Reflections on Writing: Timeless Words That Connect Us

Two women smiling by a serene waterway.

December 7, 1919. From Dick to college girlfriend, Ruth. Letter 1 of 3 in series.

December 1919. Snow covers the houses, trees and streets, the moon is shining and Dick...
Two women smiling by a serene waterway.

March 27, 1920. From Dick to college girlfriend, Ruth. Letter 2 of 3 in series.

It's March 1920 and college kids are doing what they have always done: chasing basketball...
Two women smiling by a serene waterway.

April 19, 1920. From Dick to college girlfriend, Ruth. Letter 3 of 3 in series.

Ruth has returned to college for the final stretch of the school year. In this...
Two Hungarian postage stamps with butterflies

March 4, 1930. From Florence to Clarence. Letter 1 of 2 in collection.

In March 1930, as the Great Depression tightened its grip on America, a self-proclaimed "cranky...
Two Hungarian postage stamps with butterflies

March 11, 1930. From Florence to Clarence. Letter 2 of 3 in this collection.

In the early 1930s, Florence, a self-described "cranky old teacher," continues to write to Clarence...
Two Hungarian postage stamps with butterflies

March 30, 1930. From Florence to Clarence. Letter 3 of 3 in this collection.

During March 1930, as the US slips deeper into the early months of the Great...
Blurred red postage stamp on envelope

March 10, 1950. From Airman Charles to June. Letter 1 of 10 in collection.

At West Point in 1950, cadet Charles writes a first letter to his girlfriend, June....
Handwritten vintage letter with blue ribbon

Jan. 4, 1951. Early letter series from Charles at West Point to his sweetheart, June. Letter 2 in the series.

Written in January 1951 from the halls of West Point, this tender letter captures a...
Close-up of cursive penmanship on paper

Jan. 3, 1951. Early letter series from Charles at West Point to his sweetheart, June.

It’s all here the ache, the charm, the snow flurries, and the sex manual. Charles...
Vintage portrait of woman in cloche hat

September, 1975. From Mother to her daughter, Grace.

Our letter writer was born in 1898, earned a college degree, owned and ran her...