Purchase (2014.195)
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Margaret Applegate Letters, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries
This collection contains over 300 letters, postcards, telegrams, and other correspondences during WWII to Margaret Applegate, a woman living in Indianapolis, Indiana. The authors were primarily employed in many branches of the American Armed Forces, including the Navy, the Army, and the Marine Corps, but also included families of these men and family friends. The correspondence was sent from the Southwest Pacific, England, Luxembourg, China, Burma, and other locations. Each letter has a received on date written by Margaret.
This collection has been digitized. Links to the digital objects can be found at the folder level within the container inventory.
He was a childhood friend of Margaret, who wrote while at Navy training school in Chicago and Great Lakes, Illinois.
He was a cousin of Margaret and gave her address to Lester Bassill and Charles E. Shepherd. He wrote while at Camp Swift, Texas, Shreveport, LA, and Fort Leonard Wood, MO.
He was in the 387th Infantry Regiment and received Margaret's address from her cousin Merl B. Jeffers. He wrote from Camp Swift, Texas, Shreveport, LA, and Fort Leonard Wood, MO while in the U.S. Once deployed, wrote from England, Luxemburg, and Belgium. In his letters he inquired about his friends, Merl B. Jeffers and Charles E. Shepherd, with whom she also maintained correspondence.
He was a friend from home whose family moved away to North Carolina. He wrote from Salt Lake City, Utah, San Francisco, CA, Lincoln, Nebraska, Colorado Springs, CO, and Buckley Field, CO while in the U.S. Once deployed, he wrote from the Southwest Pacific, Dutch New Guinea, and Philippines. Margaret also corresponded with his parents, see Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Asbill. He maintained correspondence in the months following his deployment. Includes a copy of El Poncho dated January 10, 1945 as well as a letter from his friend Paul H.
He received Margaret's address from her cousin Merl B. Jeffers and was friends with Lester Bassill. He wrote from Shreveport, LA, Fort Leonard Wood, MO, and Ft. George Mead, MD while in U.S. Once deployed he wrote from Burma and China. Letters discuss everyday life of being deployed and being homesick as well as discussing the war in other parts of the world.
This folder includes Japanese currency Charles sent to Margaret.
This folder includes a Christmas card Charles sent to Margaret.
This folder includes an embroidered Chinese handkerchief as well as Chinese currency.
He received Margaret's address from William Tyler and wrote from San Diego, CA.
He received Margaret's address from her friend Rosemary and subsequently gave Margaret's address to his friends Glen C. Nelson and William Haughman. He wrote while in San Diego, CA.
He received Margaret's address from William Tyler. He was from Illinois and wrote to her from San Diego, CA.
He wrote from San Diego before being deployed to Guam and China. He was wounded and received a purple heart. Includes letters written by another person while he was injured and unable to write, a Christmas card from Tsingtao, China, and labeled pictures of the men in his company from a publication.
He wrote from the USS Albiero, mainly from places in the Pacific, specifically San Francisco, CA and Honolulu. He was from Sacramento, CA. Includes a Christmas card.
Includes a letter from his parents and two letters from his brother Mel Applegate who is also in the U.S. Navy.
He received Margaret's address from her friend Virginia Harvey. He was originally from Pennsylvania and wrote to Margaret from Cambridge, Ohio.
She was a year younger than Margaret and from Shrewsbury, England. Her letters discuss life in England at the time, specifically education. Includes postcards of places in England with explanations of images.
He received Margaret's address from her second cousin, who is his sister-in-law. He wrote from Camp Blanding, FL and Hawaii.
He received Margaret's address from a mutual friend, Pat. He wrote from Panama.
He wrote from Memphis, TN and gave her address to his friend Vernon Leslie Pickering.
He received Margaret's address from David Durdell. He wrote from Memphis, TN, Atlanta, GA, and Annapolis, MD. He was originally from West Palm Beach and attended GA Tech where he was in Kappa Alpha Fraternity as well as ROTC and was studying Civil Engineering.
They received Margaret's address from their son, Walter V. Asbill. Wife, Maggie, wrote most of the letters, all from her home in Carthage, NC.
Close family friends or family Margaret went to visit in Philadelphia, PA. They are also acquaintances with Junior Mohr who was once engaged to Marge. Includes postcards and birthday cards.
He was a friend of Margaret's as well as a friend of Marge and George Leager. He wrote from Rhode Island. Margaret would later marry him in 1946.
Includes postcard of Cincinnati, OH.
These letters were returned to Margaret following a change of address by Charles E. Shepherd. Includes copies of comics from the local papers as well as pictures of Margaret and her siblings.