Correspondence, 1938-1972

Scope and content:

Letters to and from Harry Glazer, arranged alphabetically by correspondent and chronologically within each file.

There are two batches of letters in this series: correspondence from his U.S. Army service in World War II (1940s), and correspondence from his U.S. Foreign Service placement during the Vietnam War era (1970-1972).

The 1940s correspondence largely consists of letters between Harry and his immediate family: his father, Morris H. Glazer, his mother, Dorothy Glazer, and his brother, David Glazer. Some of the letters overlap with Harry's diaries from the 1940s, which offers an interesting complement to his feelings versus his interactions with each family member. Harry's notes and reactions to his incoming mail are often noted on the letters' envelopes. David's letters to Harry during his training and deployment number about one per day, and include clippings and comics as well as updates on his medical condition and ailments.

There are also examples of V-Mail in this series, dating to Harry's Army service in Europe in late 1944 and early 1945. Portions of the correspondence have been censored by the Army.

Letters to and from Harry's friends, girlfriends, and extended family make up the rest of the World War II-era materials. Girlfriends (or female acquaintances) include Joyce Sherrod, Hazel Hutton, and L. Loyce Lovett. This series includes a small amount of correspondence from Madison Cooper, Jr., a philanthropist and author that Harry met during basic training in Texas; letters from Bea Bezell, who served in the Women's Army Corps and later wrote about her life in California; and letters from Aino Lauri, a refugee Harry met at a displaced persons camp in Europe. Lauri eventually immigrated to the United States and wrote Harry about her mixed feelings towards American culture.

The majority of letters from the Vietnam War-era are from Harry to his wife, Carol Glazer, as well as some incoming correspondence from his children Deborah (nickname Debbie) and David. The letters from Harry to Carol discuss personal and family news as well as relevant events from Vietnam, including Harry's role as a civilian amongst military officers and serviceman. He writes from Cao Lanh, Kien Phong, and Saigon.

Other materials in the Correspondence series are a set of letters from Harry's father, Morris, to his mother, Dorothy, dating from 1932 and 1933, while Morris was away from the family on business.

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