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This collection is made up of letters that Phyllis Okoniewski of Buffalo, New York, wrote and received during World War II. She corresponded with servicemen in multiple branches of the United States Armed Forces during the early years of the war, and wrote over 150 letters to her future husband, Richard J. Szymczak, from September 1943-May 1945.

This collection is made up of approximately 200 letters that Phyllis Okoniewski of Buffalo, New York, wrote and received during World War II, 4 manuscript writings, and 6 newspaper clippings..

The Correspondence series consists of Phyllis Okoniewski's incoming and outgoing letters. From February 1941-August 1943, Okoniewski received over 40 letters from members of the United States Army, United States Army Air Forces, and United States Navy. They wrote about aspects of military life at bases such as Camp McClellan, Alabama; Camp Croft, South Carolina; Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida; Camp Pickett, Virginia; Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina; Sampson Naval Training Station, New Jersey; Camp Gordon, Georgia; and South Kelly Field, Texas. The servicemen discussed their classes, possible assignments, daily routine, and leisure activities. Okoniewski occasionally composed drafts of letters to these soldiers, in which she discussed her life in Buffalo, New York. The bulk of the series (over 150 items) is comprised of Okoniewski's letters to her future husband, Richard Szymczak, between September 1943 and May 1945. She commented on news from home, activities with members of the Okoniewski and Szymczak families, her senior prom, and her love for Szymczak.

The Writings series (4 items) contains 2 drafts of an explicit poem about Adam and Eve, a recipe for "love cake," a parody of Longfellow's poem "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere," and a typed joke about married women.

Five of the six Newspaper clippings relate to the Buffalo Bisons hockey team during the war. One of these lists war casualties from western New York on the reverse side. The sixth clipping is an image of members of the 95th Signal Company, 3rd Division, United States Army, surrounding a cow.

This collection consists of letters Technician Fifth Grade Raymond E. Evans of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, received from his parents while he served with the United States Army's 93rd General Hospital in England between 1944 and 1945. His parents commented on their social lives in Bethlehem and responded to Raymond's letters and to developments in the war.

This collection consists of manuscript letters and V-mail that Technician Fifth Grade Raymond E. Evans of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, received from his parents, William E. Raymond and Josephine Weiss Evans, while he served with the United States Army's 93rd General Hospital in England during the Second World War. The letters are divided into two series: Correspondence and Photographs and Ephemera . The Correspondence series contains three subseries: Manuscript Correspondence (166 items, February 15, 1944-December 9, 1945); Manuscript V-Mail Correspondence (92 items, March 21, 1944-September 10, 1945), and Photographed V-Mail Correspondence (1,022 items, February 22, 1944-August 7, 1945). The Photographs and Ephemera series holds 4 photographs; ephemera items, which are tickets and a theater program from Birmingham, England; and a brown case used to house letters, an address book, and 2 of the 4 photographs. Two additional photographs are attached to the letter of September 4, 1945.

The Correspondence series contains 1,280 letters, written by Raymond’s parents to him from February 15, 1944 to December 9, 1945. They wrote to their son almost daily, primarily using V-mail correspondence. Their letters provide news of their lives in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and updates about friends and family members. Both of Raymond's parents related news of mail he received at Bethlehem, and occasionally transcribed portions of those letters. As devout members of a local church, they often mentioned their prayers for their son's safety, as well as their attendance at church services and other religious events, and their satisfaction upon hearing that he attended services while abroad. Raymond's father also occasionally mentioned his work on a friend's automobile, and sent updates about professional athletic teams and athletes, particularly related to baseball. William and Josephine Evans occasionally referred to Raymond's military experiences and sometimes reacted to developments in the war, such as the D-Day invasion, V-E Day and V-J Day, and the use of the atomic bomb against Japan (several items, August 1945).

Of the four photographs in the Photographs and Ephemera series , two are of unidentified people and the third and fourth are pictures of William and Josephine Evans and an unidentified man and dog; the latter two are housed with the brown case in which they were originally kept. Two additional photographs of William and Josephine Evans are attached to the letter of September 4, 1945. The address book, which is also housed in the brown case, belonged to Raymond E. Evans and contains listings for friends and family in Bethlehem and from his time in the army, as well as two airmail stamps and a list of instrumental songs.

The Renwick family correspondence is made up of the World War II-era letters of John and Violet Renwick of Durhamville, New York, and their sons George and John. The Renwick brothers, who both served in the United States Navy, discussed aspects of their service and their parents and friends shared news from home.

