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

This collection contains World War II-era correspondence between Garrison ("Garry") and Jane Dover of Queens, New York, as well as letters that Garrison Dover received from other family members. Jane told Garrison, an army private, about her social activities, her work, and life on the home front; he wrote about his affection for her and his uncertainty about overseas deployment while stationed at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland and at Camp Beale, California.

This collection (96 items) contains World War II-era correspondence between Garrison ("Garry") and Jane Dover of Queens, New York, as well as letters that Garrison Dover received from other family members.

Jane Dover wrote the majority of the letters, describing her life and social activities on the home front and commenting on her work for a temp agency, finances, and, on one occasion, the effect of the Victory Tax on her paycheck (October 29, 1943); she frequently sent money to her husband. Her letters also reflect Garrison's updates about his training at the Aberdeen Proving Ground from October 1943-March 1944.

Between March 17, 1944, and April 10, 1944, Garrison Dover wrote 12 letters to his wife from Camp Beale, California, where he anticipated being sent overseas. He described his travels to Sacramento on weekend passes and various aspects of camp life. On May 23, 1944, his wife reported that a Ouija game had predicted his return home on April 2, 1945, and she sent him a birthday card in late August. Her letter of September 14, 1944, mentions a hurricane threatening Atlantic City, New Jersey. Jane also wrote about the 1944 presidential election, including her growing distaste for Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt (September 26, 1944) and a literacy test she underwent as a first-time voter (October 12, 1944). Her final letter to Garrison is dated February 7, 1945, during his recovery at Mason General Hospital in Brentwood, Long Island. The collection also contains a card that Jane wrote to her husband in June 1945, while he lived and worked in Utica, New York, and letters that Garrison Dover received from family members.

This collection contains 6 letters that Private Harold Young wrote to Faye McIntyre, a friend, while serving with the United States Army during World War II. He first worked as a Quartermaster Corps driver based at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, and then transferred to Camp Butner, North Carolina, where he trained with the Signal Corps. Young discussed his opinions on the army, his changing military ambitions, and his desire to return to Oregon after the war.

This collection contains 6 letters that Private Harold Young wrote to Faye McIntyre of Elgin, Oregon, while serving with the United States Army at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, and Camp Butner, North Carolina, during World War II.

Initially, Young expressed surprise that she had found his address and initiated communication, though later letters indicate that Young knew McIntyre's parents and had many acquaintances in common with her. He first responded to a letter on August 28, 1942, and confirmed that he was a member of a noncombatant unit, though he had the opportunity to volunteer for a dangerous active service unit; he later wrote that he was "looking to die at a young age" by participating in overseas service (September 5, 1942). These first two letters urge McIntyre to follow her impulse to come east to visit him and allude to a liaison the couple enjoyed in San Francisco. In 1943, Young reported that he had married another woman, though he declared that his "heart belong[ed] in Oregon" (June 3, 1943).

After volunteering for the Signal Corps, Young wrote four letters from Camp Butner, North Carolina, detailing the unit's training as an amphibious invasion force (June 3 and June 25, 1943). Additionally, he expressed his distaste for the hot weather and inadequate social activities, his increasing disenchantment with his military placement, and his hope of returning to the West Coast (July 19 and August 21, 1943). Two of his letters bear graphic letterheads from Camp Butner, depicting soldiers in action.

The Harry Miller papers consist of letters that Miller wrote to Jane Cline, a friend, while serving in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.

The Harry Miller papers consist of letters that Miller wrote to Jane Cline, a friend, while serving in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.

Miller wrote 4 letters while stationed at bases in the United States between August 24, 1942, and [October 1, 1944], in which he primarily discussed his leisure activities and his ambitions to become an officer. He attended classes and often joked that he was following Jane's lead in returning to school. The remaining correspondence is from Miller's service in India and China between November 1944 and December 1945. His growing romantic affection for Jane, whom he frequently addressed as "Darling" or "Dearest," is evident, and he expressed his hope that she might reciprocate his feelings one day. His letter of April 29, 1945, contains a discussion about possible Allied treatment of Germany and Japan after a presumed Allied victory. Miller continued to write until the end of 1945, detailing his adventures both on and off base in East Asia. Of particular interest is his lengthy reminiscence of a trip he took with a friend to explore a Buddhist temple outside of Kunming, China (September 5, [1945]). By December 1945, he anticipated his return to the United States and his continuing romantic pursuit of Jane.

