Evelyn Fields grew up in Nebraska on a small family farm ravaged by the Dust Bowl. In August 1942, she started working as a clerk-typist in the Adjutant General’s office in Washington, D.C., and in 1943 relocated to Chicago. She married William Fields in February 1944, before Fields shipped out to the Pacific with the Navy. For the rest of the war, Evelyn worked for the Office of Price Administration and corresponded with her husband.
Photos
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Evelyn Oberg in 1943.Where:
UnknownWhen:
1943Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
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William C. Fields in his navy uniform, in 1944. Where:
UnknownWhen:
1944Ownership:
Public domain 
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Evelyn with her father, Fred, circa 1926 in Nebraska. Behind them is the Ford touring car, which was the latest model out at the time.Where:
NebraskaWhen:
1926 Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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Four year old Evelyn with her favorite doll, and also a plaster dog.Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator’s photo
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Evelyn proudly displays her Easter gifts in 1929. The Easter rabbit was made of cardboard. Where:
UnknownWhen:
1929Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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Anna and Fred Oberg (Evelyn’s parents) stand in front of their farm house near Bancroft, Nebraska in 1945.Where:
Farm house near Bancroft, Nebraska When:
1945Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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Evelyn takes the reins on a piece of farm machinery, circa 1926. The farm house is in the background. Where:
UnknownWhen:
1926Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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Neighbor Eldon Witt and Fred Oberg take a break from stacking hay, circa 1934.Where:
UnknownWhen:
1934Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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Evelyn Oberg and Bill Fields get their photo taken while visiting the historic Water Tower in downtown Chicago, one of the few structures in the neighborhood to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator’s photo
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Evelyn proudly announces her recent marriage to her aunt and uncle, in February 1944.Where:
UnknownWhen:
February 1944Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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Bill Fields’ press pass to the floor of the Democratic National Convention in July, 1940.Where:
UnknownWhen:
July, 1940Ownership:
Public domain 
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Evelyn and Bill share a moment in San Francisco just prior to Bill shipping out for the Pacific, in July, 1944. Where:
San Francisco When:
July, 1944Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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W.C. Fields gave his signed portrait to another William C. Fields, following a column that Bill wrote about the famous comedian in 1942. Where:
UnknownWhen:
1942Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption
Evelyn, taken while on the family farm in Nebraska, when Bill was home on leave in 1944. Where:
NebraskaWhen:
1944Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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Bill sent this photo of himself to Evelyn while he was in the Pacific.Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator’s photo
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The USS Putnam-DD 757 at sea, the destroyer Bill served on as a teletype operator while in combat in the Pacific. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Public domain 
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Bill wrote this letter to relatives in November, 1941, taking delight in passing on a joke he heard about Hitler and the Nazis.Where:
UnknownWhen:
November, 1941Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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Among Bill’s many talents, he had a flair for art. He sketched this portrait of Evelyn while at sea, and sent it to her in late 1944.Where:
UnknownWhen:
1944Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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Another portrait of Evelyn, in profile, plus a poem that Bill sent to his sweetheart.Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator’s photo)
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A romantic portrait of Bill and Evelyn, drawn while on the USS Putnam, somewhere in the Pacific. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator’s photo
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Pictures of Bill, with an accompanying poem, sent to Evelyn. Waiting for the postman, and for another letter from her husband, was one of the highlights of Evelyn’s day. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator’s photo
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Bill drew this sketch of a turtle he encountered while on shore leave somewhere in the South Pacific.Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator’s photo
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Married only months before he shipped out, a lonely Bill sent this proclamation of his love to Evelyn in late 1944. Where:
UnknownWhen:
late 1944Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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More of Bill’s artwork, this time of the ship’s insignia. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator’s photo
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Evelyn’s 1945 valentine includes Bills’ drawing of the USS Putnam, plus an appeal to “Be my valentine.” Where:
UnknownWhen:
1945 Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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The impending surrender of Japan is a topic of great interest and speculation by Fields and his fellow shipmates. This document dates from August 7th, 1945, one day after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Where:
UnknownWhen:
August 7th, 1945Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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Bill Fields drew this map of Japan shortly after the made port at Tokyo harbor. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator’s photo
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Bill wrote this poem to Evelyn at the end of the war, while in port at Tokyo. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator’s photo
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Bill’s Christmas card to Evelyn included a bow shot of the Putnam. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator’s photo
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Seaman Bill Fields gets his picture taken with A.J. Mallory, the city editor of the Herald American, in 1942.Where:
UnknownWhen:
1942Ownership:
Public domain 
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Evelyn Fields, on the right in the photo with two other co-workers, while she worked in Memphis, Tennessee for the Office of Price Administration. Many of her cases dealt with sugar rationing issues. Where:
Memphis, Tennessee When:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator’s photo
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A letter from a citizen begging for more gas, but in a humorous way.Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Public domain
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A blunt request for more gas that Evelyn saved while she worked in the Pender, Nebraska OPA office during 1945.Where:
UnknownWhen:
1945Ownership:
Unknown
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Chester Bowles was the administrator of OPA throughout the war effort. By 1946 the American public was growing very weary of rationing, and clamored for its end. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption
The cover of a government ration book, dating from the war.Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Public domain 
Caption
Bill Fields took this picture of his wife, Evelyn, shortly before he deployed overseas, in mid 1944.Where:
UnknownWhen:
mid 1944Ownership:
Narrator’s photo