Creator: Keeler, Walter, 1914-?

Language of Material: English.

This series contains 185 correspondence written by T/SGT Walter Keeler, USAAF to his wife Florence (neé Mesner) in the year 1945. These correspondence cover the earliest days of their relationship through the first few months of their marriage.

The majority of Walter's correspondence are romantic in nature and, for the most part, discuss two things: the weather - usually in the first paragraph - and his love for Florence. All other topics are, more or less, incidental: even VE Day gets only a passing mention (see letter dated May 8, 1945).

There is one letter in which Walter provides some rather poignant insights relating to the atomic bomb: "The last report I heard tonight is that we dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki which created utter destruction . . . makes one wonder about the future of the world if it gets into the hands of unscrupulous nations such as Nazi Germany or Japan" (see letter dated August 9, 1945).

Also included are several cards from Walter to Florence.

Creator: Keeler née Mesner, Florence

Language of Material: English.

This series contains roughly 180 correspondence from Florence Keeler neé Mesner to her husband, T/SGT Walter Keeler, USAAF during 1945. These correspondence cover the earliest days of their knowing each other through the first few months of their marriage.

Most of Florence's letters discuss her day-to-day business: her job as a coat-check girl in some of Los Angeles' larger theaters, her opera glass rental business, her work as a Termination Advisor, the furnishing of her home, etc. One of her most amusing letters discusses the unfortunate and unexpected onset of "the curse": "[it] wasn't due until tomorrow the 23rd but I have to be funny and start like a river overflowing it's banks--at a most unopportune moment" (from the letter postmarked March 23, 1945).

Not all of Florence's letters are amusing. In April, Florence discovered that she was pregnant. In a series of letters between April 25-May 11, 1945, Florence shares with Walter her plans and feelings - physical and emotional - regarding an unplanned pregnancy, her decision to abort, and the effects of this situation on their relationship, present and future.