The Renwick family correspondence is made up 90 World War II-era letters of John and Violet Renwick of Durhamville, New York, and their sons George and John, both of whom served in the United States Navy. The collection has three main groups of letters, which overlap chronologically: letters from John E. Renwick to John and Violet Renwick; letters from John and Violet Renwick to George Renwick; and letters to George Renwick from friends in New York.

John Renwick's letters to his parents primarily regard his initial induction into the navy in Albany, New York, his time at the US Naval Training Station in Newport, Rhode Island, and his experiences working in a store at Naval Air Station Pensacola in 1942 and 1943. He wrote infrequently throughout the remainder of the war and into the postwar years, when he described his life in Brookhaven, Mississippi.

John and Violet Renwick's letters to their son George provide news of family and friends in New York. Violet Renwick often commented on her health problems, urged George to remain safe, and expressed her concerns during George's hospitalization for "stomach trouble" in the summer of 1944. George's other correspondents, who were primarily women, wrote about life in Oneida and Rome, New York, during the war. Both the Renwick family and George's friends mentioned news of other military personnel. A letter from "Eleanor" on January 4, 1944, includes a pencil sketch of a sailor, identified as "you," dreaming on a small tropical island, with a ship in the background.

This collection is made up of 5 letters that Richard E. Byrd wrote to James B. Pond about his lecture tours in 1928 and 1931, and 1 letter that Byrd wrote to John Shuttleworth about speaking engagements related to World War II.

This collection is made up of 5 letters that Richard E. Byrd wrote to James B. Pond about his lecture tours in 1928 and 1931, as well as 1 letter that Byrd wrote to John Shuttleworth about speaking engagements related to World War II. In his first letter to Pond, he discussed the comparative appeal of his lectures about his successful transatlantic flight and his upcoming Antarctic expedition. In 1931, Byrd complained to Pond about low turnout, low-quality film equipment, and faulty loudspeakers at his lectures throughout the South. He blamed a lack of ticket-selling campaigns, rather than economic conditions, for the poor attendance and he expressed dissatisfaction with his contract and financial compensation.

Writing to John Shuttleworth in 1941, Byrd discussed his speaking engagements related to World War II, mentioning the perceived threat of a Nazi invasion of the United States and his speeches addressed to France. See the Detailed Box and Folder Listing for more information about each item.

This collection is made up of about 400 letters Robert Showalter Hutto and his wife Eva exchanged while he served as a pharmacist's mate onboard the USS Joseph T. Dickman between January and October 1945. Eva wrote around 200 letters between December 31, 1944, and August 4, 1945, and Robert responded with approximately 200 letters, written between January 1, 1945, and October 19, 1945. Eva shared news of her social life and her experiences running the couple's pharmacy in Kokomo, Indiana, and Robert described aspects of military life and, particularly after the Japanese surrender, his movements around the Pacific.

This collection is made up of about 400 letters Robert Showalter Hutto and his wife Eva exchanged while he served as a pharmacist's mate onboard the USS Joseph T. Dickman between January and October 1945. Eva wrote around 200 letters between December 31, 1944, and August 4, 1945, and Robert responded, with approximately 200 letters, written between January 1, 1945, and October 19, 1945. Eva shared news of her social life and her experiences running the couple's pharmacy in Kokomo, Indiana, and Robert described aspects of military life and, particularly after the Japanese surrender, his movements around the Pacific.

Eva wrote almost daily letters that were typically between 1 and 3 pages. She met with other military spouses, discussed her religious life, and expressed her concern and love for her husband. Occasionally, she commented on national news stories, such as President Franklin Roosevelt's death (April 14, 1945) and the likelihood of German surrender (May 7, 1945). In his letters, Robert concentrated on his experiences aboard the USS Joseph T. Dickman, a hospital and transport ship, in the Pacific Theater. He initially wrote less frequently than his wife, but by mid-August 1945, he sent letters almost daily and provided her with commentary on navy life and his religious activities. Though censorship initially forced Hutto to be vague about his locations, he described the Joseph T. Dickman's travels between Boston and San Francisco in a letter dated January 17, 1945, and reported on his initiation as a "pollywog" who had traveled across the equator (February 9, 1945). On May 1, 1945, he announced that censorship had been partially lifted and that he was allowed to share some of his experiences, including travels to the New Hebrides, Guadalcanal, and Tulagi Island. In the same letter he gave a scant description of his involvement in the liberation of Okinawa. After the Japanese surrender on August 14, 1945, he openly shared his travel plans, which included trips between San Francisco and islands such as Enewetak Atoll and the Philippines. He also revealed that he had spent time in the Hawaiian Islands while the ship was being outfitted with medical facilities. After his ship anchored at Manila Harbor on September 17, 1945, he provided his impressions of the destruction around Manila, which included the sunken ships throughout its harbor. In his final letters, Hutto anticipated his discharge, which took place in mid-October.

