Please help me identify at least one of 33 children "adopted" by Justice McReynolds.
March 6, 2011 2:44 PM Subscribe
ResearchFilter: Outside of more traditional research methods, in which I am currently embroiled, can anyone identify any of the 33 children "adopted" by Supreme Court Justice McReynolds?
I'm researching J. McReynolds for a law school project, and I've run into a strange roadblock. The man was known primarily as a Scrooge, but over his life he did practice some acts of charity and kindness, especially towards children. Indeed, in 1941, he donated $10,000 to the British Child Aid Committee of the Save the Children Federation, so as to care for 33 children stranded in the Blitz.
I've been trying to locate at least one of these individuals, in order to speak to them as to how they were assisted by the Save the Children Federation. It would be fascinating to hear the story of these brave children, who survived so much, who found themselves assisted by such a seemingly unlikely benefactor.
I've been working with a research librarian and doing a healthy amount of normal paper research. I'm going to examine McReynolds' own papers soon, although I am not confident that I will get many answers there on this particular question. I've called Save the Children, but they did not have more information. There isn't much in the way of literature on McReynolds, let alone literature that names the names of children with regard to charitable donations.
So, here's my question. The hive mind has an amazing ability to find obscure information, so I'm throwing this hail mary pass. I'm skeptical that this will work, but MeFi has surprised us before, so why not? Maybe someone's grandparent was one of these children, or something along those lines.
I'm going to list some of the biographical details of these children, and if anyone has any idea as to who these children might be, and where they are now, then I would appreciate it very much. I will also update this thread if/when I find out anything more.
Okay. Ready?
They were thirty-three children who survived the Blitzkrieg on Great Britain in 1941. Fourteen were little girls, ages 1 to 11. Nineteen were boys, ages 1 to 14. One was a little Belgian, age 4, named Willy Viamynok. Four children were from a family of six in South Wales. Three were the children of a man reported missing in action since the evacuation of Dunkirk. Two were the children of a man killed in the evacuation of Dunkirk. Four had fathers serving with British forces at the front.
I'm especially struck by Willy Viamynok. I've been searching for anyone named Viamynok, but it's tricky, especially since I don't read or speak Dutch. (I do, however, read French, albeit wonkily.)
I'm researching J. McReynolds for a law school project, and I've run into a strange roadblock. The man was known primarily as a Scrooge, but over his life he did practice some acts of charity and kindness, especially towards children. Indeed, in 1941, he donated $10,000 to the British Child Aid Committee of the Save the Children Federation, so as to care for 33 children stranded in the Blitz.
I've been trying to locate at least one of these individuals, in order to speak to them as to how they were assisted by the Save the Children Federation. It would be fascinating to hear the story of these brave children, who survived so much, who found themselves assisted by such a seemingly unlikely benefactor.
I've been working with a research librarian and doing a healthy amount of normal paper research. I'm going to examine McReynolds' own papers soon, although I am not confident that I will get many answers there on this particular question. I've called Save the Children, but they did not have more information. There isn't much in the way of literature on McReynolds, let alone literature that names the names of children with regard to charitable donations.
So, here's my question. The hive mind has an amazing ability to find obscure information, so I'm throwing this hail mary pass. I'm skeptical that this will work, but MeFi has surprised us before, so why not? Maybe someone's grandparent was one of these children, or something along those lines.
I'm going to list some of the biographical details of these children, and if anyone has any idea as to who these children might be, and where they are now, then I would appreciate it very much. I will also update this thread if/when I find out anything more.
Okay. Ready?
They were thirty-three children who survived the Blitzkrieg on Great Britain in 1941. Fourteen were little girls, ages 1 to 11. Nineteen were boys, ages 1 to 14. One was a little Belgian, age 4, named Willy Viamynok. Four children were from a family of six in South Wales. Three were the children of a man reported missing in action since the evacuation of Dunkirk. Two were the children of a man killed in the evacuation of Dunkirk. Four had fathers serving with British forces at the front.
I'm especially struck by Willy Viamynok. I've been searching for anyone named Viamynok, but it's tricky, especially since I don't read or speak Dutch. (I do, however, read French, albeit wonkily.)
Ancestry dot com?
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 4:32 PM on March 6, 2011
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 4:32 PM on March 6, 2011
Nothing on ancestry.com. The best I can find is a record of entry to the USA on 17 Sep 1956 for Willy de Vlaminck. His address was 5 Ross St, Medford, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:49 PM on March 6, 2011
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:49 PM on March 6, 2011
Response by poster: Good catch on the misspelled name, Joe! I'll search in that vein. Viamnyok didn't look Flemish to me, so it's good to know that I might not be going crazy after all.
I've found someone of that name in that general age range, but he would have been seven, not four, at the time. Then again, if there's one mistake in that article, there might as well be two. The search continues...
posted by Sticherbeast at 6:00 PM on March 6, 2011
I've found someone of that name in that general age range, but he would have been seven, not four, at the time. Then again, if there's one mistake in that article, there might as well be two. The search continues...
posted by Sticherbeast at 6:00 PM on March 6, 2011
Suggestion:Try contacting the Henry Allen Nursery School in Buckinghamshire, UK. It was founded by the US branch of the Save the Children Society in 1942. They may have documents dating from its founding or know where they may be held.
posted by Joe in Australia at 7:18 PM on March 6, 2011
posted by Joe in Australia at 7:18 PM on March 6, 2011
The Wikipedia article on McReynolds refers to the adoptions and gives sources, one of which is available on Google Books.
posted by KRS at 8:02 PM on March 6, 2011
posted by KRS at 8:02 PM on March 6, 2011
Article in Dutch (?) about a Willy Vlaminck who's listed as being 73 in 2007: Willy Vlaminck. It has contact information for what I gather (via internet translation) is a company he might co-own with his son?
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:16 PM on March 6, 2011
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:16 PM on March 6, 2011
typo - the above is Willy Vlamynck, with a Y in the last name rather than an I.
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:18 PM on March 6, 2011
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:18 PM on March 6, 2011
Response by poster: I've emailed the school, as Joe suggested.
I've checked out at least one of those sources, KRS. There isn't much detail there. I'll check the other.
I saw that article, LobsterMitten. His age is a little off to be the right person - the man with the travel agency was seven, not four, in 1941 - but if there was one mistake in the article, then there might as well be two mistakes. I'm going to hold off on emailing him for just a little bit - I'd rather be a little more sure before bothering strangers who might not even speak my language!
posted by Sticherbeast at 3:58 PM on March 7, 2011
I've checked out at least one of those sources, KRS. There isn't much detail there. I'll check the other.
I saw that article, LobsterMitten. His age is a little off to be the right person - the man with the travel agency was seven, not four, in 1941 - but if there was one mistake in the article, then there might as well be two mistakes. I'm going to hold off on emailing him for just a little bit - I'd rather be a little more sure before bothering strangers who might not even speak my language!
posted by Sticherbeast at 3:58 PM on March 7, 2011
Ah sorry, I didn't connect the dots with your earlier comment about that article.
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:00 PM on March 7, 2011
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:00 PM on March 7, 2011
« Older Not cool with lady mustaches of any kind | What kind of domain should I reserve for myself? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
Google finds only one hit for Viamnyok - a misread PDF for someone called Devlamynck. That PDF comes from Flanders, and it looks as though Vlamynck or Devlamynck is not uncommon there.
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:28 PM on March 6, 2011