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Hepburn family (Second World War correspondence)
2017.194.w.r
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Table of contents
box WWII 7, folder 1
Series 1, William Hepburn Sr. First World War postcards 1916 January 4
Physical Description: 0.08 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains two postcards. One postcard was written by William Hepburn, Sr. on January 4, 1916 to a woman named Jane
Ralph. Hepburn's relationship to Ralph is unknown. Hepburn was born in Elgin, Scotland in 1884 and emigrated to Canada at
an unknown date. He emigrated to the United States in 1923 and died in Galesburg, Illinois in 1964. The postcard features
a soldier with a letter in his hand and a woman in an oval on the right hand corner with the inscription, "Bringing my Love
My sweetheart just a card I post
To tell the girl I love the most
That I am thinking every day
Of you, just you, while I'm away"
In the postcard, Hepburn simply says that he has landed back, presumably England given the return address, and that he hopes
she recovered from New Years. The other postcard features a man by the name of Roy L. Nelson. The postcard is undated and
the person on the photograph to the left of Nelson is unknown. Nelson was born in Henderson, Illinois in 1895 and died in
Galesburg, Illinois in 1935. The nature of Nelson's and Hepburn's relationship is unknown but they could have known each other
given they both seemed to live in the same town.
box WWII 7, folder 2
Series 2, William Hepburn Jr. Second World War postcard 1942 September 24
Physical Description: 0.08 Linear feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains one postcard and military documents from PFC William Hepburn, Jr. during the Second World War. He was
born in Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada, March 6, 1921. He emigrated to the United States in 1923 and died in Galesburg, Illinois
on April 2, 1983. Hepburn was a truck driver and an Ammunition Handler during the war. The postcard, dated September 24, 1942,
features a cartoon image of soldiers firing field artillery pieces with the a soldier carrying a shell saying " Hey! Don't
shoot so many ---- My back is almost busted carrying these blankity things- D--!" In the postcard Hepburn simply tells his
parents that he was still going and he does not know when will stop but he thinks it will be soon. What he means by this statement
is unknown and the context is unknown. This series also contains photocopies of Hepburn's Separation qualification record,
Honorable discharge certificate, and Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge documents.