Scrapbooks

Grace Coolidge, Charles' mother, kept two scrapbooks during the war. 

 

The first scrapbook was kept from the time he left for basic training (June 1942) up until he left Italy to invade France (August 1944). It contains his correspondence home, detailing his training, landings in North Africa and Italy, as well as a few photos from basic training and Italy. After August of 1944, she kept his letters and keepsakes in a box. You can find that correspondence in the Letters section of this site.

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The second scrapbook (affectionately referred to as the "Big Red Book"), consisted primarily of all the newspaper clippings she kept from about the time they found out he was returning home until a few months after his return. They include clippings about his Medal of Honor announcement as well as many clippings about Chattanooga's "Coolidge Day" and the parade held in Charles' honor.