James W. Creasman Papers

The James W. Creasman Papers consists of 30 boxes and is comprised of correspondence, genealogical information, speeches, presentations, radio broadcast scripts, photographs, ephemera and personal artifacts.

Series I: Arizona State University contains 9 boxes of materials covering Jimmie’s university tenure both as a student and employee. The bulk of the series contains correspondence (ranging in dates from 1934-1985) with colleagues, university presidents and members of the community. These papers document his role in three very important milestones both in his career and for the college he so faithfully served: the beginning of the Alumni Association, the name change from Arizona State College to Arizona State University, and the building of the Memorial Union. Other items included are posters, fliers, and other university related ephemera along with many photographs of people, places and events.

Series II: Peace Corps contains 4 boxes of materials related to Jimmie’s role managing the ASU chapter of the Peace Corps in Mato Grosso, Brazil. This series contains business correspondence and status reports as well as personal correspondence to his family and friends. There are several photographs of the Mato Grosso area as well as many of the ASU students who were part of the volunteer program.

Series III: Personal Records contains 9 boxes of materials relating to Jimmie’s employment and community work both before and during his tenure at Arizona State University. It contains correspondence, speeches and photographs and ranges from 1936 (when he was the KTAR Radio Production Manager) to 1989 (when he was on the board of the Salvation Army). This series also includes correspondence and photographs from when Jimmie did regular advertisements for the Valley National Bank, scripts from his radio show in 1942, and personal correspondence and photographs from and to family and friends.

Series IV: Military Service contains 8 boxes of materials relating to Jimmie’s military service both during World War II and in the US Army Reserves. This series primarily consists of correspondence from and to family and friends while he was stationed in Europe from 1943 to 1946. It also contains reports, photographs and the unit newsletter he wrote describing the horrific conditions they found upon entering Dachau. The latter part of this series contains his promotions with his continued service through the Army Reserves and reunions with his World War II division, the 42nd Infantry Rainbow Division.