The couple's letters reveal their affection for one another, as well as the effects of lengthy separation on their relationship. On January 20, 1945, Robert Hutto sent his wife a Valentine's Day card, and most letters end with professions of love or, on at least one occasion, a kiss from Eva marked in lipstick. Other items of interest are an anniversary card (July 16, 1945) and a card bearing a cartoon illustration of a Hawaiian dancer and a brief poem about Hawaii (June 24, 1945). Two of Eva's letters include enclosures: a piece of fabric (January 29, 1945) and a newspaper advertisement (February 7, 1945). In addition to Robert's letters, Eva received 1 letter from Captain Ward R. Kidder of the 29th Field Artillery Battalion, about his experiences in Luxembourg (December 19, 1944). The collection also holds an "Air-Speed Mail Kit" box for "feather-weight" letter paper.

This collection is made up of Robert Preston's letters to his parents about his service in the United States Navy during World War II. Preston repaired aircraft and supervised metal shops at the Norfolk Air Station and on Chincoteague Island, Virginia.

This collection (87 items) contains 83 letters, 1 postcard, and 1 telegram that Robert Preston sent to his mother and stepfather, Eva and Frank Lakewitz of Baltimore, Maryland, from March 5, 1942-April 20, 1943, while serving in the United States Navy, as well as 1 letter from his wife Dotty (April 24, 1942). The final item is a photographic greeting card with an informal portrait of a man and woman (January 10, 1945).

Robert Preston wrote about his arrival at Norfolk, Virginia; his work repairing airplanes and supervising metal shops at Norfolk Air Station and Chincoteague Island, Virginia; and other aspects of his daily life. He sometimes mentioned his wife and their young daughter Mary Jane. In his letter of September 5, 1942, he noted that some money had been stolen out of his wallet, and, on September 19, 1942, he reported that the culprit had been dishonorably discharged and sentenced to 5 years in prison. Preston occasionally flew in military aircraft. He described fatal crashes in his letters of November 15, 1942; February 21, 1943; and April 4, 1943.

Preston wrote 2 early letters on stationery with printed paintings of navy vessels and aircraft and sent his mother an illustrated Mother's Day telegram from Western Union (undated). Some of his letters and envelopes have cartoonish drawings of sailors or other men (December 29, 1942, et al.). He drew a diagram of part of a car (October 22, 1942) and a picture of an airplane instrument he built (October 26, 1942).

The Robert Sklarz collection is made up of letters that Sklarz, a staff sergeant in the United States Army Air Forces, wrote to his family while serving in the United States, New Guinea, the Philippines, and Japan during and after World War II. Sklarz commented on aspects of military life such as his training, leisure activities, and rations.

The Robert Sklarz collection (0.75 linear feet) is made up of letters that Sklarz wrote to his family while serving in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.

The Correspondence series, which comprises the bulk of the collection, contains letters that Sklarz wrote to his family from October 1942-January 1945 and from July 1945-December 1945. He most frequently addressed his letters to his parents, Milton and Elsie Sklarz; he also wrote to his grandparents, Benedict and Mary Schwarz, who lived with the Sklarz family in Brooklyn, New York. The early letters pertain to Sklarz's experiences at training facilities in the United States, where he commented on drills, classes, and his travels between bases. He occasionally mentioned specific exercises, such as gas mask drills, obstacle courses, and rifle training, and discussed his pay, expenses, and food. While stationed in New Orleans, Louisiana, Sklarz reported on acquaintances in the Women's Army Corps and Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service.

From July 1944 until the end of the war, Sklarz discussed his experiences in New Guinea, the Dutch East Indies, the Philippines, and Okinawa. Sklarz occasionally referred to his participation in battle, but mainly discussed everyday aspects of military life; he mentioned hearing Tokyo Rose broadcasts, visiting the beach, and meeting Australian soldiers. After July 1945, Sklarz was stationed in the Philippines, Okinawa, and Japan, where he commented on the food, the discharge system, and his unit. The majority of items are manuscript letters; the collection also contains V-mail letters and picture postcards. One group of postcards that Sklarz sent to an acquaintance in New York contains cartoons about military life; the collection also contains a set of 4 unused postcards from Japan.

The Regalia series (7 items) contains World War II-era military ribbons.

The Roland F. Kerner papers contain correspondence, documents, printed items, and ephemera pertaining to Kerner's service in the United States Marine Corps and Seabees during World War II. He wrote letters to his mother and received letters from his fiancée while he was serving in the Pacific. The additional items concern various aspects of his military service.

