Finding Aid for the Christopher Smith Second World War correspondence 2014.013.w.r
Andrew Harman
Center for American War Letters Archives
6/2/2016
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Christopher Smith Second World War correspondence
Creator:
Smith, Christopher
source:
DeBonte, Barbara
Identifier/Call Number: 2014.013.w.r
Identifier/Call Number: 724
Physical Description:
2 Linear Feet
(4 document boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1942 March 17 - 1945 December
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence to and from Capt. Christopher Smith, USA during the Second World War. The collection
also includes photographs and ephemera, as well as a code key letter written at the time for the family to be able to avoid
the censors.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 71
Container: 1-7
Container: WWII 72
Container: 8-11
Container: WWII 73
Container: 12-15
Container: WWII 74
Container: 16-24
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Barbara DeBonte
This collection is arranged by material type:
- Series 1, Correspondence
- Series 2, Code Key
- Series 3, Photos
- Series 4, Ephemera
Captain Christopher Smith, United States Army (1917-2002) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His family soon moved to
Atlantic City, New Jersey where they lived until he was 17 years old. After his father died, his mother remarried and they
moved to Washington D.C. His letters are addressed to his mother, Mary, and step-father, Edwin, as well as his maternal grandparents
Curt and Carrie Cratzer. He lived in Bari, Italy and Tunis during his service. He attended Officers Candidate School at Duke
University in Durham, North Carolina. He was assigned to Fort Benjamin Harison in Fort Wayne, Indiana and spent some time
in Texas before deploying to Europe.
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Christopher Smith Second World War correspondence (2014.013.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.
This collection contains 515 correspondence to and from Capt. Christopher Smith, USA during the Second World War. In this
collection there is a separate folder with a letter that described a system of communication between Smith and his family
as a way to share information that might have been censored. Also included are 34 photographs and 42 ephemeral items.
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
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945)
World War (1939-1945) -- North Africa
World War (1939-1945) -- Equipment and supplies
World War (1939-1945) -- Homefront
World War (1939-1945) -- Italy
United States. -- Army.
DeBonte, Barbara
box WWII 71, folder 2-7, box WWII 72, folder 8-11, box WWII 73, folder 12-15, box WWII 74, folder 16-20
Series 1, Correspondence 1942 March - 1945 December
Physical Description: 1.75 Linear Feet(18 folders)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains 515 correspondence to and from Capt. Christopher Smith, USA during the Second World War, from March 1942
to December 1945 (one folder contains unknown dates). The letters are addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. E.W. Cotts" (Mary his "mother"
and step-father "pop" Edwin) in Washington D.C., as well as to Curt and Carrie Cratzer (his maternal grandparents, Pop and
Tag) from various stations as a Lieutenant and Captain. The locations in order: Indianapolis, Oklahoma City, Mississippi,
Alabama, Georgia, Italy and Tunisia (V Mail and Air Mail), South Dakota, Kansas, Missouri.
box WWII 71, folder 1
Series 2, Code Key 1942-1945
box WWII 74, folder 21-22
Series 3, Photographs
Physical Description: 0.025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains 34 photographs sent in letters from Capt. Christopher Smith, USA during the Second World War. Included
are photos of Capt. Smith as a child and in uniform at various stations. Also included is a folder of photographic negatives.
box WWII 74, folder 23-24
Series 4, Ephemera and clippings 1942-1945
Physical Description: 0.05 Linear Feet(2 folders)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains ephemera and newspaper clippings sent home by Capt. Christopher Smith, USA during the Second World War.
The ephemera includes a birthday card, a cartoon birthday message, price list, programs, admission tickets and various other
items. These include two folders separated by year, one envelope from 1942, and one from 1945.