Guide to the Helen Rodgers-Weber Letters MS 00211

Guide to the Helen Rodgers-Weber Letters MS 00211


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Special Collections Research Center

spcoll@wm.edu

Karen King

Repository
Special Collections Research Center
Identification
MS 00211
Title
Helen Rodgers Weber Letters 1937-1943 1943
Quantity
0.5 Linear Feet
source
Weber, Helen Rodgers
Creator
Weber, Charles Anthony
Creator
Rodgers, Lettie J Hubbard
Creator
Rodgers, Clarence G
Creator
Rodgers, Irma Jean
Language
English .

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation

Helen Rodgers Weber Letters, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.


Biographical / Historical

Helen E. (Rodgers) Weber, 1918-2006, Evansville, Indiana, was a life-long teacher. Her husband, 1st Lt. Charles A. Weber, was killed in 1944 while serving in the Air Force as a pilot in England.

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of incoming correspondence for Helen Rodgers Weber, with the bulk written over a few months in 1943. The letters are mostly authored by Helen's mother Lettie, father Clarence, and sister Jean. The content reflects on daily life in Indiana during WWII.

Helen, also known as Honan, marries Charles Anthony Weber in May 1943. The tight-knit family often addresses their letters to both Helen and Charles and sign each letter as a family unit.

Other authors include friends and extended family members, as well as a single letter written by Charles Weber. Charles, a pilot in the 9th A.A.F, was killed in England in 1944, less than a year after they married.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Indiana--Social life and customs--20th century
  • United States. Air Force, 9th.
  • Weber, Helen Rodgers
  • World War, 1939-1945--United States

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • Rodgers, Clarence G
  • Rodgers, Irma Jean
  • Rodgers, Lettie J Hubbard
  • Weber, Charles Anthony
  • Weber, Helen Rodgers

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Indiana--Social life and customs--20th century
  • United States. Air Force, 9th.

Container List

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 1
Correspondence
1937 August-1938 JuneEnglish.
Scope and Contents

Contains letters from Helen's mother, Lettie, as well as Helen's friend, Virginia. There are letters addressed to Charlie and to Lettie. The content includes discussions of Helen finishing school and attending college, of various colds going around, news of Irma Jean, Helen's grandmother, their love of singing, and Charlie's visit to the dentist.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 2
Correspondence
1939 June-1940 FebruaryEnglish.
Scope and Contents

Contains letters from Helen's grandmother, with one addressed to Helen's mother, Lettie. The content covers family news and minor details of every day life.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 3
Correspondence
1941 September-1942 SeptemberEnglish.
Scope and Contents

Contains a letter from Helen's friend, Marian, in addition to letters from Helen's immediate family members. The letter from Mary Ellen Cornwell asks if Charles still likes his training.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 4
Correspondence
1942 October-DecemberEnglish.
Scope and Contents

Contains the only letter in this collection written by Charlie, December 31, 1942, Lubbock Army Flying School, to Helen. Charlie refers to Helen as his "darling Honan". He describes the details of his training. The content of letters from other friends and family spans from baking cookies for soldiers to inquiriing about Charlie's whereabouts.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 5
Correspondence
1943 January-FebruaryEnglish.
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence from Helen's mother, father, and sister, Jean.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 6
Correspondence
1943 MayEnglish.
Scope and Contents

Contains a letter to Charles from a friend, Richard K. Turney. In it, Dick describes how he was drafted as a flight instructor P-47's and P-40's, rather than seeing combat as he wishes. Letterhead is Dale Mabry Field, Tallahassee, Florida.

In another letter, Mrs. Rodgers writes an impassioned letter to Charles regarding the hardships of soldier's wives and young families. She writes of their upcoming marriage. She describes Helen as a frail little girl who will need every attention and every consideration.

Included is the rare letter written by Helen (known as "Honan"), dated May 20, 1943, which discusses her wedding plans with Charles.

