Title: Cheatham Family
Dates: ca. 1930-1977
Collection Number: MSS 11290
Quantity: 1.25 feet
Abstract: Consists of letters Claborn Cheatham sent to his parents and sister during his enlistment in World War II and a small number of family photographs.
Provenance: The Cheatham Family Papers were donated to the State Historical Society of North Dakota by Linda Cheatham Hunt on July 25, 2016.
Property rights: The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to the collection.
Copyrights: Copyrights to materials in this collection remain with the donor, publisher, author, or author's heirs. Researchers should consult the 1976 Copyright Act, Public Law 94-553, Title 17, U.S. Code and an archivist at this repository if clarification of copyright requirements is needed. Permission to use any radio or television broadcast portions of the collection must be sought from the creator.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Claborn R. Cheatham was born January 10, 1922 in Makoti (N.D.) to Frank and Gerda Cheatham. On November 3, 1942 he enlisted in United States Marine Corps at Minneapolis (Minn.). From there he completed his boot camp training in San Diego (Calif.) and joined the Pacific Theater of World War II from Camp Elliot (Calif.) n June 5, 1942. On July 20, 1943, Cheatham was assigned to H and S Co., 2nd Marines, Communications Platoon, Wire Section at Camp McCay, New Zealand.
During his enlistment, he served in operations against enemy forces on Tarawa, Saipan-Tinian, Okinawa and occupation of Japan. Cheatham was discharged from the Marine Corps on January 11, 1946 at Mare Island (Calif.).
After discharge, Cheatham completed his schooling and joined the FBI as a Special Agent in November of 1947 and served in that role until his retirement in January of 1975. In November of 1949, Cheatham married Evelyn Boyd and together they raised two daughters, Linda Hunt and Karin Dent, both of Orlando (Fla.).
On November 1, 2007, Cheatham passed away in his home in Altamonte Springs (Fla.).
BOX / FOLDER INVENTORY
Box 1:
1 Letters home 1942
2 Letters home 1943
3 Letters home 1944
4 Letters home 1945
5 Miscellaneous (Receipts, newspaper clippings, recruitment letters) ca. 1945
Box 2: Photographs: 11290-00001 - 11290-00024
PHOTOGRAPHS INVENTORY
11290-00001 Three Marines on a boat ca. 1945
11290-00002 - 00003 Four Marines kneeling ca. 1945
11290-00004 Claborn Cheatham at graduation 06/04/1947
11290-00005 Claborn Cheatham standing by ocean 10/1970
11290-00006 Evelyn Cheatham, between two unidentified women, on wedding day 11/1949
11290-00007 Claborn and Evelyn Cheatham ca. 1955
11290-00008 Claborn and Evelyn Cheatham 11/1949
11290-00009 Claborn and Gloria Cheatham ca. 1950
11290-00010 Gerda Cheatham ca. 1930
11290-00011 Gloria Cheatham ca. 1930
11290-00012 Mr. and Mrs. Cheatham ca. 1977
11290-00013 Claborn and Gloria Cheatham ca. 1940
11290-00014 Cheatham family 10/1969
11290-00015 Gerda Cheatham ca. 1970
11290-00016 Gerda, Frank, and Claborn Cheatham, 815 Alamonte Ave., Grand Forks (N.D.) ca. 1970
11290-00017 Frank Cheatham ca. 1960
11290-00018 - 00019 Cheatham family ca. 1960
11290-00020 Three unidentified people, one in Navy uniform ca. 1930
11290-00021 Infant ca. 1900
11290-00022 Unidentified group of people outdoors ca. 1960
11290-00023 Six unidentified people seated outdoors ca. 1960
11290-00024 Frank and Claborn Cheatham with unidentified man in uniform ca. 1945
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