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

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Barbara DeBonte

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by material type:
  • Series 1, Correspondence
  • Series 2, Code Key
  • Series 3, Photos
  • Series 4, Ephemera

Biographical / Historical

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.

Preferred Citation

[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.

Content Description

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.

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

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.

Scope and Contents

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

Physical Description: 0.025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains a letter that described a system of communication between Capt. Christopher Smith, USA and his family as a way to share information that might have been censored.
box WWII 74, folder 21-22

Series 3, Photographs

Physical Description: 0.025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

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.

Scope and Contents

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.