Hugh MacArthur papers

Table of Contents

Summary Information

Background note

Scope and Contents note

Administrative Information

Controlled Access Headings

Collection Inventory

Summary Information

Repository

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Creator

MacArthur, Hugh

Title

Hugh MacArthur papers

ID

4250

Date

1910-1963

Extent

1.8 Linear feet ; 5 boxes

Author

Finding aid prepared by Annie Halliday.

Sponsor

Processing made possible by a generous donation from Howard and Maxine Lewis.

Language

English

Abstract

Hugh MacArthur was a ship carpenter in the U.S. Navy aboard the S.S. Francis Marion in World War II. After the war he served as an alderman in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Hugh MacArthur was born on August 5, 1879, in Rosehearty, Scotland, to Niel and Margaret MacArthur. MacArthur was married twice in his life. His first wife was named Jeane [Jennie] and was born August 12, 1886, in Willington Square, North Tyneside, England. In 1923 he married his second wife, Margaret [Ethel] Hubbard. Ethel was born on February 5, 1892, in Pennsylvania. Hugh and Ethel had a son, Neil Robert MacArthur, who was born September 29, 1933, while they lived in Geneseo, New York. The MacArthurs eventually settled down in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where Ethel’s family lived. In 1944 Hugh enlisted in the navy, he was 65 years old, and served in World War II. Upon returning to the states he worked as alderman, a city council position, in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. MacArthur died in June 1969, at 90 years old, and is buried in Highland Cemetery in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. The Hugh MacArthur papers include letters a handful of letters to and from other family members and friends, nineteen journals, five checkbook stubs, seven photographs, newspaper clippings, x-rays of Hugh, printed matter, and some artifacts.

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Background note

Hugh MacArthur was born on August 5, 1879, in Rosehearty, Scotland, to Niel and Margaret MacArthur. Hugh’s father was a fisherman and his mother was a housewife. Hugh had at least two younger brothers: Francis [Frank] and William. MacArthur was married twice in his life. His first wife was named Jeane [Jennie] and was born August 12, 1886, in Willington Square, North Tyneside, England. Hugh and Jennie were married in 1905. He immigrated from Wallsend on Tyne, North Tyneside, England, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1907, where he and Jennie lived until he became a naturalized citizen in 1918. In the 1920s they moved to Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio. In 1923 he married his second wife, Margaret [Ethel] Hubbard. Ethel Hubbard was born to William and Elizabeth Hubbard on February 5, 1892, in Pennsylvania. Her sisters were Louise, Esther, and Dorothy Hubbard. The couple moved around often because Hugh had difficulty finding work as a carpenter. They lived in Geneseo, New York; Rochester, New York; and Mansfield, Ohio. Hugh and Ethel had a son, Neil Robert MacArthur, who was born September 29, 1933, while they lived in Geneseo, New York. The MacArthurs eventually settled down in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where Ethel’s family lived. In 1944 Hugh enlisted in the army – at 65 years old - and served as a ship carpenter on S.S. Francis Marion in World War II. Upon returning to the states he worked as alderman, a city council position, in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Hugh MacArthur died in June 1969, at 90 years old, and he is buried in Highland Cemetery in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. Ethel died in February 1975, and also is buried in Highland Cemetery.

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Scope and Contents note

The Hugh MacArthur papers include letters a handful of letters to and from other family members and friends, nineteen journals, five checkbook stubs, seven photographs, newspaper clippings, x-rays of Hugh, printed matter, and some artifacts.

Many of the letters are from Hugh’s father Niel MacArthur, and they span from 1922 to 1929. Niel’s letters have numerous misspellings and he often remarks on how he struggles to write with his “rheumatism”. He offers a few observations on life in Wallsend on Tyne, North Tyneside, England, where he lives. There a few letters from his father that have an enclosed letter from Hugh’s younger brother Frank and one 1948 letter from Hugh’s younger brother William. Hugh wrote several letters in 1944 to his wife Ethel and son Neil at home in Williamsport, Pennsylvania while aboard the S.S. Francis Marion as a ship carpenter in WWII. Some of the WWII letters are v-mail, airmail, and include postcards. He mentions in an August, 1944 letter to his wife that he’s somewhere in southern France. Letters to his son Neil mention being onshore in Italy. Most of the letters deal primarily with Hugh’s homesickness and sending love to his family since the letters are censored by the army. Hugh also wrote two letters to friends while serving in WWII. There is one letter from Ethel’s mother Elizabeth Hubbard which describes her last will and testament.

In addition to the letters the collection contains nineteen journals, eighteen of which are pocket diaries from Ethel’s uncle, William C. Everett. The diaries span from 1920 to 1937 and contain details on William’s work as a police officer for the Pennsylvania Railroad. His diary entries include what sort of duty he was on, how long he was on duty, and where he was on duty, but no personal details. There is one diary written by Hugh MacArthur during his navy service in 1944. The diary is about a quarter full and contains more information than his letters home. Hugh talks about his routine aboard the ship and about being onshore in Bari, Italy. Other items in the collection include five check stub books from 1928 to 1929 and 1931 to 1932. They appear to be Hugh MacArthur’s and are receipts of money spent on paying the phone bill, purchasing chicken feed, items at Sears, buying bagpipes from a Herbert MacArthur, and other small purchases.

Box two has other items, among which are seven undated photographs, some of which depict Hugh playing the bagpipes, and one photograph showing Hugh outside his alderman office. There is one folder of just newspaper clippings of announcements about Hugh and Ethel’s family. There are a few folders with items related to the death of Ethel’s mother, Elizabeth, including sympathy cards, hospital bills, and a funeral program. There are also x-rays of Hugh MacArthur from 1946, a program from a bagpipe performance, and other printed matter. Box four has a few artifacts including a hatpin, two pairs of glasses that belonged to Neil, Hugh’s luggage tag, and Hugh’s alderman seal.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

 Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2019.

Access restrictions

This collection is open for research.

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

• Williamsport Hospital (Williamsport, Pa.).

Geographic Name(s)

• North Tyneside (England)
• Philadelphia (Pa.)
• United States. Navy.
• Williamsport (Pa.)
• Youngstown (Ohio)

Personal Name(s)

• Apfelbaum, Charles
• MacArthur, Hugh

Subject(s)

• City council members.
• Police--Pennsylvania
• Police.
• World War II, 1939-1945--Personal Correspondence--Home front.
• World War II.
• World War, 1939-1945.

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Collection Inventory