Richard English papers

The papers of educator and World War II veteran, Richard W. English, contains correspondence, educator and military records, and photographs related to his service in the all-black combat unit, the 761^ST Tank Battalion, during World War II (1942-1945), his post-war service in Germany (1945-1950), and his work as a teacher and administrator in the public schools of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Correspondence (1945-1982) includes a number of letters between English and the Orleans Parish School Board. This correspondence illustrates English's deep-rooted passion for teaching and community involvement with organizations related to civil rights, such as the National Association of Colored People (NAACP), the Louisiana Council on Human Relations, the Community Relations Council of Greater New Orleans, and the Crescent City Quarterbacks Club.

Military records (1942-1980; bulk 1942-1953) comprise of orders with additional materials for medical evaluation and ephemera from his time living overseas. Of interest is a report regarding the inspection of the Kitzingen Basic Training Center APO 800 U.S. Army. English worked for years to have the wartime contributions of the 761st Tank Battalion recognized and correspondence and ephemera regarding can also be found within the papers.

English's work as an educator and administrator in the New Orleans public schools consist of a small amount of ephemera with occasional correspondence regarding his work at Samuel J. Green Junior High School.

The bulk of the photographic items contain printed photo postcards of buildings and landscapes in European cities that English and his family collected during their travels. English's personal photographs depict family life in postwar Germany; students and faculty at James Lewis Elementary School and Samuel J. Green Junior High School in New Orleans; as well as wartime images of the 761^ST Tank Battalion. Of note are two images of boxer, Aaron Wilson (circa 1942), who learned to box in the Army and became a professional boxer following the war. Of interest, are photographic reprints from the 1936 Olympics souvenir book, Olympia 1936: die Olympischen Spiele in Berlin und Garmisch-Partenkirchen Band 2 (Germany: Cigaretten-Bilderdienst Altona-Bahrenfeld), 1936.

News clippings within the papers cover English's service in the Army, post-wartime service, and professional work as a principal in the Orleans Parish public school system. Ephemera and oversized materials consist of English's educational and military awards and certificates (1923-1987), including his Purple Heart medallion, five Battle Stars, and six other medals. Additional ephemera and photographs include a Third Reich Nazi flag (circa 1945), a panoramic photograph of U.S. Army, Second Engineer School Regiment at the Officer Candidate School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia (1942); a postcard album; and scrapbook (circa 1945-1950).