Archive for November 2025
June 27, 1944. From Bill to his wife. Letter 1 of 6.
In June of 1944, as the world stood in the shadow of global conflict, a young Navy man named Bill put pen to paper. Writing from a training camp far from home, he describes the rhythms of military life that include boat drills, cold 5am showers, immunizations and woven through it all, a tender devotion to his wife. In this letter, we can hear the quiet resilience of a generation, and the enduring power of love in uncertain times. Letter 1 of 6.
Read MoreSept 1, 1933. From Mother to Boyd.
Written in September 1933, at the depths of the Great Depression, this letter captures the small decisions, travel plans, and everyday worries of a family navigating a world where money was tight, plans were uncertain, and a simple business related road trip required careful thought.
[Note: Dade Park, was the original name for Ellis Park Race Course, a thoroughbred racetrack located in Henderson, Kentucky]
Read More1944. From Bill to his sweetheart, Gloria (3rd letter)
In this honest and heartfelt 1944 wartime letter, Bill opens up about exhausting routines, uncertain futures, and the quiet ache of missing Gloria reminding us how love finds a way, even in the Mess Hall doorway.
Read MoreAugust 9, 1942. From newlywed Mrs. Jamieson to her “hugbug” husband who is deployed.
In this sugar-sweet wartime letter from 1942, a young new wife gushes with love, determination, and just the right dash of sass as she starts a new job, saves every penny, and dreams of her soldier’s return, proof that even in war, romance never takes a day off.
Read MoreNov. 6, 1944. From Verna to Stinko
Written from a quirky hotel called “Bedside Manor,” this charming 1944 letter from Verna to “Stinko” blends gossip, wartime worry, and a dash of humor—proof that even in uncertain times, teenage life marched on with candy counters, cold snaps, and complicated crushes.
Read MoreNov. 2, 1958. From Bob to his sister, Ruth
In this candid letter from November 1958, a young serviceman overseas writes to his sister, Ruth, sharing his thoughts on cars, cold-weather field exercises, and the complicated charm of local girls all with warmth, wit, and a touch of longing for home.
Read MoreSept. 21, 1958. From Bob to his sister, Ruth
Bob, an American soldier writing on his arrival in Germany.
Read MoreNov. 7, 1938. From Isabel in Germany to Peter
A supportive, loving note to a young Peter leaving his homeland to America. [Translated]
Read MoreDec. 19, 1938. From Kate in Germany to Peter
Written on December 19, 1938 just weeks after Kristallnacht this letter glows with the light of Chanukah and a mother’s plea for her son’s safety in a world unraveling around her. She speaks of the “Rothschild facility,” likely referring to a Jewish orphanage, hospital, or refuge run by the Rothschild Foundation for displaced families, and of “Piedmont,” perhaps the safe haven abroad where her beloved Peter had found shelter.
Read More1944. From Bill to his sweetheart, Gloria
1944. As the war continues, this tender letter from Bill to his sweetheart Gloria captures a soldier’s longing for home, love, and a life waiting to begin again.
Read More