Shirley Mae Stark papers, bulk 1967-1974

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Summary

Creators:
Stark, Shirley Mae
Abstract:
The papers of Shirley Mae Stark, wife of American prisoner of war William Stark and advocate on behalf of the American prisoners of war (POWs) in Vietnam, consist of correspondence, newsletters, press releases, bulletins, clippings, other printed matter, photographs, and memorabilia relating to American POWs during the Vietnam War and their families. The papers include correspondence with and issuances of the Department of the Navy, other United States government officials, and voluntary organizations concerned with the welfare of prisoners of war, especially the National League of Families of American Prisoners in Southeast Asia. Also included are numerous letters from members of the public.
Extent:
18 manuscript boxes, 3 oversize boxes (11.1 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Shirley Mae Stark papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

The Shirley Mae Stark papers, the bulk of which date from 1967 to 1974, document the experience of American POWs and their families during the Vietnam War through correspondence, newsletters, press releases, clippings, other printed matter, photographs, and memorabilia.

After her husband was captured in Vietnam, Shirley Stark became involved with various advocacy groups, particularly the National League of Families of American Prisoners in Southeast Asia, that worked to raise awareness of the plight of missing and captured American soldiers. As a member of these groups, she received correspondence and newsletters providing information about efforts on behalf of POWs/MIAs, which can be found in the Correspondence series, under POW/MIA advocacy groups. She also participated in fundraising activities, which included the sale of rubber stamps, bumper stickers, and bracelets. Examples of some of these items can be found in the Memorabilia series.

Of particular note are the bracelets, each of which featured the name and date of capture of a POW. Individuals who purchased the bracelets could opt to receive further information about the POW and his family, and many went on to correspond with family members and the returned POWs. William Stark's name was on one of the bracelets, and as a result, there is a large amount of correspondence from members of the public, particularly after his release, inquiring about his well-being and welcoming him home. This can be found in the Correspondence series, under General, particularly in the folders for 1973.

Shirley Stark also received regular updates from the Department of the Navy relating to her husband's pay and benefits, instructions for sending mail and packages to Vietnam, and the POW situation generally. These letters, many of which included informational attachments, can be found in the Correspondence series, under Department of the Navy.

Other Navy and POW-related publications can be found in the Printed Matter series, which also contains clippings collected by Shirley Stark about the experiences of the POWs and their families, the work of the government and advocacy groups, and the return of the POWs to the United States. Some of these articles are specifically about the Stark family. Additional clippings, as well as some correspondence, photographs, and printed matter, can be found in the albums created by Shirley and Gladys Stark in the Oversize Materials series.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1930 February 28
Shirley Mae Stark (nÊe Gust) born in Michigan City, Indiana
1930 May 28
William Robert Stark born to George and Gladys Stark in Michigan City, Indiana
1951 October 29
Daughter Susan born
1967 May 19
William Stark shot down and captured just south of Hanoi in Vietnam
1973 March 4
William Stark released during Operation Homecoming
1949 October 22
Shirley and William Stark married in Key West, Florida
circa 1967-1973
Shirley Stark worked part-time as a teller at Bank of America and volunteered with POW/MIA advocacy groups.
Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1991.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Box 14, folder 3 may not be used without permission of the Archivist. The remainder of the collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Shirley Mae Stark papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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