The Ray Sherman papers and photographs are organized into two series: World War II Materials and Post-War Materials.
World War II Materials (1942-1946) is subdivided by Correspondence, Journals, Memoir, News Clippings, Photographs, Religious Texts, and Sound Recordings. The Correspondence subseries has been further subdivided by recipient. The papers within each subseries are arranged alphabetically. The bulk of the series consists of the correspondence that Sherman sent and received while he was in the Army, and as a POW. Correspondence that specifically relates to the time while Sherman was imprisoned can be found in Box 1, folders 5-7 and 10-20. The Journal subseries encompasses the journals that Sherman kept prior to being captured (Box 3), and the journal that he kept on scrap paper while he was a POW (Box 4). The original papers of the POW journal are now very fragile and difficult to read, but transcriptions by Sherman are included. The Memoir subseries contains two drafts of Sherman's book, along with some notes for the book. The memoir is an item that Sherman wrote using the transcribed journal. This book documents Sherman's time as a POW and all that he experienced while in the Army. There are maps of the different POW camps that he was taken to, along with a detailed account to his capture at Anzio and rescue a year and half later. The Photographs subseries consists of images of Sherman in uniform, and a few of him as a POW. Many of these images have descriptions of their content on the back. The Religious Texts subseries includes a small personal Bible, a book called “Jesus of Nazareth,” and a “New Testament and Psalms.” The small “New Testament and Psalms” was a bible that he had with him while he was in being held captive. Sherman kept notes and pressed flowers in this book, and they are found in Box 2, folder 6. Sound Recordings subseries includes an original Pepsi Cola phonograph recording of Sherman. Pepsi Cola had three service stations for men and women in the military, and one of the services that was provided was a phonograph recording that could be sent to family and loved ones. This message was recorded just prior to Sherman's deployment in 1943.
Post-War Materials (1942-2003) is subdivided by Correspondence, Military Records, News Clippings, Newsletters and Photographs. All papers within each subseries are arranged alphabetically. The Correspondence subseries primarily deals with Sherman keeping in contact with fellow veterans and POWs. Included is a letter with one veteran who was also a prisoner with Sherman. This letter is discussing recollections of the area they were being held prisoner in Germany. The Military Records subseries primarily contains papers regarding Sherman's time as a reservist in the Army. However, his pay stubs and vaccination records from WWII have been included in this subseries as they relate to his overall service. The News Clippings subseries has news articles related to Sherman and his time as a POW. There are also a few articles regarding the Battle of Anzio and POWs. Within the Newsletters subseries there are only two items, one from the “Stalag 7 B” organization, and one from the “Ex Prisoner of War” organization. Both of these items are regarding membership. Of particular interest is the Photographs subseries. While Sherman was a POW in Germany, he accepted a work detail on a farm with the Krause family. Sherman and the Krause family became close, and several years after the war Sherman went to go visit them. Further detail regarding Sherman's time working on the farm, and his relationship with the Krause family can be found in the journals in Boxes 3 and 4, and the memoir in Box 2. All of the photographs have corresponding negatives, but some of the negatives have not been developed.
