Search

This collection contains letters that Russell Joseph Sommer ("Joe") of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, received from his brothers in the United States Armed Forces during World War II. Jerome ("Jerry") and George Sommer commented on wedding planning, a shared car, and family relationships and disputes.

This collection contains 17 letters and 2 notes of telephone calls that Russell Joseph Sommer ("Joe") of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, received from his brothers and acquaintances during World War II. The collection also includes 2 ephemeral items and a newspaper clipping.

George W. Sommer wrote 13 letters to his brother, Joe Sommer, while serving in the United States Navy around 1944-1945. As a naval air cadet at Great Lakes, Illinois, he commented on military life and medical testing. George allowed Joe and his wife Dot to use his car while he was away and discussed car maintenance, repairs, and, in one letter, the possibility of selling the vehicle. He wrote about his plans to have a "big wedding" despite his mother's recent death and some family members' misgivings. One group of his letters pertains to George's poor relationship with Joe's wife Dot. George discussed a dispute between his wife, Loretta, and Dot; he expressed his desire to maintain a relationship with his niece, Dorothy Mary, and shared his regret for the strain that Dot's recent actions had put on the brothers' relationship and on George's relationship with Loretta.

Jerry Sommer wrote 2 letters to his brother Joe, in which he discussed his pregnant wife's health (May 1, 1945) and his arrival in port in the United States (July 14, 1945). Joe Sommer received 2 brief notes about phone calls from Jerry, as well as 2 letters from acquaintances; one correspondent enclosed a newspaper clipping about Cincinnati Reds catcher Ray Mueller (May 21, 1944), and the other mentioned a flight he took with an air corps pilot (December 28, 1944). The remaining items are a printed calendar of events at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, for May 12, 1945-May 18, 1945; a card with a Christmas wish and picture of a nativity scene, produced by the National Catholic Community Service; and a newspaper clipping about Catholic marriage rites.

This collection is made up of 56 letters that members of the United States Army, United States Navy, and United States Coast Guard wrote to Shirley Kunz of Chicago, Illinois, during World War II.

This collection is made up of 56 letters that members of the United States Army, United States Navy, and United States Coast Guard wrote to Shirley Kunz of Chicago, Illinois, during World War II.

Kunz's early correspondents included Frank S. Kunz, Jr., who discussed his service in the United States Coast Guard at the Manhattan Beach Training Station in Brooklyn, New York, and near New Smyrna Beach, Florida; and Jos. L. Bussa, who trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in llinois. Frank Kunz later wrote from New Guinea and the Philippines, where he commented on postwar destruction. Henry A. Petru ("Hank") of the United States Army's 335th Infantry Regiment wrote to Kunz after 1943; he reminisced about an outing with Kunz and her friend Dolores, mentioned his involvement in engineering school and his glider training, and commented on his combat experiences in France and Germany, where he was wounded in late 1944. Some of Petru's letters enclose drafts of Kunz's responses. Richard C. Hoover ("Dick") wrote to Kunz from 1944-1946, discussing his attempts to earn a rating, his enjoyment of football and bowling, and his family's health. He provided updates about his mother's medical treatments, and shared news of her death in February 1946.

Kunz's other correspondents included Russel E. Sorensen and Harvey J. Hopsicker, who both served in the United States Navy's medical corps at San Diego, California; and William B. Vogel, a mutual friend of Hank Petru. She also received letters from Ray Warczynski, who served onboard the SS City of Grand Rapids, and from a correspondent, "Le Roy," who commented on his high school schedule in McHenry, Illinois. Some letters are written on stationery depicting the logos of United States military bases; other letterheads show Jesus Christ, a cartoon sailor with radio equipment, and the SS City of Grand Rapids. Shirley Kunz drew a picture of a foot in her letter to Hank Petru of July 26, 1943.

This collection is made up of letters received by Winifred Hunt of Blair, Oklahoma, during World War II. Calvin C. Farmer, Winifred's boyfriend, wrote about his experiences in the navy and about their relationship.

This collection is made up of 20 letters received by Winifred Hunt of Blair, Oklahoma, during World War II. Winifred's boyfriend, Calvin C. Farmer, wrote 16 letters from the Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois; the Naval Personnel Distribution Center in Pleasanton, California; and ports such as San Francisco and New Orleans. He often discussed their relationship, apologized for spending time with another woman (February 7, 1943), and anticipated their marriage and wedding night (December 10, 1944). Some of Farmer's letters pertain to his life in the navy, and 4 include humorous and patriotic printed illustrations. Hunt's other correspondents included J. Hutchins at Camp Hood, Texas; a writer who signed himself "J. J."; and a man named "Bobby" at the U.S. Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. Bobby's letter concerns recent marriages in Blair, Oklahoma, and his own secret marriage.