Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Weiner, Sylvia (1912-2008) to Morris "Moe" Weiner

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09414.0164 Author/Creator: Weiner, Sylvia (1912-2008) Place Written: [Brooklyn, New York] Type: Autograph letter signed Date: February 16, 1944 Pagination: 4 p. ; 23 x 15 cm. Order a Copy

Sylvia Reports on family. She went to the Selective Service Board. Talked about the draftees they have seen and the hard job that the Board has had and the toll it's taken on their health. Had a series of "screwballs" in Intake at work. One 82 year old man had an idea for ending the war in three months. Take Plaster of Paris up in a plane, drop it on the Germans and "Japs," pour water on them and they will all turn to stone.

The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 required all males between the ages of 18 to 65 to register for Selective Service. It originally conscripted all males aged 21 to 36 for a service period of 12 months. In 1941 the military service period was extended to 18 months; later that year the age bracket was increased to include males aged 18 to 45.

Weiner, Morris "Moe," 1909-1988
Weiner, Sylvia, 1912-2008

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