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Papago Trackers, MG 62, 1942-2000

MG 62

Administrative History

The Papago Trackers, an affiliate of the Arizona Historical Society, evolved from the Papago Park Prison Observance Program after the Papago Park Camp Commemorative Observance ceremony in 1985. Founded by Lloyd Clark, the mission of the Papago Trackers was to generate interest in the preservation of the Papago POW camp site, as well “track” down former prisoners of war and any other persons who might have had contact with the POWs or business with the camp in the 1940s. Lloyd Clark, a Phoenix-area reporter, was given the task of reporting on the 10th anniversary of the Papago Park POW Escape that occurred in 1944. The prisoners’ commander, Kapitan Jurgen Wattenberg, however, wanted nothing to do with Clark, and it wasn’t until 20 years later that Wattenberg began to correspond with Clark after Clark sent magazine articles to him about the 40th anniversary commemoration. Over the next 10 years, until Wattengberg’s death in 1995, the two corresponded often. The Trackers also facilitated correspondence, reunions, tours, and other events to foster the growing friendships between former WWII American servicemen and their German counterparts.

Scope and Content

This collection is arranged into eight (8) series.

The collection includes correspondence such as letters, post cards, Christmas cards, photographs, receipts, ephemera, itineraries, schedules, manuscripts, drawings, maps, plats, reunion, tour, anniversary and commemorative information organized by Lloyd Clark with files for every event, POW, persons of interest, and other topics. These numerous files were consolidated into 8 series with original order kept nearly throughout the collection. While the collection appeared to be an administrative account of the Papago Trackers as an organization, further processing revealed the relationship that developed between Clark and Wattenberg. After the 1997 “A Tour to Remember,” reunion, most correspondence and activity in the organization appears to have ended with no denouement. There are a few items in 1998 and 1999, but the Papago Trackers appear to have shut down around that time, possibly due to Wattenberg's death in 1995.The collection contains originals and copies of pictures of German POWs at the Papago POW camp, orders, booking photographs, a piece of barbed wire, interrogation carbons, original accounts of the POW escape in 1944, and pictures of German commanders and awards ceremonies which include Adolph Hitler and other high officials.

The first series includes original and copies of correspondence between the Papago Trackers and former POWs and other interested entities. These include greeting cards, Christmas cards, pictures, news clippings, post cards, news reports, and information dating from 1944 to 1999.

The second series consists of correspondences, stories, events, membership information, personnel accounts of capture and incarceration, immunization and internment records, original pictures, records, and interrogation reports, pictures of Adolph Hitler and other high-ranking German officials at awards ceremonies, POW painter POW scrapbook and a 1945 newspaper, ephemera, and other materials relating to 54 POWs. Their individual files were consolidated into six folders in alphabetical order by last name. Folder 2:14 (1985-1998) includes articles, news clippings, Christmas and post cards, and other information for:

Series three includes correspondence, stories of interaction between the POWs, and other information and observations by civilians, U.S. military personnel, camp employees, and others who came into contact with, or knew someone who knew, one of the POWs. These people are listed in two folders in alphabetical order, including:

The fourth series details the 1985 Commemorative Observance ceremony held where the camp used to be in Papago Park. Items include agendas, schedules, meetings, invitations, registration, contributors, pieces of barbed wire, press releases, pictures, and proclamations and statements from local politicians.

Series five includes the planning, agendas, registration, pictures, announcements, itineraries and other materials related to the 50th Anniversary of the Escape ceremony.

The sixth series contains information relating to tours, trips, and reunions taken between Arizona and Germany by members of the Papago Trackers. Included are travel plans, maps, itineraries and arrangements, events, pictures, correspondence and other information related to “Die Arizona Gruppe” (1985), the “Kriegsgefangen Tour” (1991), the “Roswell Trip” (1994), and the final tour, “A Tour to Remember” (1997).

The seventh series contains all other miscellaneous materials related to the Papago Trackers including meeting minutes, the Papago Scout Newsletter (1-19), the POW escape investigation reports (copies), the skating rink and soccer field issues, Arizona Historical Society brick information, manuscripts and drafts of “The Greatest Escape” and “Escape” by Lloyd Clark and “Camp Papago Prisoner of War Camp” by Judi Soulvie. Also included are notes, news clippings, camp sketches, photographs, maps, National Archives photographs and negatives, Papago Sentinel original newsletters, original event invitations from 1944 and 1945, Smithsonian and Arizona Highways escape articles, Arizona Preservation Showcase, National Register of Historic places information, interpretive plans, original pictures of guards and POWs “lining the canal” for the Salt River Valley Water Users, and information on U-boats and other POW camps in the United States. Also included here are two videos, one about “Great Escapes of WWII, and the other of a meeting in 1997.

The eighth series contains all of the photographs in the collection. Photographs found in Tracker files were separated and put here. Separation slips in all series show where photographs are located. Photographs in folders 5:43-5:46 were taken from the Papago Tracker personnel and operating files. These include originals and copies of the POW camp, prisoners, guards, aerial photos, and others from the 1940s and 1950, and from the 1980s to the 1990s. Photographs in folders 5:47-5:54 are reunion, tour, and gathering pictures from the 1980s and 1990s. Photographs in 6:55-6:59 were found and added to the collection later. These include originals, copies, and negatives of POW and camp life, houses built on the escape route, Commemorative event photos from 1985, and other events and gatherings.

Restrictions

Conditions Governing Access

All photocopies of original materials are made by staff. We reserve the right to refuse copy services based on physical condition and possible damage to the materials.

For preservation purposes, if microfilm copies are available, patrons will use the microfilm first.

Under Arizona Revised Statute 39-141, public records used for commercial purposes have additional requirements. Please contact the Arizona State Archives for further information.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the researcher’s responsibility to determine the copyright status of materials he or she uses. The Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records is not legally or financially responsible for any copyright infringement by researchers.

Many documents held by the Arizona State Archives come under the Public Record law (ARS 41-151). Documents created by the government are not copyrighted. The United States of America Copyright Law (P.L. 94-553, effective Jan. 1, 1978) extends statutory rights of authority to unpublished works which were previously protected by literary property rights under common law. Such works do not have to be registered with the Copyright Office to receive protection under the law.

Controlled Access Terms

Accession Number

A-2000-41.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Bibliographic citations must cite the title of the record group(s), the box or volume number, the History and Archives Division and the name of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records in full. Please use the following example:

Governor George W.P. Hunt to Ely Sims, November 21, 1919, Box 14, Office of the Governor, RG 1, History and Archives Division, Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.

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