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 #: GLC09620.160.01 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) Place Written: Mariana Islands Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 14 February 1945 Pagination: 2 p. ; 26.8 x 19.4 cm. Order a Copy

Addressed to "Dad + Bee." It's an effort getting used to C-rations, mosquito nets, and all the inconveniences after having such a great rest leave. Upon their return, they received stacks of letters, and thanks his dad for the cookies and canned things. He obtained a small hot plate so he can warm the canned treats.

The Valentines arrived and he asks his father to continue sending the newspaper clippings. He thanks his family for the cards, as well as the letters that have been passed along. He enclosed a picture of their crew [not included] and has flown twenty-three missions. The first few back have been rough, as they feel like a new crew. He thanks his father for his thoughtful check even though he didn't receive it from Mr. Kellett as it had not arrived in time.

He asks them to write as often as they can.

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.

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

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