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.

Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09620.017 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) Place Written: Ellington Field, Texas Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 4 April 1943 Pagination: 1 p. : envelope ; 27.8 x 19.6 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document

Addressed to "Dad and Bee." Remembered a few things he forgot to include in a previous letter. Asks for a shaving bowl, shaving talcum, wooden hangers, and some salt tablets. He hates to bother them with these, but he can't get them anywhere. Asks about his subscriptions to three magazines and asks that they be forwarded as well.

The letter is written on stationary with "U.S. Army Air Forces" printed in dark blue at the top of the letter, with their logo. The date is written as "Sunday" but "Letters in a Box" notes the letter was written on April 4, 1943.

Robert "Bob" Stone was a Bombardier in World War II and served in the Pacific Front. These letters, were compiled by Bob's wife, Sheila M. Stone, and Ali Adair into a book named Letters in a Box. This book details Bob's service to his country, and his life after the war. Bob's letters were donated to the collection by his wife, Sheila M. Stone, in 2017. It contains a variety of letters, postcards, patches, pins, photographs, and scrapbooks that relate to Bob's training and combat missions.

[Draft Created by Crowdsourcing]
Sunday
Dear Dad & Bee -
It was only last night that I wrote you but since then I recall several things that I'd meant to ask you to send me as soon as possible. All of the following I can't get at the PX and I'd really appreciate your sending me -
1.) A Yardley Shaving Bowl.
2.) Some Yardley Shaving Talcum.
3.) Five wooden hangers (which can't be bought here for love nor money.)
4.) Some salt tablets.
I hate to bother you with these things but I just can't get them and if possible would like to have them. Thanks loads, in advance.
While on the subject of sending things, I wonder what's happened to my subscriptions of Life, the Williams Record, and Deerfield Scroll. If they're coming to 375, I'd appreciate your forwarding them.
Haven't any more news since last night so I'll hang up now. Thanks for all my various requests, and I hope they're not too much trouble.
Lots of love -
Bobby

[envelope]
A/C R. L. Stone
Group 20 Squadron D
A. F. P. S. (Bombardier)
Ellington Field, Texas

Lt. Comdr. J. C. Stone
375 Park Avenue
New York City
N. Y.

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009
Stone, Beatrice Hecht Marks, 1901-1962
Stone, Jacob, fl. 1894-1985

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