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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 #: GLC09620.108 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) Place Written: Seattle, Washington Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 30 June 1944 Pagination: 2 p. : envelope ; 24.5 x 16.0 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document

Addressed to "Dad + Bee." He's happy he could get one last call in before he ships out. The train trip was "swell" and the officers had drawing rooms. This was their last night out before they sail. He's hoping he'll have mail waiting at his new address.

The letter is dated "Friday Nite." "Letters in a Box" notes the letter was written on June 30, 1944.

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]
Friday Nite
Dear Dad & Bee -
'Twas swell to talk to you tonight for the last time for quite awhile. I never thought I'd be able to call again after we left Frisco but luckily I was.
Had a swell train trip (though slow) up here and we really traveled in style. The officers had drawing rooms, of all things! It really made the trip a real pleasure.
They let us out tonight for the last time before we "sail the ocean blue." The officers are supposed to have staterooms but I'll bet it won't be anything [struck: like] like our trip on the Georgic or Lafayette!

[2]
I haven't received any mail at my new address but I hope I'll find some waiting at our destination. I'll write again as soon as I have a chance and have anything to write.
Best love to you -
Bobby

Lt. Comdr. J. C. Stone
Alderbrook Park
Ausable Forks
N.Y.

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

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