Also contains a letter from Charles' father who owned the Weber Equipment Co., Evansville, Indiana.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 7
Correspondence
1943 June 1-4English.
Scope and Contents

Contains letters from Helen's mother, Lettie, and her sister, Jean. The letters are now addressed to both Helen and Charles. In them, the family talks of daily life. Lettie remarks that Helen was cheated out of a lot by having such a "hurrying up affair" in regards to their wedding. Jeanie sends affectionate, teasing letters and writes that she has been flying upside down with Charles.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 8
Correspondence
1943 June 5-8English.
Scope and Contents

Contains letters from Helen's parents and grandmother, as well as the receipt from Kruckemeyer and Cohn for Helen's wedding ring.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 9
Correspondence
1943 June 11-15English.
Scope and Contents

Contains letters from Helen's mother, father, and sister, Jean. Letters are typically addressed to both Honan and Charles. One letter iIncludes an article from an unknown newspaper titled "Big Transport Banked and Paratrooper Fell Out Door".

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 10
Correspondence
1943 June 16-20English.
Scope and Contents

Contents consist mostly of letters from Helen's mother, in which she passes along local news. haring small local news.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 11
Correspondence
1943 June 21-23English.
Scope and Contents

Contains letters from Helen's mother discussing local weddings, Dad's schedule, and vegetables from their Victory garden. Includes Mother's recipes for griddle cakes, pancakes, tomato sauce as well as instructions for making spaghetti. Includes a letter from Helen's grandmother and grandfather. Jean urges Helen to be careful while Charles is gone and not let anyone know she's alone.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 12
Correspondence
1943 June 24-29English.
Scope and Contents

Contains letters from family and friends, including Anne Benninghof. Helen's family shares news of daily activities and that her father is serving on the conductor's board and off to Chicago often. The content mentions family members dealing with illnesses. One letter includes receipts from various shops. A letter from Lettie wishes Helen could have come during Charles' visit. It ends with a red lipsticked kiss, but it is unclear whether it is from Lettie or Jean.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 13
Correspondence
1943 July 1-4English.
Scope and Contents

Lettie continues to share the reaction of friends to Helen's wedding at the end of May. Includes a lipsticked kiss at the closing of a letter, possibly from Jeanie.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 14
Correspondence
1943 July 5-8English.
Scope and Contents

Contains letters from Helen's family, empty envelopes, and a check stub.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 15
Correspondence
1943 July 8-14English.
Scope and Contents

Contains letters from Jean and Lettie about pickling, blackberries, late wedding gifts still arriving, and comments on Helen's grandmother being weak. An article from an unknown newspaper, "Plane Tows Glider With Ton Cargo Across Atlantic" is included.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 16
Correspondence
1943 July 15-19English.
Scope and Contents

Contains letters from Helen's mother Lettie, her sister Jean, and various friends, sharing news of their personal lives.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 17
Correspondence
1943 July 20-26English.
Scope and Contents

Contains lLetters from Helen's family and A.M. Hubbard.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 18
Correspondence
1943 July 26-29English.
Scope and Contents

Contains letters from Aunt Hazel and family, Helen's grandmother, and Mother, Dad, and Jean.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 19
Correspondence
1943 July 30-August 4English.
Scope and Contents

Contains letters from Dad, as well as letters from Lettie concerning sewing Helen's dresses, asking about her permanent, and the milk shortage.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 20
Correspondence
1943 August 5-10English.
Scope and Contents

Contains a typed letter from Uncle Herschel and Aunt Hazel discussing the effect of war on a young soldier in the local hospital and remarks how Helen loves to fly. Includes affectionate letters from Jean, Helen's mother, and Irma.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 21
Correspondence
1943 August 11-20English.
Scope and Contents

Contains letters from Dad, Mother, and Jean. Includes a postcard from Helen's grandmother and a letter from Mrs. Becker.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 22
Correspondence
1943 August 21-25English.
Scope and Contents

Contains letters from Helen's Mother and Jean as well as a mailing from the Book-of-the-Month-Club about Helen's subscription. Jean was staying with Helen during this time, so letters from their parents address both of the girls. Also included is a letter from Helen's friend Betty.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 23
Correspondence
1943 August 26-October 24English.
Scope and Contents

Contains letters from Helen's friend Virginia, Helen's Aunt Mary, Mrs. John G. Davidson, and a humorous letter from her sister, Jean.

Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 24
Correspondence
UndatedEnglish.
Scope and Contents

Undated letters from various family and friends, as well as birthday cards.