Arthur J. Estes Second World War, Korean War, and Vietnam War correspondence and photographic slides, 1942 June 16 - 2013 March 6, bulk 1942 June 16 - 1969 November 17

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Summary

Creators:
Estes, Arthur Jeffry, Chaplain (Colonel), 1921-2012, Estes, Jeanne Louise née Elliot, and Estes Knapp, Sharon
Abstract:
This collection contains approximately 1,200 letters written by CH (Col.) Arthur J. Estes, USAR to his wife Jeane E. Estes throughout the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Also included is one box of slides, one self-published memoir, and several personal histories and resumes. Estes served as a chaplain during all three conflicts.
Extent:
2 Linear Feet (39 folders)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Arthur J. Estes Second World War, Korean War, and Vietnam War correspondence and slides (2021.030.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains approximately correspondence from CH (Col.) Arthur J. Estes, USAR to his wife Jeane E. Estes throughout the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Also included is one box of slides, one self-published memoir, and several personal histories and resumes. Estes served as a chaplain during all three conflicts.

Series 1 contains approximately 1,200 letters written by Estes to his wife. Estes continued to write to his family between each conflict while serving from the home front or from abroad. Most of his correspondence records his experiences as a military chaplain, military career goals, and his relationships with military chaplains of different religious sects.

Series 2, also contains two letters written by Jeane E. Estes to Arthur J. Estes, and two letters written by Donald E. Shook to Sharon Estes [Arthur and Jeane's daughter].

Series 3, contains a signed copy of Arthur J. Estes' 2008 memoir, Paratrooper Chaplain: The memoirs of a lifetime of service to military personnel.

Series 4, contains approximately three resumes, one "brief biography" on Arthur J. Estes, and one photocopy of Arthur J. Estes' "Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge" document.

Series 5, contains approximately 200 Kodachrome transparency slides. Most of these slides appear to have been taken in Saigon [Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam] during the Vietnam War.

Biographical / historical:

Chaplain (Colonel) Arthur Jeffry Estes, United States Army (1921 - 2012) was born to Arthur M., and Bernice B. Estes in Jacksonville, Florida. Arthur married Jeanne Louise Estes née Elliot on September 5, 1943. Arthur and Jeanne had two daughters, Sharon Jeane and Patricia Suzanne Estes, as well as one son [name unknown].

Acquisition information:
Gift of Sharon Estes Knapp.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into five series.

  • Series 1, corresponde from Arthur J. Estes
  • Series 2, correspondence from other authors
  • Series 3, Arthur J. Estes memoir
  • Series 4, other documents
  • Series 5, photographic slides and other materials

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Arthur J. Estes Second World War, Korean War, and Vietnam War correspondence and slides (2021.030.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Contact:
(714) 532-7716
privette@chapman.edu
Website