Finding Aid for the Maude and Mack Witty Second World War correspondence 2017.238.w.r
Wynter Salazar
Center for American War Letters Archives
8/9/2017
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Maude and Mack Witty Second World War correspondence
source:
Phelan, John
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.238.w.r
Physical Description:
0.08 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Date (inclusive): 1943 December 13 - 1944 December 20
Abstract: This collection contains holiday correspondence to Mack and Maude Witty during the Second World War.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 13
Container: 16
Container: 1
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of John M. Phelan
This collection is arranged by material type and date.
[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Maude and Mack Witty Second World War correspondence (2017.238.w.r), Center for American
War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
This collection contains five correspondence which pertain to Christmas time written to Maude and Mack Witty during the Second
World War. Most of these correspondence are from friends and family of the Witty's. Most inquire about the Witty's boys who
were fighting in the war and that they were praying for their safe return. Maude and Mack Witty lived in Colorado Springs,
Colorado.
One letter, dated December 10, 1943, is from Private Mack "Riley" Witty to his mother and father. Riley explains how he has
been in the war for two years from that point and how he is still stationed at Birkindale RAF base in Southern England. He
also mentions the Modernaires and Glenn Miller. Riley then goes on to say how he was newly assigned to be a Ball turret gunner
on a B-17. He then apologizes for not being there for Christmas. All other correspondence in this collection are Christmas
cards. Some correspondence of interest is dated December 15, 1944 from a Mrs. Lewis. She mentions how her sister and mother
died that year and how hard these years have been with the war. She says "This is certainly a changing world for all of us,
- bringing far more sadness to many homes than it seems their lot to bear." Another correspondence of interest is dated December
18, 1944 from Pat and Edna. They lived in Port Neches, Texas and either could be the sibling of Mack Witty. They write about
family news and briefly mention the boys they know to be in the war. When talking about the war they said "Wayne hasn't gone
yet but the war looks awful bad to me afraid we are not gaining much."
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)
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945) -- Homefront
World War (1939-1945) -- Christmas
Phelan, John
Witty, Mack
Witty, Maude