Gernert family letters (MS-1269)

This digital collection features digital reproductions of the Gernert family letters (MS-1269), which date from 1942-1945 and are comprised of letters exchanged during World War II between members of the Gernert family of Bowling Green, Ohio, including William H. (1886-1947) and Lillian Gernert (1893-1988) and their children William (Bill) E. (1917-2009), Richard (Dick) T. (1919-1994), and Shirley Gernert (1925-1981). The majority of the letters are from William Gernert to his sons Dick and Bill during their service in the Armed Forces in World War II, and contain detailed descriptions of life on the home front in Bowling Green and the Gernert family's active social life, along with expressions of concern for the well-being and safety of Dick and Bill from their family and friends. Both Dick and Bill returned home to Bowling Green after the end of the the war in 1945.

Select Browse Items to view all letters currently in this digital collection, or enter specific terms in the collection search box to search for letters on particular subjects.

To better facilitate access, each handwritten letter in the collection is presented alongside an associated typed transcript.

This digital collection currently contains only a selection of items from the Gernert family letters. The original physical collection is also available to view onsite at the Center for Archival Collections.