Finding Aid for the Martin Shapiro Second World War correspondence 2017.237.wc.r
Wynter Salazar
Center for American War Letters Archives
8/3/2017
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Martin Shapiro Second World War letter
source:
Shapiro, Eugene
Creator:
Shapiro, Martin
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.237.wc.r
Physical Description:
.08 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Date: 1944 October 3
Abstract: This collection contains a letter from PFC. Martin Shapiro during the Second World War.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 13
Container: 15
Container: 1
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Eugene Shapiro
- [Item title, Box number, Folder number], Martin Shapiro "To My Unborn Child" Second World War letter (2017.237.w.c.r), Center
for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
This collection contains one letter titled "To My Unborn Child" from Private First Class Martin Shapiro, United States Army
to his son Eugene Shapiro, who was not born at the time, during the Second World War. Martin, who was in Italy at a former
railroad station, states that he got the idea for writing the letter due to a short from the movies that he saw. He says that
"It was full of ideas. I will not tell you such things. I want you to understand these words I am now about to write." Martin
addresses his unborn child and has seperate statements depending on whether it is a boy or a girl. Both statements tell his
child to cherish and love their mother. He gives his son the love he has for his wife and tells his son to always honor her.
He tells his daughter that she is lucky to have the best mother and asks her to be close to her. He then says, "The world
may seem full of wise people. People who will talk of goodness, or character, of charity, and love. You have not far to reach
to find such a person. Mother will be next to you." On the back on this letter reads a notes that says "Finder please give
this to Red Cross." This letter seems to be a letter for his child in the possible case that Martin was to die in battle.
Martin was born in New York City and attended DeWitt Clinton High School. He was also a volunteer with the Abraham Lincoln
Brigade in the Spanish Civil War.
There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the
responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions. For further copyright information, please contact the archivist.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War (1939-1945)
Correspondence -- World War, 1914-1918
World War (1939-1945) -- Italy
United States -- Army -- European Theater of Operations
Shapiro, Eugene