The Roland F. Kerner papers are made up of correspondence, documents, printed items, and ephemera pertaining to Kerner's service in the United States Marine Corps and Seabees during World War II. The Correspondence series (256 items), which includes manuscript and typed letters, V-mail, telegrams, and postcards, contains Kerner's incoming and outgoing correspondence with his mother and his fiancée. From November 1942-May 1945, Kerner wrote to his widowed mother about his travels, training schedule, leisure activities, and military duties in the United States and the Pacific Theater. He also commented on her work and encouraged her not to overexert herself. Occasionally, Kerner mentioned developments in the war, such as the D-Day invasions. In a letter of September 7, 1943, he discussed island residents' desire to marry off their daughters to American soldiers, and his letter of April 1, 1945, reports his courtship with and engagement to Louise Stevens. Kerner wrote infrequently after May 1945, when he again went overseas; his later letters concern his travels in the Pacific and, in one case, a conflict with his brother-in-law, Paul Dieter (October 1, 1945).

From May 1945-October 1945, most items are love letters from Louise Stevens to Roland F. Kerner. She wrote about her daily life and social activities in Wheaton, Illinois, and shared her joy after hearing about the end of the war. Her letter of September 29, 1945, is written on illustrated stationery celebrating the Allied victory, and at least two of her letters enclose photographs. Far less frequently, Kerner received letters from his mother and sister, who wrote about housework and family life. Ray [Bilter], another soldier, wrote a letter about his experiences in Germany near the end of the war and shared his negative opinion of Germans after seeing concentration camps (April 29, 1945).

The Documents and Reports series (24 items) is made up of receipts, military records, and other items pertaining to Roland F. Kerner, such as a receipt for work on his car (June 2, 1942), a document about Kerner's approved leave of absence from the navy (May 17, 1945), documents about his eligibility for postwar education benefits (April 23, 1946), and 5 lists of naval personnel. An undated form about Kerner's military service encloses photographs of him in uniform.

The Printed Items series (21 items) mostly contains newspapers and clippings, often about the Pacific Theater of the war. Issues of Yank, the West Chicago Press, and servicemen's informal newsletters are included. Other items are two books with religious devotions and a map of the Pacific Ocean. The Ephemera series (15 items) consists of 4 wage slips, a letter fragment, photographs, 5 photographic postcards of scenes from Melbourne, Australia, and other items.

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.

This collection contains letters that Santo R. Ferrara received during his service in the United States Navy Seabees during World War II. His brother Henry offered advice about military life, and other military personnel commented on their experiences at bases in the United States. The collection also includes a letter that Ferrara wrote to his wife and daughter and a Christmas card that he sent to a friend.

This collection (37 items) contains letters that Santo R. Ferrara received during his service in the United States Navy Seabees during World War II, including 21 letters from his brother Henry, a member of the United States Navy Reserve, and numerous letters from other military personnel. Also included are a letter that Ferrara wrote to his wife and daughter and a Christmas card that he sent to a friend.

Henry Ferrara, who wrote from October 6, 1943-November 5, 1945, encouraged his brother to remain in the United States during the war, shared news of their mother and mutual acquaintances, and commented on his life and work in Washington, D.C. His single letter to Marjorie Ferrara congratulates her on the birth of her daughter (December 5, 1943).

Santo Ferrara's other correspondents included Paul Feldman Cox, who served with a navy demolition unit, and Corporal Tony Pirrone of the Army's 806th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Cox complained about his training at Camp Peary, Virginia, and described his work after a transfer to the Marine Corps unit; he was reassigned to Fort Pierce, Florida, in January 1944, where he became an instructor after his unit shipped out in late February. Pirrone discussed his experiences at Camp Rucker, Alabama; commented on his health; and shared his plans to get married after the end of the war. Ferrara also received a V-mail letter from James E. O'Toole, a member of Seabee Detachment 1040, about O'Toole's time in North Africa ([February] 12, 1944).

After the end of hostilities, Henry and Billy Ferrara wrote to their brother Santo about the possibility of being discharged under the military's point system. Billy Ferrara described the Philippines and expressed uncertainty as to whether he would become a member of the occupying forces. He also remarked on the bartering system between American soldiers and Filipino natives and shared the prices of commodities

Santo Ferrara wrote 2 items: a Christmas card to Mr. and Mrs. John Wallace of Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts (December 15, 1943), and a letter to his wife and daughter about his assignment to specialized classes at Camp Endicott, Rhode Island; his letter encloses a "C.B." emblem (December 22, 1943). The collection also contains a hand-colored illustration of a palm tree on a beach and the words "Happy Birthday," signed by Henry Ferrara.