urn:taro:aushc.00147 Pany and Schwabe Families Papers An Inventory of the Collection Finding aid prepared by Molly Hults. Austin History Center, Austin Public Library September 11, 2010
810 GuadalupePO BOX 2287Austin, TX 78768
 Finding aid encoded by Molly Hults on September 11, 2010 Overview of the Collection Austin History Center, Austin Public Library,
810 Guadalupe, PO BOX 2287, Austin, TX 78768
 Pany, Sylvester Schwabe, Rhinehardt Pany and Schwabe Families Papers 1943-2006 1943-1944 .2 linear feet (1 box) Both Sylvester Pany and Rhinehardt Schwabe served in World War II. The collection consists of letters written by both men to Robert Schwabe and his wife Alice Pany Schwabe. AR.2006.033 Archives Stacks The records are in English. Biographical Note

Sylvester Pany was born on January 2, 1921 in Texas. He served in World War as a Private First Class with the 351 Infantry, United States Army and was killed in action on May 12, 1944. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his dedication and valor and the medal was given to his parents John F. and Sophie Pany.

Little is known about Rhinehardt Schwabe other than that he also served in World War II and was interned at the Osaka Yodogawa Prisoner of War Camp in Japan. Pany and Schwabe were related to one another through marriage (Pany's sister Alice was married to Schwabe's brother Robert) and both men were sending letters to Robert Schwabe and his wife Alice Pany Schwabe of Yoakum, Texas during the war.

On May 28, 1950 a monument was dedicated to all the Travis County men who gave their lives during World War II. Private Pany's mother was a member of the Austin Chapter of the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., an organization that made the monument possible.

 Scope and Contents

The majority of this small collection consists of letters written by Pany and Schwabe to Robert and Alice Schwabe in 1943 and 1944. In one letter Pany writes that he is "somewhere in North Africa" and in another that he is "somewhere in Italy." Schwabe's letters are written from the prisoner of war camp in Japan and report that he is being treated "fine." One letter does reference his life insurance policy and asks his brother to make sure the premiums were paid up. In addition to the correspondence there is a photograph of Pany in uniform as well as a photograph of the Travis County World War II Memorial monument from 2006 and a program for the dedication of the monument in 1950.

 Related Material

AR.2007.007 Veterans of Austin and Travis County Collection

 Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Persons: Pany, Sylvester, 1921-1944. Schwabe, Rhinehardt. Places: Travis County (Tex.) Subjects: World War II. Prisoners of war -- Japan. Restrictions on Access

Open to all users.

 Restrictions on Use

None.

 Custodial History

Donated by a family member of Sylvester Pany.

 Preferred Citation

Pany and Schwabe Families Papers (AR.2006.033). Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, Texas.

 Acquisition Information

Donor #: DO/2006/078

Donation Date: 2006

 Processing Information

Finding aid created and encoded by Molly Hults/2010.

 Detailed Description of the Collection Pany and Schwabe Families Papers, 1943-2006 1 1 Pany, 1943-1944, undated 1 2 Schwabe, 1943, undated 1 3 Travis County World War II Memorial, 1950, 2006