PRESERVING YOUR WARTIME LETTERS

WAR LETTERS.COM

Tucked away in attics, closets, and basements throughout this country are millions of letters written by men and women who have served in the armed forces. There are also countless e-mails being written by active duty troops serving in countries throughout the world right now. These letters (which, from here on, includes e-mails) are an irreplaceable record of the sacrifices made by military personnel and their families.

Many of these letters are also extremely significant, offering eyewitness accounts of famous battles, historic events, or encounters with prominent military leaders. But even the more personal correspondences, such as heartfelt expressions of affection or words of support and encouragement between separated loved ones, offer valuable insight into the wartime experience, and they also need to be preserved.

Tragically, many of these correspondences are being thrown away, lost, or irreparably damaged or?if they are e-mails?deleted. Saving these letters is not difficult, and it is an excellent way to learn about your family's heritage and this nation's history. Different letters need to be cared for in different ways, and it may not be possible to follow all of the recommendations listed below, but the basic suggestions presented here should help you begin the process of preserving your wartime letters.

Although the information below is under copyright, we encourage you to share and distribute it, so long as it is not used for any commercial or for-profit purposes. Special thanks goes to Linda Edquist, one of the nation's foremost archivists, who reviewed this material and offered valuable suggestions.