Call Number:

UPT 50 SI613

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center

Extent:

4.75 cubic feet

Language:

English

Date:

1939-2005 (inclusive) and 1942-1948 (bulk)

Creator:

Simpson, Ann Ingersoll Townsend, 1915-2012

Form:

Correspondence, Diaries, and Photographs

Abstract:

Ann "Nancy" Ingersoll Townsend Simpson (1915-2012) worked for the American Red Cross Military Welfare Service during World War II where she served primarily as a secretary in the China Burma India (CBI) Theater with the 20th General Hospital in India and later the 95th Station Hospital in China. After the war she was a secretary at the American Embassy in Nanking, China. The Ann Ingersoll Townsend Simpson papers document Nancy Simpson's experiences with the American Red Cross Military Welfare Service during World War II in the China Burma India Theater, and later as a secretary for the United States Embassy in Nanking, China from 1946 to 1948.

Ann "Nancy" Ingersoll Townsend Simpson (1915-2012) worked for the American Red Cross Military Welfare Service during World War II where she served primarily as a secretary in the China Burma India (CBI) Theater with the 20th General Hospital in India and later the 95th Station Hospital in China. After the war she was a secretary at the American Embassy in Nanking, China.

Ann Townsend, known as Nancy to family and friends, was born on 28 June 1915 to Stockton (1887-1955) and Marguerite (circa 1892-1948) Townsend. She was the oldest of the Townsend's three daughters, Marguerite (1919-2013) and Marion (1927-) – known as Tockie. Nancy grew up in Haverford, PA, part of Philadelphia's Main Line area. She attended the Kyneton School in Villanova, PA, and later the Insitut Le Rosey, in Rolle Switzerland. The family was friends with the Peppers, as such Nancy's godfather was United States Senator George Wharton Pepper (1867-1961).

From 1939 to 1942 Nancy worked as a secretary in the Gastro-Intestinal Section at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. In January 1942 she interviewed with the American Red Cross in Washington, DC to serve with the Military Welfare Service during the war. After completing training in Washington, she received orders in May 1942 to report to the 20th General Hospital at Camp Claiborne, LA to serve as a hospital secretary. The 20th General Hospital was an U.S. Army affiliated unit that had been organized and manned by staff at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine and Hospital. After training at Camp Claiborne throughout 1942, the 20th General was ordered to ship out in January 1943, eventually arriving in Assam, India in the China-Burma-India Theater of the war. Nancy accompanied the 20th General to India, along with others from the American Red Cross – including her roommate and friend Margaret (Peggy) Erskine. In 1944 Nancy and Peggy would go on leave to Calcutta and Darjeeling. Nancy would stay with the Hospital until February 1945 when she transferred to the 95th Station Hospital in Kunming, China. She would eventually return to the United States in June 1945, where she would continue to serve with the American Red Cross being assigned to the Richmond Army Base, VA; Hospital Staff Aide, Washington, DC; and the Regional Hospital, Fort George Gordon Meade, MD.

On 10 April 1946 Nancy Townsend married Charles J. Simpson at the Church of the Redeemer in Bryn Mawr, PA. Charles was born on 23 February 1916, Prior to the war he had studied at Balliol College, Oxford; the Sorbonne, Paris, and Columbia University before working in the textile industry. Charles enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941 and was stationed at Camp Lee, VA., and Camp Claiborne, LA, being assigned to the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps in administrative positions. When he shipped out to the China-Burma-Theater in January 1943 he was on the same ships as Nancy. In November 1944 he was transferred to the 95th Station Hospital in the Registrar's Office. He would eventually be promoted to master sergeant and later second lieutenant in 1945. In 1946 Charles was assigned to the Army Advisory Group China in Nanking, China where he advised the Chinese Ministry of Defense on medical administration. Nancy joined him in the fall, and worked as a secretary in the United States Embassy. They would stay in China until May 1948, when they returned to the United States. Charles continued his career in the Army Medical Service, being stationed at such locations as Washington, DC; West Point, NY; Fort Leavenworth, KS; Orleans, France; and Fort Detrick, MD He retired from active duty as a lieutenant colonel in 1961, but continued working for the Army as a civilian. That same year the family took up residence in Potomac, MD Nancy would live there until she moved to Bethesda, MD in the late 1980s.

