Irene and John Burns Family Collection

Collection

Identifier: SPC-2022-002

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Irene and John Burns Family Collection (1890s-1970s; 1987, 1989, 1997, 2007, 2015, 2020-2021; undated) contains ten boxes and 2.04 linear feet of mixed materials, including letters, photographs, greeting cards, scrapbooks, and bound books. Most of the letters were written by John J. Burns and sent to Irene Burns while John was serving in the United States Marine Corps. John enlisted in 1942 and began writing to Irene while stationed in North Carolina. John was transferred to El Centro, CA before being shipped overseas to serve in the South Pacific where he continued to write to Irene. The letters John sent from the South Pacific were reviewed by Naval censors and sensitive information was redacted from the letters. The letters contain information about how John spent his time on base, with a large majority of the letters including his expression of his love for Irene. Also included in the collection are photographs from Burns Family albums and a set of photographs that detail and capture the aftermath of the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Long Beach, CA in 1933. This collection houses dozens of greeting cards John and Irene received from family and friends congratulating them on their engagement and marriage. Lastly, this collection contains bound books: Irene Jennings’ diaries, and yearbooks from Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, CA.; and two scrapbooks created by Irene [Jennings] Burns during her childhood.

Dates

1890s- 1960s, 1987, 1989, 1997, 2007, 2015, 2020-2021; undated
Majority of material found within 1940s-1960s

Creator

Burns, John J. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Biographical / Historical

John Joseph Burns was born to John Joseph and Nora Mary Burns on September 6, 1922, in New York. John was raised in New York City, NY. and lived there until he enlisted into the United States Marine Corps in 1942. John served 19 months in the South Pacific. By career, John was a Marine Clerk in the Port of LA/Long Beach and proud member of the ILWU Local 63, Elks 888, and American Legion 327. Lillian Irene Jennings was born to Raleigh and Emma Mary Jennings on January 31, 1925, in California. She prefered the name Irene and signed her name, L. Irene Burns. Irene lived most of her life in Long Beach, CA. and held a deep fondness for the city. Irene went to Fremont Grammar School, Jefferson Junior High School, Wilson High School. Irene also attended Long Beach City College in 1944 and the 1950s. During World War II, Irene started her working life as a clerk/typist at the Los Angeles Port of Embarkation. Insight into her work experience at the port is seen in John’s letters, found in this collection. John and Irene met on a blind date at a USO dance while John was stationed in California. The two went on no more than a dozen dates before John realized that Irene was the love of his life and proposed. John and Irene were married on February 23, 1946, after John returned from his service. Irene worked in the Intelligence and Security Division but later stepped in to help John support the family by working at Southern California Edison and the General Telephone Company. Irene later passed the security hurdle at North American Aviation. Irene’s work experience and educational training in the use of a slide rule and a chronometer helped transition her into a career as an industrial engineer at Robertshaw Controls Company. John and Irene were married for 60 years. John J. Burns passed away on March 10, 2006 and L. Irene Burns passed away on October 13, 2021. The two are survived by their three children, John James "Jim" Burns, Kathleen "Kathy" Mary Burns, and Maureen Anne Burns, as well as four grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and their extended family and friends.

Extent

10 boxes (six document boxes; two oversized boxes; two photograph boxes)

6.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection contains material belonging to the Burns family who are based in Southern California. A majority of the collection contains letters that were written from 1943-1946 by John J. Burns and sent to Irene Burns while John was serving in the United States Marine Corps. Also included are material related to John and Irene's wedding such as RSVPs and greeting cards; as well as family photograph albums, Woodrow Wilson High School yearbooks (1940, 1942), and a personal diary belonging to Irene.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into eleven series

Series I: Hardcover Bound Books, 1940-1944; 2015
Series II: John and Irene Burns Personal Papers and Family History, 1862, 1871, 1909, 1897, 1942-1977, 1987, 2007, undated
Series III: Letters, September 1943 - January 1944
Series IV: Letters, January - June 1944
Series V: Letters, July 1944 - February 1945
Series VI: Letters, March - June 1945
Series VII: Letters, July - November 1945
Series VIII: Letters, December 1945 - April 1946, October - November 2020
Series IX: John and Irene Burns Wedding, 1943, 1946, 1950; undated
Series X: Burns Photo Album, 1890s, 1900s, 1910, 1933, 1940s-1960s, 1987, 1989, 1997, 2020-2021, undated
Series XI: Scrapbooks, 1934-1948; undated