A Guide to the Bessie Goethel papers, 1940-1946

Biographical Note

Bessie G. Goethel was married to Louis N. Goethel, an Officer in the United States Army. Along with her participation in the USO Women's Club, she also trained in motor mechanics in order to serve as part of the Volunteer Special Services Unit of the Bexar County Red Cross in the Motor Corps. The Red Cross Motor Corps made deliveries between San Antonio Army Hospitals, including Brooke Hospital and Fort Sam Houston.

In 1943 Dogs for Defense, Inc. issued a call for dogs to serve in the war effort. The Goethels volunteered their setter, Fritizie, who they had adopted as a puppy in 1939. Fritzie served as a sentry for approximately a year with the Army before receiving an Honorable Discharge and being returned to his previous owners. During his service, Fritzie received an injury to his tail that would not heal properly and required amputation. Fritzie passed away May 13, 1945.

From 1939-1946, the Goethels were stationed at Camp Barkeley, near Abilene, Texas, Fort Sill, near Lawton, Oklahoma, and Fort Sam Houston, in San Antonio, Texas.

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Scope and Content Note

This collection consists of photographs, correspondence, clippings, scrapbooks, printed material and ephemera.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

This collection is housed at UTSA's Main Campus and must be accessed via the John Peace Library Special Collections reading room. To request access, please use the Collections Request Form.

Usage Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

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Related Materials

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Bessie Goethel papers, MS 243, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.

Acquisition Information

Received from Carl Lahser in July 2007 (Acc. 2007-081).

Processing Information

Collection processed by Nikki Lynn Thomas, Manuscripts Curator, February 2009.

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Guide to the Collection

Personal Materials

The bulk of Personal Materials documents the life of Friztie, the Goethel's dog that was voluntary given to the United States Army to be used as a war dog during World War II. Also included are materials related to Bessie Goethel's motor mechanics and first aid training courses as well as a scrapbook documenting her activies on a variety of Army bases.

Box

Folder

1

1

Fritzie's licenses,1941-1944 View Contents

2

Dogs for Defense, Inc. Certificate of Appreciation,March 24, 1944 View Contents

3

Fritzie's Honorable Discharge,March 25, 1944 View Contents

4

Return of Fritzie,March-April 1944 View Contents

5

Telegram of Fritzie's death,May 14, 1945 View Contents

16

Fritzie's biography,circa 1945 View Contents

Box

OM1

Oversize: Scrapbook [Abilene, Lawton and San Antonio]1942-1946 View Contents

Oversize: Motor Mechanics and First Aid courses notebook, 1944 View Contents

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Photographs
	Folder titles were provided from the photographs' captions. The first folder contains captions created by Bessie Goethel. Photocopies of captions have been filed with the appropriate photographs for ease of use. C-series was not part of the donation.
	Photographs have been arranged as they were received by the donor.
Box	Folder
1	6		A-series, September 7, 1939 View Contents
	7		B-series,1940 View Contents
	8		D-series,1942 View Contents
	9		Photograph captions, undated View Contents
	10		E-series,June 15, 1943 View Contents
	11		Western Union holiday window displays,1939-1940 View Contents
	12		Bessie and Louis Goethel and family, 1940-1941 View Contents
	13		Ethel and Jack Warner and Jim Harris in state park near Abilene,June 1943 View Contents
	14		Graduated Motor Mechanics,May 8, 1944 View Contents
	15		Fritzie and house, June 1944 View Contents
	17		Buffalo, parade and Lawton house,1944 View Contents
	18		Unidentified photographs,February 7, 1940 and undated View Contents

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Printed materials

Box

Folder

1

19

Driving Guides,1938-1944

"Chemistry and Wheels",1938 View Contents

"We Drivers ",1941 View Contents

"United Motors War-time Service Handbook",1943 View Contents

"State of Texas Driving Handbook "(Issued by Camp Malbry, Austin) and Driver Training Exam, 1944 View Contents

"Automobile User's Guide with Wartime Suggestions", undated View Contents

"Driver's Guide", undated View Contents

20

"Helpful Hints in the Preparation of Telegrams and Cablegrams" by Western Union, undated View Contents

21

"Painting is Fun", undated View Contents

22

War dogs clippings,circa 1943-1945 View Contents

23

Assorted ephemera and clippings, undated View Contents

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