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

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09620.058 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) Place Written: Omaha, Nebraska Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 4 November 1943 Pagination: 2 p. : envelope ; 27.7 x 26.2 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document

Addressed to "Dad + Bee." Just left Des Moines [Iowa], and didn't get a lot of sleep. Writes how wonderful his "10 short days" were at home. While he did not do much, he was happy to see everyone. He is pulling into Omaha [Nebraska], and hopes to send this letter from there. He gives a "million thanks for the coat" from his parents.

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]
Thursday
Dear Dad & Bee -
We just left Des Moines on our way west on what has been a very smooth and uneventful trip. Only slept a few winks during the night but I don't feel too worse for wares as yet. I'll probably be dead tired by this afternoon.
I can't begin to adequately tell you how much I enjoyed my 10 short days at home. Although I didn't do much in the way of excitement, it was wonderful to see you, Jimmy, and Pam again. Eating good meals and just taking it easy made for my best vacation ever. Both of you were just swell about everything and made my stay a real pleasure and much needed change. My only regret is that it couldn't have lasted much longer. I guess you never really appreciate home and a million and one little things you've always taken for granted until you've been away for awhile - it sure does the trick.
In a few minutes we'll be coming into Omaha and so I'll end this so

[2]
I can get it in the mail.
Before I forget, a million thanks for the coat which I ought to get alot of use out of - it's beautiful.
Must stop now. Write often.
All love -
Bobby

[envelope]
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

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources