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Clarence Williams

Staff Sergeant Clarence Williams was a combat medic assigned to the US 122nd Medical Battalion, 42nd Division (the Rainbow Division) during World War II. Williams deployed to France in January 1945 and was present at the liberation of Dachau concentration camp in April of that year. Williams photographed both the liberation of Dachau and other experiences he had during the war in Europe. Growing up in Crescent and Council Bluffs, Iowa, he eventually settled in Lincoln, Nebraska after the war. Clarence’s collection of photographs and letters between he and his wife, Gretchen, detailing his World War II experiences were made available to the Institute for Holocaust by Clarences son, Dr. Tom Williams. There are instances where Clarence does not use proper English conventions in his descriptions. We have transcribed his writing as it appears in the original text. Hear Clarence's stories directly from his family members.


604 items

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 23, 1945

  • Date: September 23, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Rockettes Theatre Ticket

  • Date: September 21, 1945
  • Format: object

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 21, 1945

  • Date: September 21, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 20, 1945

  • Date: September 20, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 19, 1945

  • Date: September 19, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 18, 1945

  • Date: September 18, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 17, 1945

  • Date: September 17, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 16, 1945

  • Date: September 16, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 15, 1945

  • Date: September 15, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 14, 1945

  • Date: September 14, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 13, 1945

  • Date: September 13, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 12, 1945

  • Date: September 12, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 11, 1945

  • Date: September 11, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 10, 1945

  • Date: September 10, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 9, 1945

  • Date: September 9, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 8, 1945

  • Date: September 8, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 7, 1945

  • Date: September 7, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 6, 1945

  • Date: September 6, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

American Red Cross Beverage Card

  • Date: September 6, 1945
  • Format: object

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 6, 1945

  • Date: September 6, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 5, 1945

  • Date: September 5, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Mess Card

  • Date: September 1945
  • Format: object

Postcard from Hallein

  • Date: September 1945
  • Creator(s): Echte Fotografie
  • Format: postcard

Postcard from Hallein

  • Date: September 1945
  • Format: postcard

Postcard from Hallein

  • Date: September 1945
  • Format: postcard

Cabaret Theatre Ticket

  • Date: September 1945
  • Format: object

Postcard from Hallein

  • Date: September 1945
  • Format: postcard

Postcard from Hallein

  • Date: September 1945
  • Format: postcard

Postcard from Hallein

  • Date: September 1945
  • Format: postcard

Cabaret Theatre Ticket

  • Date: September 1945
  • Format: object

Postcard from Hallein

  • Date: September 1945
  • Creator(s): Echte Fotografie
  • Format: postcard

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 1, 1945

  • Date: September 1, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, August 31, 1945

  • Date: August 31, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Ration Card

  • Date: August 28, 1945
  • Format: object

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, August 23, 1945

  • Date: August 23, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Clarence Williams Lodging

  • Date: August 21, 1945
  • Format: object

Lucky Rail Terminal

  • Date: August 17, 1945
  • Format: object

Lucky Rail Terminal

  • Date: August 17, 1945
  • Format: object

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, August 17, 1945

  • Date: August 17, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, August 14, 1945

  • Date: August 14, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, August 13, 1945

  • Date: August 13, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, August 12, 1945

  • Date: August 12, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, August 11, 1945

  • Date: August 11, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, August 10, 1945

  • Date: August 10, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, August 9, 1945

  • Date: August 8, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Eisriesenwelt

  • Date: August 8, 1945
  • Format: object

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, August 8, 1945

  • Date: August 8, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, August 7, 1945

  • Date: August 7, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, August 6, 1945

  • Date: August 6, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, August 4, 1945

  • Date: August 4, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Clarence Williams Collection, Institute for Holocaust Education
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