H. Randolph Holder family papers

Descriptive Summary
Title: H. Randolph Holder family papers
Creator: Holder, Clement Lacey-Baker, 1920-2013
Creator: Holder, Howard Randolph, 1916-2002
Inclusive Dates: 1933-2002
Language(s): English
Extent: 6.25 Linear Feet (10 boxes)
Collection Number: ms3821
Repository: Hargrett Library

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Collection Description

Historical Note

Howard Randolph Holder (1916-2002) was born in Moline, Illinois to James William and Charlotte Brega Holder. He served in World War II in Co. E, 1st Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division. He was captured February 15, 1943 in North Africa and held in prison camp Oflag 64 (Szubin, Poland) until January 1945. He married Clementi Lacey-Baker of Louisville, Kentucky in 1942 and they had four children. They moved to Athens, Georgia in 1948 where Holder was a radio announcer, news director, and part owner of Clarke Broadcasting Corporation.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of biographical information, correspondence, writings, photographs, printed material and scrapbooks. There is much correspondence between "Howie" Holder and his wife and family during World War II. One group of letters from Clementi to her husband while he was a POW were found in the prison camp 40 years after the war and returned to them. In 1995 Holder wrote a book about his POW experiences titled Escape to Russia.

Of special interest are letters between Clementi Lacey-Baker and Anton Frederik van Dam (1920-1976) in the Netherlands. They were both 18 years old in 1938 when they began a pen pal relationship. They continued to be friends until his death in 1976. One of his letters was listed in the 1972 Guiness Book of World Records as the longest letter ever written. It was begun in 1940 and ended in 1945, and gave details about the German invasion of his country and the effect on his family. Years later Clementi transcribed this 514 page letter and titled it "Dear Clem."

Printed material includes newsletters from the prison camp titled The Oflag 64 Item. There are scrapbooks/photo albums of H. Randolph and Clementi Holder, Susan Lacey-Baker, and Anton van Dam.

Organization and Arrangement

Organized into 7 series based on format.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

H. Randolph Holder family papers, ms3821, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Related Collections in this Repository

Related audiovisual materials from this collection are housed in the Walter J. Brown Media Archive: http://purl.libs.uga.edu/brown/har-ms3821/bmac-coll

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

1. Biographical Information
box	folder
Request box
1	1	Howard Randolph Holder
1	2	Clementi Lacey-Baker Holder

 

2. Correspondence
box	folder
Request box
1	3	Family, 1934, 1942 February-April
1	4	Family, 1942 May-June
1	5	Family, 1942 July-August
1	6	Family, 1942 September
1	7	Family, 1942 October
1	8	Family, 1942 November-December
1	9	Family, 1943 January-February
1	10	Family, 1943 March-December
1	11	Family, 1944
1	12	Family, 1945, undated
1	13	From Clementi Holder to H. Randolph Holder, Information re: discovery of these letters 40 years later, 1984
1	14	From Clementi Holder to H. Randolph Holder, 1943 January-August
1	15	From Clementi Holder to H. Randolph Holder, 1943 September
1	16	From Clementi Holder to H. Randolph Holder, 1943 October-December
1	17	From Clementi Holder to H. Randolph Holder, 1944 January-February
1	18	From Clementi Holder to H. Randolph Holder, 1944 March-September
1	19	Letters from others re: Holder as POW, 1943-1945
box	folder
Request box
2	1	A-Z
2	2	Awarding of Military Medals, 1983, 1989
2	3	Boy Scouts of America, 1933, 1989
2	4	Rotary Club, 2000-2002
2	5	Friends of the Georgia Museum, 1974
2	6	George Washington Award for Patriotic Achievement, 1996
2	7	Governor's Commission on the Status of Women, 1963-1967
2	8	Invitations, 1964-1965
2	9	Carl E. Sanders, 1995
2	10	Henry Soderberg, 1995-1997
2	11	Robert G. Stephens, Jr., 1964, 1968
box	folder
Request box
3	1	Clementi Lacey-Baker to Anton van Dam, Volume I, 1937-1939
3	2	Clementi Lacey-Baker to Anton van Dam, Volume II, 1939 June-1941
3	3	Anton van Dam to Clementi Lacey-Baker, letters removed from Volume I, 1938-1939 June
3	4	Anton van Dam to Clementi Lacey-Baker, letters removed from Volume II, 1939 June-1941
3	5	Anton van Dam to Clementi Lacey-Baker Holder, letters removed from Volume II, 1973, undated
3	6	To Clementi Lacey-Baker from friends of Anton van Dam, letters removed from Volume II, 1940-1941
box	folder
Request box
4	1	Anton van Dam to Clementi Lacey-Baker pp. 1-75, 1940 June 24-1941 May 18
4	2	Anton van Dam to Clementi Lacey Baker pp. 76-150, 1941 May 18-November 9
4	3	Anton van Dam to Clementi Lacey-Baker pp. 151-225, 1941 November 14-1942 March 7
4	4	Anton van Dam to Clementi Lacey-Baker pp. 226-300, 1942 March 7-August 16
4	5	Anton van Dam to Clementi Lacey-Baker pp. 301-375, 1942 August 16-1943 May 4
4	6	Anton van Dam to Clementi Lacey-Baker pp. 376-450, 1943 May 4-1945 March 12
4	7	Anton van Dam to Clementi Lacey-Baker pp. 451-514, 1945 March 12-July 15
4	8	Anton van Dam to Clementi Lacey-Baker, typescripts - Part One, 1940 June 24-1941 July 6
4	9	Anton van Dam to Clementi Lacey-Baker, typescripts - Part Two, 1941 July 12-December 10
box	folder
Request box
5	1	Anton van Dam to Clementi Lacey-Baker, typescripts - Part Three, 1941 December 11-1942 May 5
5	2	Anton van Dam to Clementi Lacey-Baker, typescripts - Part Four, 1942 May 7-1943 January 9
5	3	Anton van Dam to Clementi Lacey-Baker, typescripts - Part Five, 1943 January 17-1944 September 15
5	4	Anton van Dam to Clementi Lacey-Baker, typescripts - Part Six, 1945 March 12-July 15

