Physical Description: .4 Linear feet(3 folders)
Statement of Potentially Harmful Content
This collection may contain materials that are difficult to view, are potentially harmful, or use outdated and culturally
insensitive language. Chapman University preserves and makes these materials accessible to researchers to ensure long-term
accuracy of these historical records. This repository aims to not promote or otherwise celebrate this content, but to use
it for educational and research purposes.
Please see the National Archives and Records Administration's (NARA) "Statement on Potentially Harmful Content" for more information:
https://www.archives.gov/research/reparative-description/harmful-content
Scope and Contents
This series contains 70 letters written by LCDR George Fulton Brown, USN to his wife, Janet H. Brown [maiden name unknown]
and parents during the Second World War.
Letters from the first half of 1942 are predominantly addressed Jean and focused on themes of love and longing. The last half
of the 1942 letters are addressed to his parents and recorded local weather, daily duties,and his love of Janet. All of these
letters were written from Chapel Hill, Maryland.
In a letter written August 31, 1942 Brown reminded his parents that it was his marriage's first anniversary. He wrote that
"not a day goes by that I don't thank my lucky stars for the good luck I had when I found Janet."
Letters written throughout 1943, cover Brown's time in Casablanca, Morocco as he adjusted to his new military duties and living
arrangements. These letters include brief descriptions of his men, local people and architecture, and his daily life.
In a letter written July 19, 1943 to Janet, Brown wrote about an unnamed assistant, whose ability to complete assignments
earned great respect from him. He proceeded to note that there were also 28 "colored mess attendant" who were responsible
for waiting on tables and cleaning rooms. He described the majority of these men as the type that "spend their time getting
into trouble or getting out of work."
In a memo dated December 23, 1943 sent by Captain J.J. Kaveney, USN to LCDR Brown, he was informed that his "daughter Lucinda
arrived December 21st. Mother and baby fine." The memo has two inscriptions on verso.
Letters written throughout 1944 recorded Brown's feelings of budding fatherhood and longing to reunite with their family.
In a letter dated January 5, 1944 he stated that he was "tempted to start [his] letters 'Dear Wife and Daughter.'"
In a letter dated November 6, 1944 Brown shared his political views and how it would inform his vote. By December 29, 1944
Brown wrote to Janet that he was trying to figure out how he could "shove off to see" her and their daughter.
This series also contains letters from the first quarter of 1945 written by Brown throughout which he consistently ecpressed
his desire to complete his service in order to reunite with his family.
In a letter dated January 26, 1945 he wrote about his frustration concerning an unannounced visit to his apartment by his
Captain and other men whose manners, eating, and drinking habits deeply offended him.
The final letter in this collection was written March 12, 1945 by Brown to his wife. He wrote that "each day . . . I have
wanted to write to you; but the one purpose . . . I want to write about isn't settled and I won't wait any longer. Our big
day is not far away!"
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945)
