Class Year

2024

Files

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Description

This collection contains over 500 letters, 17 V-Mail, and 25 additional items, including Elmer’s college transcript, military documents, and personal narrative. The bulk of the letters are written by Elmer (Chuck) to Elizabeth (Diz), but there are over 100 letters written by Elizabeth in the closing years of this collection (1945-46). These letters provide insight into the Gettysburg College experience during the early 1940’s and the daily life of men stationed in Europe during World War II. Many of the letters depict Elmer and Elizabeth navigating their personal relationship, whilst simultaneously navigating the complex time period in which they lived. Researchers interested in the experiences of Gettysburg College students or soldiers serving in Europe during World War II may find this collection to be a helpful resource.

Elmer and Elizabeth’s correspondence is considerably regular with very few gaps, especially in 1945. However, there are two files of miscellaneous correspondence written by/for Elmer and Elizabeth that are missing dates or contain unknown creators. Within the Special Collections digital files for the McKee collection, there are also photos from Elizabeth and Elmer’s wedding, Elmer’s time in the U.S. Army, along with scanned copies of Elmer’s military documents and personal narrative.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.

Collection Size

0.5 cubic feet

Publication Date

June 2022

Keywords

World War II, Gettysburg College, Alumni, U.S. Army

Disciplines

Higher Education | Military and Veterans Studies | Military History | United States History

Document Type

Finding Aid

MS-286: Elizabeth and Elmer McKee, Class of 1944

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