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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition
  • Arrangement
  • Biographical / Historical
  • Preferred Citation
  • Content Description
  • Conditions Governing Use

  • Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives
    Title: Robert H. Swanson Cold War correspondence
    Creator: Swanson, Robert
    source: Lieber, Kathleen
    Identifier/Call Number: 2017.506.w.r
    Physical Description: 1 Linear Feet (1 record carton)
    Date (inclusive): 1952 March 28 - 1954 February 18
    Abstract: This collection contains letters and military documents related to the service of PFC Robert Swanson, USA. Swanson was stationed as part of the Army Signal Corps in Germany and England during the Cold War.
    Language of Material: English .
    Container: Cold War 1
    Container: 1-6
    Container: 1-6
    Container: Cold War 2
    Container: 1-6
    Container: 7-12

    Conditions Governing Access

    This collection is open for research.

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    Gift of the Robert H. Swanson Family, donated by Kathleen Lieber.

    Arrangement

    This collection is arranged by material type, author, and date.
    • Series 1, Correspondence from Robert Swanson
    • Series 2, Military documents

    Biographical / Historical

    Private First Class Robert H. Swanson, United States Army (6/5/1928 - 3/2/1999) was born in Chicago, Illinois but lived in Morton Grove, IL. His father died when he was four years old and was sent to live with relatives, on and off, during the Great Depression in Escanaba, Michigan. His mother remarried and he returned to Morton Grove permanently around the age of 10. Swanson attended Niles High School in Skokie, IL and studied to be a typesetter during or just after high school. He retired in Morton Grove at 68 years old and died two years later from stomach cancer, caused by excessive handling of lead type. Source: donor.

    Preferred Citation

    [Item title, Box number, Folder number], Robert H. Swanson Cold War Correspondence (2017.506.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

    Content Description

    This collection contains correspondence from PFC Robert H. Swanson, USA to his wife Grace Anita Swanson and his mother, father, and brother. Swanson's letters mostly describe his day-to-day life as part of the Army Signal Corps stationed first at Camp Gordon, Georgia, then at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey and later overseas in Germany and England. Swanson talks about his life in "the shop" working on the radar machines, as well as his trips into the various towns to see shows, visit bars, and sightsee. He talks specifically about visiting Norwich on several occasions, as well as London and Westminister Cathedral.

    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 reseacher to obtain all permissions. For further copyright information, please contact the archivist.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Cold War (1945-1989) -- Letters
    United States -- Army -- European Theater of Operations
    United States. -- Army.
    Lieber, Kathleen