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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Shadow, John R., fl. 1943-1944 to Leonard Eugene Graeff

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09611.047.01 Author/Creator: Shadow, John R., fl. 1943-1944 Place Written: Flint, Michigan Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 2 May 1943 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope Height: 24 cm, Width: 15 cm Order a Copy

One letter from John Shadow to Leonard Eugene Graeff dated May 2, 1943. John relays that he was glad to hear from Leonard. He asks how things were going in Harrisburg. John writes Leonard that he made rank of Captain but was demoted when he began school. He notes "I will probably get them back, and a lot more I hope." He confirms that he completed basic training and 11 days of advanced training in Miami Beach, Florida. John relays that "The school here and the city of Flint certainly is nice" and the town people treat the roughly 550 soldiers there "marvelous[ly]" and he was asked out to dinner after an Easter church service. In reference to his love interest, he asks "By the way how is Pearl behaving for me? Do you know?" He concludes his letter stating "I can't wait for the day for this war to be over so we can all hang out there again..." Signed "John."

Graeff, Leonard Eugene, 1920-2016
Shadow, John R., fl. 1943-1944

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