In today’s digital era, the discovery of handwritten love letters offers a rare glimpse into the past. More than 200 letters from World War II, exchanged between William Raymond Whittaker and Jane Dean, are now accessible online via the Nashville Public Library. These letters reveal a poignant story of love amidst the turbulence of war.
Found in a Nashville home once owned by Jane and her siblings, the letters were donated to the Metro Nashville Archives in 2016. Ray hailed from New Rochelle, New York, but moved to Nashville to study at Meharry Medical College, where he met Jane. Their paths diverged when Ray was drafted into the Army in 1942 and stationed at Fort Huachuca in Arizona. It was then that he resumed correspondence with Jane, who was employed as a medical lab technician at Vanderbilt University.
A ‘pleasant and sad surprise’
Although the archives lack Ray’s initial letter, Jane’s response remains. On July 30, 1942, she addressed him as “Dear Wm R.” Her words capture a mix of emotions: “It sure was a pleasant and sad surprise to hear from you,” she wrote. “Pleasant because you will always hold a place in my heart… Sad because you are in the armed forces…” Jane hinted at marriage by listing mutual friends who had recently wed. She ended her letter with, “Write, wire or call me real soon — Lovingly Jane.”
A story told in letters
Kelley Sirko, the library’s metropolitan archivist, notes the intimate glimpse these letters offer into the couple’s lives. Ray and Jane’s story unfolds primarily through their letters, as archivists have found no living relatives. According to Ray’s obituary, he passed away in 1989 in Nashville, and the couple had no children. The donation also includes photos and Ray’s Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity patch.
The collection extends beyond romance, providing insights into wartime racial and gender issues, professional lives, and military experiences. Sirko emphasized the importance of making these stories accessible to the public.
Love and doubts
By September 1942, Ray’s assignment to Fort McClellan in Alabama, with the segregated 92nd Infantry Division, brought a new chapter in their relationship. In one letter, Ray hinted at proposing, writing, “I might even ask you to marry me. One never knows.” He mentioned officer training school and a potential “fat juicey salary.” Jane, initially skeptical, questioned, “What makes you think you still love me?”
Ray’s subsequent letter expressed his determination: “Events are changing so rapidly these days… I am going to make a decisive decision in matters of most importances,” he wrote. He realized that despite dating others, his affection for Jane endured.
A ‘darling husband’
Their love culminated in marriage on November 7 in Birmingham. Jane, now addressing Ray as “my darling husband,” expressed joy mixed with sadness at their separation due to his military duties. In a November 9 letter, she wrote, “It’s a wonderful thing to have such and sweet and lovely husband… maybe this old war will soon be over and we can be together for always.”
Jane’s closing words, “Darling be sweet and write to me soon. I want a letter from my husband. Remember I’ll always love you. Always — from Your Wife,” resonate with timeless devotion.
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