Browse Items (4 total)
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Ralph Hartman Sr.'s letters to family, 1946
At this time, Ralph Hartman was the postmaster, 48 years old. His son Ralph is working on boats. Donald graduates and goes away to college.
Carbon copies of daily letters to his children, chiefly Jack and Donnie. Also letters to his brother Mitchell; niece Delores; Uncle Bill, Aunt Minnie, and Uncle Adam; and a few letters to organizations and businesses. Also incoming letters from American Legion, Zack Mosley, and son Donald in college.
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Ralph Hartman Sr.'s letters to family, July-December 1945
At this time, Ralph Hartman was the postmaster, 47 years old. His son Ralph was serving with the Army Transport Command in Miami. Jack is in the military. Donald is in high school and Brady was 9 years old.
Carbon copies of daily letters out, chiefly to “Kids” or directly to son Jack Hartman, serving in the military. A few letters are also addressed to Aunt George and niece Delores Hartman Barton (1923-1978). Letter to Aunt George (27 Aug 1945) offers a good summary of the family’s activities. Also a few letters to organizations, businesses, Colonel Kofoed, Norman Rockwell, Madame Renaud.
The content of the letters gives an excellent portrait of a small Florida town during WWII, detailing social activities, health, and locations of all the family members, events in Stuart, local gossip, and news of local servicemen. Includes mention of the birth of Ralph and Kittee’s twins (18 July). Also significantly mentioned are “Hoppes” or “Miss Hoppy,” Blanche Hoppes (1906-1975), who was appointed superintendent of Martin County Hospital on 8 April 1945 but then quit the position in December 1945 and moved to Miami, and Teddy Roosevelt Chambers (1902-1978) and Mary Lavenia "Vee" Lambert Chambers (1908-2007), friends living in Hobe Sound.
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Ralph Hartman Sr.'s letters to family, Jan-June 1945
At this time, Ralph Hartman was the postmaster, 46 years old. His sons Ralph and Jack were serving in the military in some capacity; Ralph is accepted in the Marine Corp (22 Feb 1945). Donald is in high school and works for Arundel dredging and Brady was 9 years old.
Carbon copies of daily letters from Ralph Hartman Sr., chiefly to adult sons. Also letters to Alice Hartman (of New Brighton, Penn.), Frances Armstrong, Colonel Fred, Madam Martha Renaud, Victor Guerrier, American Legion post, and brother Mitchell Hartman. One letter is to several servicemen (18 Mar 1945). A few letters to businesses and to the USCG concerning extension courses.
The content of the letters gives an excellent portrait of a small Florida town during WWII, detailing social activities, health, and locations of all the family members, events in Stuart, local gossip, and news of local servicemen. Includes a narrative about the invasion of southern France in 1944 (16 Feb 1945) as well as other war news. Several letters address Colonel Fred’s divorce from his wife, “Bill” (20 Feb 1945). Mentions Eden Ahbe [actually Eben Ahbez, composer of "Nature Boy" recorded by Nat King Cole] (29 June 1945)
Significantly mentioned are “Hoppes” or “Miss Hoppy,” Blanche Hoppes (1906-1975), who was appointed superintendent of Martin County Hospital on 8 April 1945 but then quit the position in December 1945 and moved to Miami. Also friends Ted and Vee, Teddy Roosevelt Chambers (1902-1978) and Mary Lavenia "Vee" Lambert Chambers (1908-2007)
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Ralph Hartman Sr.'s letters to family, 1944
At this time, Ralph Hartman was the postmaster, 46 years old. His sons Ralph and Jack were serving in the military in some capacity. Donald was 15 and Brady was 8 years old.
Carbon copies of daily letters from Ralph Hartman Sr. to family members, chiefly to his two sons. Also addressed are his daughter-in-law, and Alice Hartman (of New Brighton, Penn.).
The content of the letters gives an excellent portrait of a small Florida town during WWII, detailing social activities, health, and locations of all the family members, events in Stuart, local gossip, news of local servicemen, and war activities surrounding the area.