Benjamin F. Wilson Jr.
2 linear feet
A1947-038; A1997-051; A2000-023; A2005-024
1890-1945 (unknown)
Benjamin F. Wilson Sr. was born September 20, 1879 at Avalon, Ellis County, Texas, the son of Dr. and Mrs. William Francis Wilson who moved from Alabama to Ellis County in 1870. Benjamin F. Wilson Sr. came to Kingsville in early 1906 with his wife, Alice Warnock Wilson and their small son, Beverly Elmer. They had four more children; Elizabeth, Benjamin F. Jr., Clyde Allen, and Alice. Ben Sr. had worked for the railroads in Port Lavaca, Mexico City, Eagle Pass and Galveston before coming to Kingsville in search of a position with the railroad being built. He was hired on the spot. The County of Kleberg was created in 1913 and Ben Sr. was elected the first County Judge of Kleberg County and served in this capacity for twenty-eight years. His third born, Benjamin F. Wilson Jr. was born in Kingsville. Wilson was a first lieutenant of Battery F, 133rd Field Artillery. the National Guard unit composed of Kingsville men, which was inducted into federal service in December, 1940. During the second World War Ben Jr. served in the 36th Infantry Division which bore the brunt of the Sicilian and Italian campaigns. Major Ben F. Wilson Jr. was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in direct support of combat operations from 13 November 1943 to 11 July 1944 in Italy.
The collection contains personal letters written during W.W.II, awards given to Benjamin Jr. and family photographs dating back to the early 1900s. Ben Jr. took many photographs of Europe during World War II; they are included in the PhotoFile. Artifacts include a large Nazi banner and Nazi armbands, these were entrusted to the Conner Museum.
Arranged in seven series:
Series I: Personal Documents
Series II: Correspondence
Series III: Photographs and Negatives
Series IV: Maps -- Series V: Postcards
Series VI: Newspaper Clippings
Series VII: Publications
Series VIII: WWII Artifacts
South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Open for Research
Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use by any and all other current or future developed methods or procedures must be obtained in writing from South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards.
Benjamin F. Wilson Jr. Collection, A1947-038.XXXX; A1997-051.XXXX; A2000-023.XXXX; A2005-024.XXXX, South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
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A1947-038- Unknown donor,A1997-051- Ben F. Wilson, Jr. and Larry Warburton,A2000-023- Ben F. Wilson, Jr.,A2005-024- Ben F. Wilson, Jr.
A1947-038- Unknown,A1997-051- Unknown,A2000-023- Unknown,A2005-024- Processed by Lori Atkins on 11/25/2014