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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.

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009 to Jacob Stone, Beatrice Stone, Jim Stone, and Barry Marks

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09620.031 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009 Place Written: Ellington Field, Texas Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 14 June 1943 Pagination: 3 p. : envelope Height: 27.3 cm, Width: 18.9 cm Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document

Addressed to "Dad, Bee, Jim, and Barry." He owes everyone a letter as he hasn't been able to write. His classes are finished, and he did well above average. They don't mean too much, as the real scores come in during Advanced Training. Briefly walks through the basics of Advanced Training which is 12 weeks long. Only one-third of the group will move on, and he should get preference as a Cadet Officer.

He feels like "such a heel" for not responding to all of the letters and asks his parents to thank O'ma, Pam, and others for him. He apologizes as he will have less time to write in the future. Classes are finished, so he'll "loaf" a bit, but the next level will be harder.

Went to the range for gun practice, had a gas drill where every type of gas was thrown at them, and this week they'll be going into the pressure chamber to determine if they'll fly at low or high altitudes.

The letter is not dated, except for "Monday" in the top right corner. "Letters in a Box" notes it was written on June 14, 1943.

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009
Stone, Jacob, fl. 1894-1985
Stone, Beatrice Hecht Marks, 1901-1962
Stone, James, 1926-2007
Marks, Barry, 1926-1983
Hecht, Gella Stern, 1868-1947

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