The Century Division
Historical Holding Center
(Formerly the 100th Division Museum and Archives)
The Century Division Historical Holding Center of the
Association of the Century, Inc., was recognized and sanctioned as an Army
Historical Holding Center by the Center of Military History in 1995.
As an approved Army Historical Holding Center, the items of
historical artifacts and papers donated to the center become the property of the
Center of Military History. Items on loan to the center remain the
property of the individual loaning the items.
Should the Century Division Historical Holding Center cease to
exist, the Center of Military History, would direct the disposition of the
center's holdings.
The center will continue to accept historical artifacts and
papers relating only to the 100th Infantry, Airborne or Training Division from
WWI to present. The center's curator states that the Association
appreciates the unselfish donations that have been made. At present there
are over 3,000 line items of historical records and artifacts. Many of
these items are on display at the MG Benjamin J. Butler U.S. Army Reserve Center
at 3600 Century Division Way, in Louisville, KY.
During the past year we have integrated the holding
center's record keeping in accordance with the Universal Site Artifact
Management System (USAMS). Some
3,500 records are in the process of being amended to comply with the USAMS
system. The center has obtained the
required Army Regulations pertaining to Army Museums, AR 870-5 and AR 870-20,
printed the correct DA Forms from these regulations for use in obtaining gifts
for the center, making loans of equipment and compliance with current
regulations, reports COL Lee G. Harris, Jr. (Ret), Curator.
Division has provided a dedicated telephone line for the
center to facilitate the computer connection with the National Historical
Holding Center and our participation within the Universal Site Artifact
Management System.
Material was researched from The Institute of Heraldry (TIOH)
pertaining to the 100th Infantry Division and the 100th
Division as a reserve division.
The center received many donations of pins, badges,
uniforms, field equipment, video tapes, books, papers and documents during the
past year, all of which pertain to specific times and activities of the 100th
Division. These are in the process
of being cataloged, under the USAMS system, and filed or displayed as
appropriate.
During the period COL Harris stated the center received
requests to support or furnish information for the following activities:
-
Prepare the center to support the second Army
Reserve Awareness Day held on 12 April 2003 and hosted by the 100th
Division (IT).
-
Cold War Exhibit - David E. Hilkert, Staff
Historian, Office of Army Reserve History, U.S. Army Reserve Command (USARC),
Fort McPherson, GA. His request
was: "We are currently rebuilding exhibits in the USARC headquarters
that depict the history of the Army Reserve for the cold war period.
I want to include something about the 100th's
participation in the Berlin crisis. Photographs,
preferably electronic images, of 100th Division soldiers during
the mobilization. Any artifacts
that pertain to the period would be great."
-
Request for tour by MAJ Randall Grenier (Ret) for
veterans of the American Legion Post #244, Jeffersontown, KY on 10 May 2003.
-
Request for information on the 100th
Division for periods 1921 - 1941 and 1946 - 1970 for research project being
made by Mr. Clay Steven of Fort Leavenworth, KS.
What the center did to comply with the requests:
-
With the assistance of CSM Dunn, COL Kessler, COL Rowe
and my wife we cleaned, reorganized and updated the display cabinets of the
center during the period of 24 March to 10 April 2003 in preparation for the
Army Reserve Awareness Day conducted on 12 April. CSM Dunn, LTC Morgan, COL
Kessler and COL Rowe conducted the tours for the congressional associates.
-
Forwarded many items to Mr. Hilkert for the Cold War
Exhibit. His comments follow: "I received the material pertaining to
the 100th Division and thank you for the material sent via mail
and by e-mail. It was
wonderful. I have already
mounted some of the photos with captions.
They will make a very nice part of our exhibits and be an important
piece for depicting the Army Reserve history."
-
Colonel Harris conducted the tour for the veterans from
American Legion Post 244 on Saturday, 10 May. These men were very
appreciative and enjoyed their tour, he said.
-
In regards to the request from Mr. Clay of Fort
Leavenworth, this is an ongoing work. Personnel
will continue to work on this project as time permits.
AOC board member are encouraged to ask members to make
gifts of equipment and memorabilia from the WWII period (European Theatre) and
from various units to help make the displays more representative of the Division
and it's history.
Specifically from the Brigades, S&S Battalion, Aviation
detachment, Reception Station, etc need to furnish copies of MTOE/TDAs and
manning charts of these units. These
are examples of our items of interest.
As curator Colonel Harris continues to look for photos of
the old division headquarters buildings before the new MG Benjamin J. Butler
Center was built here at Bowman Field in Louisville. Since his last request for these photos, he has received
photos of the construction of the new center from LTC William Howard (Ret) and
has information from COL Joseph Brill (Ret) where other photos may be located.
This is an ongoing project.
COL Charles Gray (Ret) has been asked to write
his recollection of the Division structure and its sub-units from the mid-1950s
to his retirement.
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