This collection contains correspondence and other items related to Lieutenant Henry Fiore and his wife, Bonnie Irvine Fiore. Henry Fiore received letters, greeting cards, and other correspondence while serving in the United States Army during World War II, including Bonnie's letters about life in New York City while he was away.

This collection contains 25 letters, 2 greeting cards, 1 telegram, 1 poem, and 1 theater program related to Lieutenant Henry Fiore, who served in the United States Army during World War II, and to his wife Bonnie. Bonnie wrote Henry 17 letters between December [10], 1941, and July 7, 1944, about her life in New York, her loneliness during his absence, and her desire to hasten his return. She reported her attempts to convince army officials and Red Cross representatives of her financial dependence on her husband and expressed her fear that accepting government aid would give the impression that Henry was not needed at home. She consistently shared her love for Henry and often kissed her letters, leaving marks with her lipstick; her letter of December 12, 1941, has a drawing of a pair of lips. Bonnie's 3 later letters, written in June and July 1944, pertain to her job and female coworkers. In her letter of February 25, 1942, she enclosed a short poem clipped from a newspaper, and her letter of June 11, 1944, contains 3 photographs. Henry sent Bonnie 1 letter during their courtship (August 12, 1937) and 1 letter and 1 card during his military service. In his letter of December 6, 1946, he justified his decision to reenlist. An undated card refers to a present that he purchased for her.

Henry Fiore received 2 letters from his sisters Helen and Viola, who discussed their social lives and provided family news, and a formal letter from attorney E. B. Reiter, regarding money Henry owed on a recently purchased car (June 23, 1942). Six additional items are 2 holiday greeting cards, a telegram, a letter of recommendation for Bonnie Fiore, a printed program from a "Tropical Revue" at the Martin Beck Theatre, and a partial manuscript poem addressed to L. L. Lewis of Hoboken, New Jersey.

This collection contains correspondence that Jewish Private J. Walter Feigenbaum received from his sister, Jeanette, and mother, Rose, while he served with the United States Army during World War II. The women, who lived in Washington, D.C., wrote of the domestic political situation prior to the 1944 presidential election, shared their opinions on developments in the war, and provided news of family friends.

This collection (24 items) contains correspondence that Jewish Private Jacob Walter Feigenbaum received from his sister and mother while he served with the United States Army during World War II. Jeanette Feigenbaum, Walter's sister, wrote most of the letters, often with brief notes from her mother Rose, who sometimes sent letters of her own (frequently in the same envelopes). The women discussed numerous political and personal topics, often related to the 1944 presidential election and domestic politics. Jeanette frequently expressed her frustrations with the political landscape, including her skepticism about Harry Truman, reaction to the Dewey campaign's tactics, and views on legislation related to the military. She commented on the progress of the war in Europe, reports of German atrocities against the citizens of Warsaw, Poland (August 30, 1944), and the political situation in Nazi Germany, including the failed plot to assassinate Hitler (July 21, 1944, and July 23, 1944). Her letters also mention Zionist newspapers, contain references to Jewish holidays, and discuss Jewish nationalism (September 5, 1944). Rose's letters focus more prominently on social news of family members and friends.

Each letter is accompanied by an envelope bearing a colored illustration of a soldier eager to receive mail. The soldiers depicted include jeep drivers, paratroopers, and machine gunners, and the envelopes belong to the same artistic series. Many of the letters also feature patriotic letterheads or watermarks, and two from September 1944 have panels from the cartoon "Private Buck," drawn by Clyde Lewis (September 5 and September 14, 1944).

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.

The John K. Stoner correspondence is made up of 6 letters that Stoner wrote to his family during the summer of 1941, while he completed United States Army Air Forces training at Hickam Field, Hawaii. He commented on aspects of military life and anticipated his return home.

The John K. Stoner correspondence is made up of 6 letters that Stoner wrote to his family during the summer of 1941, while he completed United States Army Air Forces training at Hickam Field, Hawaii. In April, he focused on finishing school and promised to send his parents his graduation picture and diploma. After finishing his studies, Stoner spent much of his time socializing with other soldiers, despite a brief stay in the base hospital. He reported on some aspects of life on a military base, such as his excitement about the arrival of several new B-17 bombers (May 17, 1941). Though he looked forward to his return to the United States, Stoner admitted a fondness for Hawaii. Stoner wrote each of his letters on stationery illustrated with scenes from daily life in Hawaii, including a surfer, a girl playing the ukulele, palm trees, and fish. One colorful image shows two planes crossing the Pacific Ocean, hopping from San Francisco to Hong Kong via Honolulu, Midway Island, Wake Island, Guam, and Manila.

