Nathan Garfinkle papers
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
- Garfinkle, Nathan, 1921-2015 (Person)
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.
Processing Information
Processed by Amy Lazarus, October 2015.
Subject
- Garfinkle, Nathan, 1921-2015 (Person)
- Garfinkel family (Family)
- Clemson University (Organization)
- United States. Army. Chemical Warfare Service (Organization)
Source
- Garfinkle, M. Jerry (Donor, Person)
- 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
Special Collections
College of Charleston Libraries
66 George Street
Charleston South Carolina 29424
(843) 953-8016
(843) 953-6319 (Fax)