Loren (Bill) Smith World War II letter collection
Scope and Contents
The Loren (Bill) Smith collection consists of letters written by Smith to his parents, who lived on Pontiac Drive in Rochester, New York, during World War II. The letters begin in March of 1941, and continue through the end of the war. There are a few letters written by Smith between 1953-1957, when he worked as a cook in various restaurants. Smith served in Company C of the 1st Battalion, 7th Regiment Quartermaster Corps. He began his service in the Army in March 1941 in Syracuse, New York, continuing on to Fort Niagara, New York where he was dispatched to Camp Lee in Petersburg, Virginia. From there he was moved in succession from Camp Shelby, Mississippi, where he joined the Company C 71st Quartermaster Battalion, moving to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, back to Camp Shelby, then to Fort Dix in Trenton, New Jersey before being shipped overseas in September 1942. While overseas Smith served in Ireland, England, Belgium and France. Smith's letters home contain descriptions of the weather, his friends in camp, and brief mentions of his duties as a mechanic. In late 1942 letters between Smith and his family describe a whirlwind marriage between Smith and a young woman in Trenton, NJ. From this period until the end of the war Smith vacillates between wanting a divorce and attempting to work out the relationship. He eventually was granted a divorce. He also describes dating different local women in Europe during the war.
Creator
- Smith, Loren (Army mechanic) (Person)
Dates
- Creation: 1941-1957
Language of Materials
English
Extent
6 box(es)
Access
The Loren (Bill) Smith World War II Letter Collection is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books, Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.
Use
In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The letters were purchased from Rose Hartwig on May 18, 2004.
Preferred Citation
[Item title, item date], Loren (Bill) Smith World War II Letter Collection, D.313, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Subject
- Smith, Loren (Army mechanic) (Person)
- Title
- Bill Loren Smith World War II letter collection
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Rare Books and Special Collections staff
- Date
- undated
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Library Details
Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library