Collections : [University of Michigan William L. Clements Library]

The Jennie Nutter correspondence contains letters that Nutter's former students wrote to her about their service in the United States Army, Army Air Forces, Navy, and Marine Corps during World War II.

This collection contains 141 letters that Jennie L. Nutter, a teacher at the Good Will-Hinckley school in Fairfield, Maine, received from former students about their service in the United States Armed Forces from March 1940-October 1945. Nutter's correspondents, who were members of the United States Army, United States Army Air Forces, United States Marine Corps, and United States Navy, served at bases throughout the United States, including many in California, as well as in the European and Pacific Theaters. They described their training, coursework, and military life, such as a navy drill that tested sailors' response time for a simulated disaster (May 14, 1940). Many expressed gratitude for Nutter's instruction in subjects such as Latin and French; one letter is written in Latin (March 30, 1940). Others discussed their reading material, reminisced about their time at the school, inquired about Nutter's mother ("Ma" or "Ma Smith"), and referred to their correspondence with fellow Good Will alumni; one letter is addressed directly to "Ma." A few writers mention travels to locations such as Hawaii, Italy, and England, and offer opinions on the war. The collection includes manuscript and typed letters, V-mail letters, a greeting card, and a postcard. Clarence Perry enclosed programs from an Easter service at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sacramento, California, in his letters of April 6, 1944, and April 10, 1944.

This collection is made up of letters that Private Joseph Kennel wrote to H. H. Matthews, a friend, from France and Germany between April 24, 1919, and September 25, 1919. Kennel described his experiences with the United States Army American Expeditionary Forces in Koblenz, Germany; discussed his unsuccessful attempts to obtain a United States passport and return home after his discharge; and commented on the treatment of veterans.

This collection is made up of 8 letters that Private Joseph Kennel wrote to H. H. Matthews, a friend, from France and Germany between April 24, 1919, and September 25, 1919. Kennel described his experiences with the United States Army American Expeditionary Forces in Koblenz, Germany; discussed his unsuccessful attempts to obtain a United States passport and return home after his discharge; and commented on the treatment of veterans.

Kennel sent his letters to H. H. Matthews of Cleveland, Ohio, though he addressed them to an unspecified group of friends. In the first 5 letters, he discussed his experiences in Koblenz, Germany, where he was stationed from April to August 1919. He appreciated the scenery along the Rhine River, but often complained of his loneliness, on account of non-fraternization rules and a lack of incoming mail. After September 1919, Kennel wrote 3 letters from Paris and Bruyères-sur-Oise, France (Seine-et-Oise department), about his work for the Red Cross and his attempts to return to the United States. Though he was naturalized in December 1916, Kennel was unable to secure a United States passport while in France, and he frequently voiced his frustration with the process. He also expressed his dissatisfaction with the general treatment of soldiers after the war. He noted that many American veterans had been forced to live on the streets in Paris after running out of money, and expressed his displeasure at news of working conditions in the United States, which included riots and, he believed, higher salaries for draft dodgers. Kennel commented twice on his love of baseball and his hope that the Cleveland Indians would reach the World Series.

Joseph A. Kennel wrote many of his letters on printed stationary of the American Expeditionary Forces, Knights of Columbus overseas services, or the American Red Cross (including an inter-office variation).

This collection is made up of United States soldiers' V-mail letters to Pasquale Velleco and Philip H. Jones, Jr., of Shelton, Connecticut, and to Mimika Frith of Bel Air, Maryland. Correspondents, who served in the United States Army and the United States Navy Seabees in the European and Pacific Theaters, discussed numerous aspects of military life during and just after the war.

This collection (54 items) is made up of United States soldiers' V-mail letters to Pasquale Velleco of Shelton, Connecticut (45 items); Philip H. Jones, Jr., of Shelton, Connecticut (7 items); and Mimika Frith of Bel Air, Maryland (2 items). Their correspondents included members of United States Army units serving in the European Theater and at least one member of the United States Navy Seabees serving in the Pacific Theater. The servicemen responded to news from home, shared news of other soldiers, and discussed their future plans. After V-E Day, several wondered whether or not they would be sent to the Pacific.

The soldiers' postwar correspondence includes brief references to their travels and experiences in Germany, Italy, Belgium, France, and England; a few provided details about their military activities. Two items are pre-printed Christmas and winter greetings, and one is a printed change-of-address form. One Seabee sent a copy of an "Inbad the Sailor" comic strip (June 8, 1945).

This collection is made up of four love letters by Private First Class Ruben Hammer of the United States Army, written while stationed at Camp Howze, Texas, to Mrs. Ruth McCall of Dallas, Texas. The letters mostly pertain to when Hammer will have leave to visit McCall again and to previous romantic encounters.

This collection is made up of four love letters by Private Ruben Hammer of the United States Army, written while stationed at Camp Howze, Texas, to Mrs. Ruth McCall of Dallas, Texas. The letters mostly pertain to when Hammer will have leave to visit McCall again and to previous romantic encounters.

The letters are dated October 29, 1942; January 22, 1943; February 20, 1944; and January 10, 1945.

The Hammer-McCall letters were acquired as part of the Jennie Nutter Correspondence, but they do not appear to relate to the Nutter materials.