Hilliard Penland Collection

OS2001.3.1

Hilliard Penland ; WWII ; Hitler ; Herman Goering ; Albert Speer

Collection includes two items related to Hillard Penland's military service in Germany during the Second World War. The two items are: 1 book by Hitler's architect Albert Speer [Die Neue Reichskanzlei, 1930] ; 1 document with signature of Hitler and Goering and mailing envelope.

Hillard Penland was born August 27, 1910 in north Asheville.  Penland had two siblings, Guy and Christine.  His father had a general store in Woodfin, and Hillard attended Asheville High School, graduating on June 7, 1929.  This was at the start of the Great Depression, and the Penlands had some hard times.  Hillard was able to attend Asheville College, and then Biltmore Junior College.  While there he played football and according to his account, admired his teachers.

After Penland graduated he went straight to work for American Enka Corporation, where he would remain his entire professional life.  There he did chemical research and acquired four patents on new kinds of tire cords.  Penland did have a break from the corporation when he went into service during World War II and had a distinguished military service.  While he was in Germany during the occupation Penland came into possession of a signed document, autographed by Hitler, which for many years stayed on his wall, but came to UNC Asheville Special Collections with other war memorabilia.  

After the war, Penland went right back to American Enka., where he met his wife while working in quality control. Penland saw her every day and he notes that they had a slow romance.  The Penlands had two sons, Terry and James, who both live in Florida.  Penland has lived in Asheville his entire life.