Finding Aid for the Walter Keeler Second World War correspondence 2016.134.w.rd

Andrea Paquin
Center for American War Letters Archives
7/30/2016
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu


Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Walter Keeler Second World War correspondence
source: Treling-Kendall, Sherry
Creator: Keeler, Walter, 1914-?
Creator: Keeler née Mesner, Florence
Identifier/Call Number: 2016.134.w.rd
Physical Description: 1 Linear Feet (1 carton)
Date (inclusive): 1944 September 10 - 1946 December 26
Abstract: This collection contains over 360 correspondence between T/Sgt. Walter Keeler, USAAF, and his wife, Florence, during the Second World War. Also included are several greeting cards from Walter to Florence.
Language of Material: English .
Container: WWII 22
Container: 1-6
Container: 1-6
Container: WWII 23
Container: 1-5
Container: 7-11

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Sherry Treling-Kendall.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronologically by material type:
  • Series 1, Correspondence from Walter Keeler
  • Series 2, Correspondence from Florence Keeler

Biographical / Historical

Technical Sergeant Walter Keeler, United States Army Air Force was born c. 1914. Walter and his first wife, Lola, lived in Waukegan Township, Lake County, Illinois, just north of Chicago. His sister, Helen, and her family resided in nearby Lake Forest.
Walter's marriage to Lola ended and, in 1945, he met Florence Mesner, while visiting California. At the time of their meeting, Walter was stationed in Tohopah, Nevada, but the two corresponded daily and, with several furloughs spent in Los Angeles, where Florence was living at the time, the two quickly formed an attachment and later married the first week of August, 1945.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Walter Keeler Second World War correspondence (2016.134.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 368 correspondence between Techinical Sergeant Walter Keeler, United States Army Air Force, and his wife Florence (neé Mesner) during the Second World War. Their correspondence occurs over the span of one year, 1945.
Their courtship was swift and, apart from the usual troubles which arise from long-distance relationships, the couple endured additional difficulties, such as an unplanned pregnancy and Florence's decision to abort. Florence discusses her decision and describes her physical and emotional experiences in a series of letters from April 25 - May 11, 1945.
Also included are several correspondence written to Florence from her brother, Johnnie, and one Sergeant William Y. Hecht.
This collection is available online in Chapman University's Digital Commons: https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/wkeeler_collection/

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. For further copyright information, please contact the archivist.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

World War (1939-1945)
United States -- Army -- Air Forces
Atomic bomb -- Japan
Nagasaki-shi (Japan) -- History -- Bombardment, 1945
V-E Day (1945)
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
Treling-Kendall, Sherry

box WWII 22, folder 1-5

Series 1. Correspondence from Walter Keeler 1945-02-13-1946-11-26

Creator: Keeler, Walter, 1914-?
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

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.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945)
Atomic bomb -- Japan
United States -- Army -- Air Forces
Nagasaki-shi (Japan) -- History -- Bombardment, 1945
V-E Day (1945)
box WWII 22, folder 6, box WWII 23, folder 1-5, folder 7-11

Series 2. Correspondence from Florence Keeler 1945-02-09-1945-12-18

Creator: Keeler née Mesner, Florence
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

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.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945)