Correspondence Series, 1939-1945

Extent:
7 boxes
Scope and content:

Arranged in four subgroupings: correspondence between Kindred Avin (K.A.) Ritchie and Sara Meda (S.M.) Ritchie; from Mittie Hahn (M.H.) Ritchie to K.A. Ritchie; from family and friends to K.A. Ritchie; and from family and friends to S.M. Ritchie. With the exception of a few letters between K.A. and S.M. Ritchie from 1939-1941 before his enlistment, this series spans the term of K.A. Ritchie's involvement in the 20th Postal Regulating Section of the US Army, beginning with training at Camp Lee in Virginia through his journey home from Germany after the cessation of hostilities in late 1945. At the time of his discharge in 1945 he had attained the rank of Sergeant. In the first subseries, K.A. Ritchie writes to his wife from posts in Newport News, VA; West Chester, PA; Cheltenham, United Kingdom; undisclosed locations in France and the Netherlands; Gutersloh, Germany; and Antwerp, Belgium. His letters cover day-to-day operations and recreational activities as well as oblique or vague references to conditions in the European Theater of Operations. Sexuality, homesickness, boredom, and censorship are common themes in Ritchie's correspondence with his wife. S.M. Ritchie's letters to her husband chronicle her day-to-day activities in Washington DC and include details on her friendships with her coworkers at the Infantry Journal. The interval between letters from Europe and the desire to be reunited with her husband frequently appear in her letters, as do discussions of civilian rationing and family news. Letters from K.A. Ritchie's mother, Mittie Hahn Ritchie, comprise a second subseries. These letters detail family news from Mt. Pleasant, NC and frequently include clippings from the local Concord Tribune newspaper. Correspondence from family and friends in subseries to K.A. and S.M. Ritchie detail relevant news from the senders, most of whom are mutual friends in the Washington DC area or family from North Carolina. All correspondence is arranged chronologically by date.

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Collection restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

All or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. The library may require up to 48 hours to retrieve these materials for research use.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

Use & permissions:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Before you visit:
Please consult our up-to-date information for visitors page, as our services and guidelines periodically change.