This collection contains 4 letters that John M. Harris wrote to his parents in Wellsville, New York, while participating in the Navy V-12 training program at the University of Rochester during World War II.

This collection contains 4 letters that John M. Harris wrote to his parents in Wellsville, New York, while participating in the United States Navy V-12 training program at the University of Rochester during World War II. In letters dated July 22, [1943]; March 9, 1944; March 13, 1944; and March 20, 1944, Harris discussed his coursework, roommates, physical training, daily life, and work with the school's paper, The Campus (now The Campus Times). His first letter is written on stationery with a printed picture of a sailor on a boat gazing at a mermaid.

This collection is made up of the incoming and outgoing World War II-era correspondence of John T. McHale, Jr., of Washington, D.C., and his wife, Betty Jane Henery of Zanesville, Ohio. John wrote to Betty while serving in the United States Army Air Forces, and the couple received letters from family members, servicemen, and Betty's female acquaintances.

This collection is made up of the incoming and outgoing World War II-era correspondence of John T. McHale, Jr., of Washington, D.C., and his wife, Betty Jane Henery of Zanesville, Ohio. John wrote around 220 letters to Betty while serving in the United States Army Air Forces, and Betty wrote about 50 letters to John about her experiences while he was away. The couple also received letters from family members, servicemen, and Betty's female acquaintances.

The bulk of the collection is comprised of Correspondence, particularly the letters that John T. and Betty McHale exchanged during the war. Their letters document several aspects of their relationship, including the effects of lengthy periods of separation. In his early letters (April 1943-September 1943), John T. McHale commented on aspects of military life and training at various stations in the United States, and Betty initially wrote about her experiences in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she was a member of an orchestra. From October 1944-October 1945, McHale wrote from Hawaii, New Guinea, and the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), where he was a pilot with the 7th Combat Cargo Squadron, Fifth Air Force. He mentioned the "Tokyo Rose" radio broadcasts and frequent bombing raids by Japanese planes. In March 1945, his squadron celebrated the birth of his son. By the summer of 1945, McHale was stationed in the Philippines, where he noticed the destructive effects of the war on Manila, and he was later based in Okinawa and at the Yokota Army Airfield near Tokyo. In October 1945, he anticipated his return to the United States.

John T. and Betty McHale received letters from many correspondents during the war, particularly from their parents and from Betty's female friends from her time in Albuquerque. Marvel Goodman and others commented on their lives after their orchestra dispersed in 1943. Infrequent postwar letters from acquaintances are dated as late as 1948, and Andrew H. Henery sent a birth announcement for his son in 1952.

Receipts and Ephemera include greeting cards, a church program, birth announcements for John T. McHale III, receipts, a financial voucher, and a list of postwar addresses for a group of military officers.

The John Wilkey, Jr., collection is comprised of military documents, correspondence, ephemera, and photographs related to John W. Wilkey, Jr., who served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.

The John Wilkey, Jr., collection is made up of military documents, correspondence, ephemera, and photographs related to John W. Wilkey, Jr., who served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.

Mary Wilkey and John Wilkey, Sr., wrote a letter to their son, John Wilkey, Jr., on February 5 and 6, 1946. His mother enclosed copies of letters by Representative Charles Wolverton and Senator Albert Wahl, who responded to her request that they support legislation to discharge fathers currently serving in the military. Wilkey's father expressed his pressing need for his son's help with their wheat farm, and urged him to seek a discharge. The collection also holds Wilkey's official request for a discharge (April 26, 1946) and a special order issued in response by the 40th Bomb Wing headquarters (May 10, 1946), as well as a refund check for 2 cents (January 1945); an undated, printed application for a sugar ration book (not filled out); and an undated, printed advertisement for a commemorative military book. Five snapshot photographs depict John's wife Ruby and their young daughter (April 1946).

The collection contains 3 additional documents: a typed "station notice" containing the order of events for an "Invasion Day rally" (May 19, 1944), a memorandum about "Regulations Concerning Compressed Air" from the torpedo shop at the United States Naval Mine Depot in Yorktown, Virginia (August 26, 1944), and a facsimile of an advertisement for an upcoming publication about the depot (February 1945).