Finding Aid for the Ruth R. Stregevsky Second World War correspondence 2022.139.w.r

Frank J. López-Huerta
Center for American War Letters Archives
4/20/2022
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu


Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Ruth R. Stregevsky Second World War correspondence
source: Yasgur, Diane
Creator: Stregevsky, Ruth Rose née Lehrer, 1921-2013
Identifier/Call Number: 2022.139.w.r
Physical Description: .01 Linear Feet (1 folder)
Date (inclusive): 1944 July 24 - 1946 June 10
Abstract: This collection contains seven letters written by Ruth Stregevsky née Lehrer to Bob Sumner, Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
Language of Material: English .
Container: WWII 127
Container: 10
Container: 1

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Lehrer, Sumner, Stregevsky, and Yasgur families, donated by Diane Yasgur.

Arrangement

This collection is organized by chronology and material type.

Biographical / Historical

Ruth Rose Stregevsky née Lehrer (1921 - 2013) was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her siblings included Ben Lehrer, Sarah Lehrer, and Jerry Lehrer. She attended Western Hills high school and according to the donor "attended a few acting classes at [the] University of Cincinnati." She married Sam Stregevsky in 1954 and together had three children: Barry Lehrer, Paul Lehrer, and Diane Yasgur née Lehrer.
According to the donor, Robert "Bob" Sumner, Royal Air Force (d. 1987) was stationed in India during the Second World War. He married and had two children.

Preferred Citation

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Ruth Stregevsky Second World War correspondence (2022.139.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.

Content Description

This collection contains seven letters written by Ruth Rose Stregevsky née Lehrer to Robert "Bob" Sumner, Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Also included is a printout of the webpage, "'Dear Bob': Ruth Lehrer's Correspondence with RAF Serviceman Bob Sumner" and a short essay on Ruth's life written by her daughter, Diane Yasgur.
Stregevsky wrote about life in the USA during the Second World War, her family and friends serving in Europe and the Pacific, and her career in civic service. She also described the celebrations that took place after V-E Day in a letter dated May 24, 1945 when their "main streets... were overthronged (sic) with high school kids carrying signs of Hitler, and other tyrants with needles and other sharp implements pinned on to their backs." On a couple of occasions, she also mentioned her theater work as an actress.

Conditions Governing Use

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.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945) -- Germany
United States. -- Army.
United States -- Army -- Pacific Theater of Operations
Yasgur, Diane