As with any new project, there are lots of things to consider while executing the long term goals. In the case of my grandparents’ letters, there are some basic logistics to consider.  There are hundreds of letters that I wish to share with family, friends and the world.  My first step is to organize the letters into a presentable format for publication.  I have sorted the letters by the individual writer. In some cases, there are more writers and recipients than my grandparents. Occasionally I have found a letter written to my uncles or letters written by them to their father. There are also the rare letters from an additional family member or friend. I have separated out these letters for the time being. I will place the letters back into their chronological context at a later point. The next step is to put the remaining letters in chronological order. Many of the letters are not dated. The only clue I have to go by is the postmark on the envelope.  This is not always helpful either.  Since my grandfather often wrote one or two letters a day, I sometimes have to stop and read each letter to see if there is contextual evidence that will place one letter before the other. The post office didn’t always sort the letters chronologically either so sometimes an earlier letter has a later postmark.  Some of the postmarks are illegible or missing. I will definitely have my work cut out for me with those letters.

Another aspect of this project is the long term preservation of the original letters. I don’t currently have the backing of a major archive to help me do this. What I can do in the short term is open up each individual letter and unfold them. The fold lines are one of the areas in which wear and tear can break down the paper. Storing the letters flat will help preserve them as well.  I am also placing each letter into a protective sleeve. This will limit their exposure to handling. Once the letters are scanned and transcribed, I am putting them back into their protective sleeves and storing them in binders for easy access.

One day, I hope to donate the letters to a suitable institution that can more properly preserve them for posterity and future World War II scholars. But not until I have read and savored them all.

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Letter transcription:

Sat.

Dear Mother,

Just got home and not feeling so hot. Took shot for typhoid & smallpox. As yet I haven’t gotten any mail from home so your letters must be somewhere in the mixup. We may try to move tomorrow to a Hotel across the bay it will be a little more reasonable only $1.25 per day.

I had to go to to work this A.M. at 7:30 but and home at 4:00 so that isn’t bad. I think we should arrange for you to come down at least for a visit and to look the place over. I think I could get an X gas card and sent it to you so you would have no trouble. You would have to make it in two or three days because it is very near 1,000 miles – 970 to be exact

(page2) at least that is what I got paid for. And I wrote a check today for 15.80 for the insurance. It is to be taken out each mo. But it is such a short time until I’ll be 38 that they didn’t have time to take it from my pay.

There are lots of interesting things to see here and it rains almost every P.M. This is the first day it hasn’t but from the way it looks it will before long. There are numerous airplanes in the air both night and day and anti air craft guns can be seen at various places as well as lots of search lights crisscrossing at night. Down along Virg. Beach cars must dim their lights. We went driving and a cop came up and invited us to turn on our dimmers (we did)

(page 3)I’m not used to navy life as yet. Just as soon as I got the uniform every one under me saluted me and I wasn’t sure of what to do but I guess we’ll learn that as time goes by. You got my address in the last letter in case you didn’t-

Lt. (jg) MC V(S) RS Yeg—

Unit “A” Dispensary N.O.B.

Norfolk, VA

The time of a complete change of clothes seem to be gone I’ve worn the same shirt now three days and the same underware 2 days. At the base it takes 10 days to get laundry and up town it is so high. The only thing I’ve changed my socks daily – can’t stand it otherwise. I had to get some sock – must wear black or brown

(page 4)I bought six pair at the ships service for $1.50. They really are a bargain. Everything is cheaper there than up town.

I’m going down to the Y. tonight to see if there is any mail.

I haven’t had a chance to write to anyone yet but the folks. Maybe if we can find a better room tomorrow we can become more settled. And get on a definite schedule.

If you see any of the Rotary Club thank them again for the pen, I don’t know of any other thing they could have given that would have been more useful.

I realize that this is pretty choppy but it’s just the things that came to me. Maybe I can do better tomorrow,

Love Daddy

©2012, copyrighted & written by Deborah Sweeney