent marksman and was assigned to protect foreign and federal officials that traveled on the railroad including Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and Dwight D. Eisenhower. While living in Niagara Falls, New York, Holcomb continued to be a reservist for the Army. He left the Army Reserve in 1939 and retired from the railroad in 1956. He then moved to Florida where he lived until his death on March 4, 1958.

Extent

26 items (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Harry S. Holcomb (1888-1958) served in the United States Army as a member of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. Holcomb was stationed in the Philippines and Texas; he also served in France during World War I. After leaving the military, Holcomb worked as a police officer for the New York Central Railroad. This collection contains photographs and panoramas of Holcomb's military service, his career in law enforcement, and images of his family and life in Niagara Falls, New York.

Arrangement

Arranged by subject

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Barbara Faulring in 2006.

Separated Materials

See also the Harry S. Holcomb papers (ACCN 2315) in the Manuscripts Division of Special Collections.

Processing Information

Processed by Special Collections staff.
Title
Guide to the Harry S. Holcomb photograph collection
Author
Finding aid created by Claire A. Kempa.
Date
2023
Description rules
Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid encoded in English in Latin script.

Repository Details

Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository

Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863