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Snyder, Frank R., Jr. (Korean War correspondence)
2017.613.w.r
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Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Frank R. Snyder, Jr. Korean War correspondence
Creator:
Erving , Florence
source:
Snyder, Frank
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.613.w.r
Physical Description:
.08 Linear Feet
(1 folder)
Date: 1952 March 27
Abstract: This collection contains one correspondence to Frank R. Snyder, Jr. from his sister Florence Snyder Irving and family during
the Korean War. The correspondence is ten feet in length and written on wallpaper.
Physical Description: Very fragile. Has some tears in the middle of letter and heavy creases from previous folds. A scan has been made.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: Snyder 1
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Frank R. Snyder, Jr..
[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Frank R. Snyder Jr. Korean War correspondence (2017.613.w.r), Center for American
War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
This collection contains one letter written to Frank R. Snyder from his sister Florence Snyder Irving during the Korean War.
The letter was written on wallpaper and is 18 inches wide and 10 feet long, featuring 16 artists' renderings of pin-up girls
along the side. Florence writes a majority of the letter, with small paragraphs near the bottom written by their father and
their sister Shirley Mae. It is unknown what rank or branch of service Frank was in but Florence make a comment that he is
in Germany.
In the letter, Florence details her life and the events and people in her town. She talks about working in a hospital as well
as about her two children, Sammy and Sandy. She discusses mundane things such as who quit their jobs, who is working where,
who is dating or marrying who and who is having children. She talks about how much of a handful her son Sammy is but says
that he remembers Frank for "Every time he see's a soldier in the news on television he said 'My Uncle Junior's a soldier
huh? Mama.'" Florence also talks about how the man that lived on the corner of their street died. She talks about how six
years ago the man was picking up his daughter in Detroit when their car was hit by a train. The daughter was killed and the
man was paralyzed for six years and was in the hospital. It had seemed like he was going to be able to come home so his wife
was preparing for it but he died. She also comments that the steel workers are on strike again so Sam, who is believed to
be her husband, is out of work, stating, "The dam steel workers. I wish they would soon makeup their minds as to what they
are going to do."
She then talks about a man named Bob Holmes, calling him a "stinker" and saying "People like him should be drafted but their
not. They only want the best." She then goes on to say, "He is a drunk all the time and when he ain't drunk he's home beating
his wife. She has left him so many times, but he always feeds her a line a mile long and she goes back with him." She ends
her section of the letter to talk about measles and how she hopes that her kids do not get it. Then the father writes a paragraph
in black then blue ink.
The father talks about working, fixing the yard, and how he needs to replace many parts in his car but he cannot afford it.
He hopes that Frank does not marry and is able to stay with him and his mother for a while to give him a break and allow him
to take a chance on these new parts. He then dates this note June 4, 1952 at the bottom of his paragraph. There is another
note that is from his mother reminding Frank that there are cigars in the cellar. Then there is a paragraph from Frank's sister
Shirley Mae who says that she knows that he is angry with her for something she did and Doris wrote him about, but it is not
stated what Shirley Mae did. Shirley Mae then writes a note stating that she pasted the pinups on the letter. The letter ends
with another small paragraph from Florence.
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
Korean War, 1950-1953.
Korean War -- (1950-1953) -- Correspondence
Korean War 1950-1953 -- Homefront
Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Hospitals -- United States
Pin-up art
Family violence
Steelwork
Snyder, Frank