 

3. Writings
box	folder
Request box
2	12	Clarke Broadcasting Corporation, KVML/KZSQ, 1993
2	13	Clarke Broadcasting Corporation, WGAU/WNGC, 1996
2	14	Editorials/Letters to Editors by Randolph Holder, 1960-2002
2	15	Humor
2	16	Rotary Club, Georgia Rotary Student Program
2	17	Rotary Club, Speeches by H. Randolph Holder, 1994, undated
2	18	Speeches by H. Randolph Holder, 1995, undated
2	19	Speeches - Christmas in Prison Camp by H. Randolph Holder, 1990
2	20	Speeches - Christmas Remembered by H. Randolph Holder, undated
2	21	Tribute to H. Randolph Holder by unknown author
2	22	by Clementi Holder, undated
2	23	by other authors, undated
2	24	"A Grand Tour of Russia to Odessa, Winter 1945" by Herbert L. Garris, 1993
2	25	"Escape to Russia" by John R. Sutherland
box	folder
Request box
6	1	Escape to Russia by H. Randolph Holder, Volume I typed and bound
6	2	Escape to Russia by H. Randolph Holder, Volume II typed and bound
box	folder
Request box
7	1	Escape to Russia by H. Randolph Holder, published version, 1995
7	2	Escape to Russia by H. Randolph Holder, review, order form,illustrations

 

4. Financial Papers
box	folder
Request box
8	1	1937-1958

 

5. Printed Materials
box	folder
Request box
8	2	H. Randolph Holder
8	3	Clementi Lacey-Baker Holder
8	4	Art auction / festival (Athens, Ga.), 1964, undated
8	5	Boy Scouts of America, 1933, 1973-1985
8	6	Chamber of Commerce (Athens, Ga.), 1968-2003
8	7	Cigar band collection
8	8	Maps, Netherlands, Germany, 1944, undated
8	9	Medal of Honor Award, 1983
8	10	"The Past is Ever Present... in Athens, Georgia", 1971
8	11	Programs, 1967-2003
8	12	Rotary Club, 1951-2001
8	13	Various Subjects
8	14	World War II, newspapers/newsletters, La Voce, Egyptian Mail, Kregie Times, The Circuit, 1944-1945
8	15	World War II, Oflag 64 prison camp, "The Oflag 64 Item" newsletter, 1943-1945
8	16	World War II, Oflag 64 prison camp theater and sports programs, 1943-1945
8	17	World War II, re: prisoners of war
8	18	World War II, war ration books

 

6. Photographs

box

folder

Request box

8

19

Photographs

 

7. Scrapbooks
box	folder
Request box
9	1	H. Randolph and Clementi Holder, 1941-1972
box	folder
Request box
10	1	H. Randolph Holder, 1995-1999
10	2	Susan Lacey-Baker, H. Randolph Holder, 1956-1961
10	3	Anton Van Dam, 1938-1980