Rhoda's collection is separated into a three series: Manuscripts, Photographs, and Scrapbooks. Often included in the collection are short explanatory notes from Ziesler, providing context to different items.
Manuscripts (1939-2007) include a diary, letters, orders, news clippings and other ephemera gathered by Ziesler from her service and civilian life.
The diary (1941-1942), is a small bound volume handwritten by Ziesler and describes her journey from when she leaves Wisconsin in October 1941 to when she arrives in Hawaii in November, 1941. Of particular interest is the entry written on December 9, 1941, detailing the events of December 7, 1941 and her actions that day. Included in the first scrapbook is a telegram Zeisler sent to her parents on December 9, 1941, informing them that she was well and safe.
Several books are included in the collection and pertain to her time in Hawaii. The prayer book was given to Ziesler by her parents in 1943, two of the books, “In an Old Hawaiian Garden” and “Patterns in Tapa” Ziesler sent to her mother. One book, “I Live Upon and Island,” was given to Ziesler by three of her patients for Christmas. The last three books “The History of the Catholic Mission in Hawaii” and “Paradise of the Pacific”, which has two volumes from December 1942 and 1943, are books Ziesler collected during her time in Hawaii.
Correspondence from Rhoda include several letters she wrote to her family during her time in Hawaii to update them on current events in her life. Letters written from family and friends to Rhoda offer news in exchange and update her on their lives. Of interest is a letter written by her father to a radio company, arranging to have Ziesler on the radio program “Hawaii Calls”, and were later forwarded to Rhoda. Also included from her appearance on Hawaii calls is a photograph of her recording the show and a recorded disc of the show.
Newsclippings, notes and memorabilia are all things that Ziesler collected during her time in service. Many news clippings focus on news about other servicemen and women from her hometown, weddings of friends and mentions of Ziesler or Pearl Harbor in the news. Ziesler studied the attack on Pearl Harbor and collected articles and stories about what happened at Pearl Harbor, the effect it had on people, and new information about the attack as it came out. These articles are included in the news clippings. Many other news clippings, articles and pieces of memorabilia can be found in scrapbooks 1-3. Notes include several explanatory notes written by Ziesler later in life about parts of her collection.
The Pearl Harbor Grams included in the collection are from the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, one of which includes a note Ziesler wrote for her friend and fellow nurse Irma Block after she had died.
Orders, communication and service records all detail Ziesler's time in the military and include general orders about censorship and behavior. The contents of Ziesler's wallet from her time in the service include her identification materials and several small keepsakes. Photographs from her wallet can be found in color photographs and photographs.
Memorials, honors and remembrances in this collection include programs from several Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremonies and a copy of Ziesler's obituary.
Sound recordings in this collection consist of six records, all of which have been transferred on to CDs for preservation purposes. Two records have parts of a radio program called “Hawaii Calls.” This program was recorded in Hawaii and broadcast in the United States, offering service men and women a chance to say hello to their families in the United States and tell them how they are. The two discs include a recording of Ziesler greeting her family and three other men from Wisconsin greeting their friends and family. Two more records contain greetings from Ziesler to her family, both recorded in Michigan while she served there. On one record, she is with close friends, the Philo family, which is featured in the photograph series, and tells them about her weekend. In another recording made with the help of the Philos, Ziesler and her visiting friend Evelyn wish her family a happy Easter and inform Ziesler's family that she has been promoted to head nurse of her ward. On another disc are recordings of well wishes from Ziesler's friends and family when she left for Hawaii. The last disc is of a woman singing hymns.
Photographs (1939-1946), include professional photographs and those taken by Ziesler. Most of the photographs have writing on the back from Ziesler or others, commenting on who is in the photograph and what is happening in the image.
Photographs include Camp Claiborne and Fort Custer, including a road trip taken by several nurses to get back to Fort Custer from Camp Claiborne. Other photographs feature Ziesler's close friends the Philos.
Photographs of Hawaii include scenery, native Hawaiians, and beaches. Of interest in the photograph series is the photograph of Ziesler taping “Hawaii Calls” (B5, F15). Other photographs of interest include Ziesler on December 9, 1941, returning to her home for the first time since she'd left it at 7 AM on December 7. Ziesler writes on the back that she had put on a surgical gown to cover the mess on her uniform. Post-Pearl Harbor gear and drill photographs include photographs of Ziesler and other nurses in helmets and gas masks, taking swimming tests and visiting the graves of those killed. Ziesler writes on the back of the cemetery photograph that cameras were not yet allowed, and that she was lucky she did not get caught taking a picture.
Many of her photographs feature herself and her friends exploring the islands, visiting homes and swimming in a lagoon in Hawaii. Other photographs feature the Schofield Barracks base and hospital, and a trip to the Mormon temple on Oahu.
Scrapbooks (1940-1944) consist of three scrapbooks and were compiled by Ziesler and document her time in the Army Nurse Corps. The scrapbooks were dismantled for preservation purposes. Scrapbook pages were numbered and remain in the order they were created. Materials that were loose in the scrapbook have been numbered by page and placement on the page and are kept with the manuscript materials. Each scrapbook has similar materials inside, including cards for birthdays and holidays, orders from the military, letters from friends and family, ephemera she gathered, photographs, and news clippings.
Scrapbook 1, (1940-1944) covers Ziesler's deployment to Hawaii, telegrams she sent home informing them when she'd arrived at Fort Mason and in Hawaii. Of note is a single telegram that reads “Well and Safe, Rhode Ziesler.” The telegram was sent December 9, arriving in Manitowoc on December 10, and is referenced in news clippings, her diary and several letters. Zielser hopes her parents received her word and worries when they do not respond, and Ziesler's family spreads the word that she was not hurt so widely that it was published in several newspapers. Other materials in this scrapbook include several cards wishing her well in Hawaii, notes sent by others and ephemera she gathered on her trip to Hawaii and while in Hawaii. The scrapbook also includes several sets of orders and information sent out by the army. News clippings in this scrapbook focus on her deployment to Hawaii, her safety after Pearl Harbor, and the lives of her friends from the Army Nurse Corps and Manitowoc. She documents weddings, travel and the deaths of those in service form her hometown. Other news clippings include jokes, poetry, comic strips, and news about the war all around the world.
Scrapbook 2 (1942-1943) consists mainly of newspaper clippings with news about the war. Another focus is nurses, especially those from Manitowoc. It also includes many cards, notes, letters, postcards and other ephemera Ziesler gathered. This scrapbook also includes clippings about Mrs. Roosevelt's visit to Hawaii and Ziesler's hospital.
Scrapbook 3 (1943-1944) is the smallest of the three and includes news clippings about her promotion to captain and the promotion of her friend Irma Block are included in this scrapbook. Materials from her trip home to visit her sick mother are included in this scrapbook.
