Finding Aid for the William A. LeNoir Second World War correspondence 2017.054.w.r
Rob Strauss
Center for American War Letters Archives
09/28/2017
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: William A. LeNoir Second World War correspondence
Creator:
LeNoir, William A. , 1916-04-13 - 1974-12-20
source:
Ketterlinus, Ada, 1918-1982
source:
LeNoir, Nina
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.054.w.r
Physical Description:
.67 Linear feet
(1 carton)
Date (inclusive): 1943 April 12 - 1946 February 6
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence written by SSgt. William A. LeNoir, USAAC to his girlfriend, Ada Ketterlinus, during
the Second World War. LeNoir worked behind the lines in the USAAC and spent time in England and France.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 114
Container: 1-5
Container: 1-5
Container: WWII 115
Container: 1-7
Container: 6-12
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the LeNoir family
This collection is arranged by material type, author, and date. Include Series list:
Series 1. Correspondence from William LeNoir to Ada Ketterlinus -- Series 2. Correspondence from Ada Ketterlinus to William
LeNoir -- Series 3. Other correspondence to Ada Ketterlinus -- Series 4. Photographs -- Series 5. Publications and Clippings
-- Series 6. Ephemera
Staff Sergeant William LeNoir, United States Army Air Corps (4/13/1916 - 12/20/1974) was born in Philadelphia. He enlisted
in the Army Air Corps on January 7, 1942. According to the donor, LeNoir "did his basic training in Albuquerque, posted to
Oklahoma, and then to Cheyenne, Wyoming." LeNoir served overseas from October 27, 1943 until November 28, 1945 and was stationed
in England and France. The donor writes that LeNoir "worked behind the lines in accounting and supplies."
LeNoir was released from military service on December 3, 1945. In June of 1946, LeNoir married his girlfriend Ada Ketterlinus,
whom he had written to frequently during the war. The donor writes that the couple met at General Insurance, "where they both
worked."
LeNoir died on December 20, 1974. Ada Ketterlinus died in 1982.
[Item title, Box number, Folder number], William LeNoir Second World War correspondence (2017.054.w.r), Center for American
War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
This collection contains correspondence written by SSgt. William A. LeNoir, USAAC to his girlfriend, Ada Ketterlinus, during
the Second World War. LeNoir worked behind the lines in the USAAC and spent time in England and France.
The collection also contains a few letters from Ketterlinus to LeNoir, a couple of issues of Stars and Stripes, an issue of
the Army weekly Yank, and a few pictures of LeNoir.
LeNoir's letters to Ketterlinus frequently contain jokes, poems, and references to movies, songs, and radio performers of
the day. He also offers some descriptions of England during the war.
LeNoir also included newspaper clippings, foreign currency, and other items in his letters.
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) -- England
World War (1939-1945) -- France
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945
Ketterlinus, Ada, 1918-1982
LeNoir, Nina
box WWII 114, folder 1-5, folder 1-5, box WWII 115, folder 1-2, folder 6-7
Series 1, Correspondence from William A. LeNoir to Ada Ketterlinus 1942 May 20 - 1946 February 4
Physical Description: .48 Linear Feet(7 folders)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains correspondence from SSgt. William A. LeNoir, USAAC to his girlfriend, Ada Ketterlinus, during the Second
World War. LeNoir wrote the letters during training and while overseas in France and England.
LeNoir's letters frequently contain jokes, poems, and references to movies, songs, and radio performers of the day.
In letters from November 1943, LeNoir discusses the blackouts in England. A letter from May 4, 1945 letter mentions the deaths
of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. LeNoir also discussed V-E day in a letter dated May 8, 1945. LeNoir wrote that the
day "doesn't bring the feeling of joy and elation that I thought it would – only a feeling of relief – such as you feel at
the end of a long, hard march. "
LeNoir also enclosed newspaper clippings, often of comic strips, and other items in his letters, including foreign currency.
A letter from March 26, 1944 included a British 3 penny piece while a letter from August 5, 1944 letter included French currency.
An envelope postmarked June 13, 1945 includes a booklet: "Time Over Targets: The story of the 9th Bombardment Division." LeNoir
also enclosed pictures with captions on the back in an April 26, 1944 letter.
Some letters from July 1944 appeared to be unopened.
There is some undated correspondence in the final folder of a series, including a Western Union telegram and a V-mail in which
LeNoir announces he will be back in the United States shortly.
box WWII 115, folder 3, folder 8
Series 2, Correspondence from Ada Ketterlinus to William A. LeNoir 1945 September 19 - October 7
Physical Description: .025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains four letters from Ada Ketterlinus to SSgt. William LeNoir, USAAC. The letters were all marked "undeliverable"
and were in a larger envelope marked "Return to Sender." It appears they were sent as LeNoir was approaching the end of his
service.
In the letters, Ketterlinus discusses events at home and in her workplace.
box WWII 115, folder 4, folder 9
Series 3, Other correspondence to Ada Ketterlinus 1944 April 24
Physical Description: .-025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains one V-mail from William T. Perkins, United States Navy to Ada Ketterlinus. Perkins sent the correspondence
from the USS Coffman. The relationship between Perkins and Ketterlinus is unclear.
box WWII 115, folder 5, folder 10
Series 4, Photographs
Physical Description: .025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains two photographs. One photograph shows a man, likely William LeNoir, standing in front of an unidentified
sculpture. The other photo shows an image of LeNoir and Ada Ketterlinus on their wedding day in June 1946.
box WWII 115, folder 6, folder 11
Series 5, Publications and clippings 1944-1972 1944-1945
Physical Description: .04 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains two issues of "The Stars and Stripes" from the "European Theater of Operations" and an issue of the Army
weekly "Yank."
One issue of "The Stars and Stripes" is dated January 21, 1945 and includes news about President Franklin Roosevelt taking
the oath for his fourth term in office and the United Nations War Crimes Commission approving war crimes charges against Adolf
Hitler.
The series also includes various newspaper clippings and a copy of a newsletter from LeNoir's former employer, General Insurance.
The newsletter announces that LeFleur had won a letter writing contest.
The dates of the newspaper clippings are not known but one clipping appears to be from the early 1970s. It mentions Nina
LeNoir, who is the daughter of William LeNoir and the donor of the collection.
box WWII 115, folder 7, folder 12
Series 6, Ephemera
Physical Description: .03 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains a packet of postcards from France and a program from Folies Bergere in Paris. The letters arrived separate
from the correspondence but a March 29, 1945 letter from SSgt. William LeNoir, USAAC to Ada Ketterlinus mentions the Folies
Bergere program and an April 20, 1945 letter mentions the postcards.