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Nathan Garfinkle papers

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 1138

Collection Overview

Photographs, photograph albums, military documents, certificates, correspondence, and other papers of Nathan Garfinkle. The largest portion of materials consists of photographs and photograph albums featuring Nathan's service with the Chemical Warfare Service, particularly at the Columbia Army Air Base and his deployment in the South Pacific, and a smaller number featuring his time at Clemson University and activities of various family members. Also contains military documents including correspondence, reports, and orders from his years of service during World War II (1942-1945), a small number of certificates (primarily military related), personal correspondence to family while serving in the Philippines and New Guinea, and ephemera such as clippings and an advertisement for the Charleston Mattress Company.

Dates

  • Creation: 1921-circa 1980

Creator

Language of Material

Materials in English

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Copyright Notice

The nature of the College of Charleston's archival holdings means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. Special Collections claims only physical ownership of most archival materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

Biographical Note

Nathan William Garfinkle (1921-2015) was born to Annie (1895-1966) and Sam Garfinkel (1887-1970) in Brooklyn, New York. Shortly after he was born, the family moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where Nathan attended Charleston High School. After high school, Nathan attended Clemson University and graduated in 1942. He enlisted in the army the same year and joined the Chemical Warfare Service (renamed U.S. Army Chemical Corps in 1946). He was stationed at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina, and the Columbia Army Air Base, located in Lexington County, until 1944 when he was deployed to the South Pacific, where he served in the Philippines and New Guinea.

He married Frances Solomon on June 18, 1944, shortly before his deployment. The couple had four children: Alan Garfinkle, Jerry Garfinkle, Bruce Garfinkle, and Jaine Garfinkle Nelson. Nathan was honorably discharged in 1956 as a Lieutenant Colonel. He then joined his father in operating the Charleston Mattress Company, a business started by his grandfather. He later established the Garfinkle Agency in 1970.

Note: Nathan chose to spell the family name differently, with the "-le" ending rather than "-el," which is the spelling used by his parents and siblings.

Extent

3.5 linear feet (3 document boxes, 1 oversize flat box, 2 oversize folders)

Abstract

Photographs, photograph albums, military documents, certificates, correspondence, and other papers of Nathan Garfinkle. Materials primarily document Garfinkle's service in the United States Army during World War II, with the largest portion of items consisting of photographs and photograph albums from his military service with the Chemical Warfare Service at the Columbia Army Air Base and his deployment in the South Pacific. A smaller number of photographs feature his time as a student at Clemson University and of assorted family members. Also contains military documents including correspondence, reports, and orders, and a small number of certificates, personal correspondence, and clippings.

Collection Arrangement

Materials are described at folder level.

Acquisitions Information

Materials donated in 2015 by Jerry Garfinkle.

Related Material

Related materials in Special Collections include Sandra Garfinkel and Morton Henry Shapiro papers (Mss 1120), and oral histories with Frances Solomon and Nathan Garfinkle (Mss 1035-75), Alex Garfinkel (Mss 1035-127), Jennie and Max Garfinkel (Mss 1035-176), Helen Garfinkel Rosenshein (Mss 1035-106), Olga Garfinkel Weinstein (Mss 1035-107) and Phillip Garfinkel (MSS 1035-103).

Processing Information

Processed by Amy Lazarus, October 2015.

Title
Inventory of the Nathan Garfinkle Papers, 1921-circa 1980
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by: Amy Lazarus; machine-readable finding aid created by: Amy Lazarus
Date
2015
Description rules
Dacs
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Special Collections
College of Charleston Libraries
66 George Street
Charleston South Carolina 29424
(843) 953-8016
(843) 953-6319 (Fax)