Military Archive of Black WWII Medical Officer Captain Clark Valentine, with Photographs, Documents, Insignia, and Related Ephemera

Archive identified to African American medical officer Captain Clark McRay Valentine, incl. photographs, documents, insignia, and related ephemera. Lot comprised of 3 scrapbooks (two bound, one loose) and assorted papers and militaria relating to the life of Captain Clark M. Valentine (1905-1988), US Army Medical Corps, including his work in the Civilian Conservation Corps beginning 1933 to his retirement in 1956. (Scrap book pages flaking and cracking along the edges, age discolorations and some short tears to papers, some toning and occasional staining to photographs).

Included photographs are: collection of images captured from German Prisoners of War; concentration camp victims; body disposal at concentration camps; Clark Valentine as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps at Camps Custer, Baldwin, Axim, Annawan; brothers in arms; famous tourist destinations throughout Italy and Germany; photographs taken of a retired Captain Valentine taken for the Battle Creek Enquirer and News; and images of his wife Frances "Frank" when she flew to Europe to visit him. Also included are: the Buffalo 92nd Infantry Division company newspaper dated 25 August 1945; assortment 28 of US Army uniform buttons; pair of Italian Royal Army Infantry Officer M34 shoulder boards; two WWII German Coastal Artillery field uniform shoulder boards; US Army Combat Medic armband with inspection stamp; copy of his Commissioning Certificate listing him as a Captain in the Officers' Reserve Corps of the United States Army. Further includes letters sent by Valentine to his wife discussing the challenges they faced driving across country in the United States, the absence of Jim Crow in his unit, and expressing his own love and affection homeward. Additionally includes: Activation Ceremony admission for the 92nd Infantry Division; assorted telegrams and newspaper articles related to Captain Valentine's years with the 92nd Infantry Division.

Born 22 November 1905, Clark McRay Valentine lived in Battle Creek, Michigan when he filed his registration for the draft at the age of 35. He worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps during the hard years of the Great Depression, and was working at the Holmes Motor Sales Agency before reporting for duty with the US Army. Posted to the 317th Medical Battalion of the 92nd Infantry Division, which was sent to Italy in September, 1944, and continued to serve until the end of the Italian Campaign concluding 2 May 1945. Valentine served for over 20 years with the US Army, and was later commissioned into the Reserve Officers' Corps as a Captain. His DD 214 lists his final rank as SFC(E-6), or a Sergeant First Class. Returning to Battle Creek, Michigan after the war, Clark reunited with his wife Frances (whom he affectionally called "Frank") and son Charlie. He remained in Michigan the rest of his life, later photographed in the uniform of a Sergeant First Class for photographs taken by the Battle Creek Enquirer. Captain Clark McRay Valentine died on 12 February 1988, and is interred at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Michigan. An important collection of photographs, documents, and ephemera relating the career of an African American soldier who served during the bloodiest war in human history and amidst major changes in race relations within the US Army.