Nancy and Charles had two children – Marianna (1949) and Charles J. Jr. (1951). Charles passed away on 5 June 1982. Nancy Simpson passed away on 9 November 2012 in Baltimore, MD.

The Ann "Nancy" Ingersoll Townsend Simpson papers document Nancy Simpson's experiences with the American Red Cross Military Welfare Service during World War II in the China Burma India Theater, and later as a secretary for the United States Embassy in Nanking, China. The collection is organized into 6 series: Correspondence, Diaries, World War II, China, Photographs and Artifacts.

The Correspondence series is the largest component of the collection. Unless otherwise noted, the correspondence is either to or from Nancy Simpson, with letters to and from her parents comprising the bulk of the letters. Most of the letters are handwritten, and reflect on either Nancy's experiences in the American Red Cross while in India, or her life in China under the Nationalist Government. Letters to Nancy from her parents relate to family matters, and events on the home front. There is also significant correspondence to Nancy from her husband Charles J. Simpson, her roommate at the 20th General Margaret Erskine, and George W. Bachman – an officer assigned to various units in the CBI theater. Correspondents who only had one letter or whose full name could not be identified were placed in folders with the corresponding letter. There are also a small number of informal letters from George Wharton Pepper (Ann's godfather) and I. S. Ravdin (commanding officer of the 20th General Hospital). The correspondence from World War II also contains markings reflective of wartime censorship of mail.

The Diaries series consists of three calendar diaries kept by Nancy for 1943, 1944 and 1945. These handwritten entries in pencil document Nancy's almost daily activities, as well as thoughts on events. They begin in January 1943 when the 20th General is ordered to ship out, and conclude in 22 June 1945 entry. They cover her travels from the United States to India, her time in theater, and her return voyage at the end of the war. The diaries do not cover her experiences at Camp Claiborne, nor her time living in Nanking, China.

The World War II series contains various documents and ephemera related to Nancy's service in CBI Theater – first with the 20th General Hospital and later the 95th Station Hospital. This includes an account book – which documents her travel expenses, expenses while in India and on leave, as well as Christmas gifts and cards sent. There are also receipts from her leave in Calcutta, various military newsletters (though no complete runs), and a scrapbook of her time at Camp Claiborne. There is also a pastel drawing by Margaret Erskine reflective on their time at the 20th General. The series also contains subject files related to the history of the 20th General Hospital and the CBI theater, as well as veterans' organizations.

The China series documents Nancy's time living in Nanking, China while Charles was stationed there. Included are orders, maps, and invitations related to the Army Advisory Group, China, and the United States Embassy to the Nationalist Government of China. There are also credentials Nancy needed while living in China, as well as receipts from various purchases made. An account book documents her living expenses in Nanking. Charles Simpson, who arrived prior to Nancy, created a Welcome to Shanghai booklet for Ann.

The Photographs series consists mostly of casual photographs taken in India and China. The India photographs consist of scenes around her time there during the War – including trips to Calcutta on leave. The China photographs are a combination of those taken during the war and later in Nanking by both Nancy and Charles. These images are often casual, and show a mix of individuals, landscapes, events, and sites of interest. Many but not all are annotated on the back. There are also three panoramic photographs – one of the 20th General Staff, one of the officers and nurses of the 20th General, and one of the American Red Cross John McMullen Honorary Class in Washington, D.C. There are also images of Nancy and Charles Simpson.

The Biographical series is small consisting of one folder of biographical information which consist of a timeline on Nancy Simpson written by her daughter Marianna, and a Eulogy by her son Charles, Jr. There is also an oral history interview on VHS that was part of a veteran's program at Ann's church, St. Francis in Maryland. The video is labeled as "Nancy Simpson."

The Artifact series consist mostly of the uniform and various pins related to Nancy's service with the American Red Cross during World War II. There are also various patches and pins related to the CBI theater. In addition, some jewelry pieces related to India are included, as well as Nancy's dog tags while in India and China. Charles master sergeant stripes and bronze star ribbon are also included. The calendar is a decorative piece, and does not record any personal information.