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John M. Potter Letters

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-2483

Scope and Contents

Twenty-two love letters from H.L. "Dicki" Dickinson and one letter from a woman named Shirley, all addressed to John M. "Jack" Potter.

Dates

  • 1944-1945

Language of Materials

Letters are primarily in English, though some sentences are written in French or German and there's an instance of transliterated Japanese.

Conditions Governing Access

None

Biographical / Historical

John M. Potter, known as "Jack" to friends, was the beloved of H.L. "Dicki" Dickinson. They met at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Potter was a member of the "Beta" fraternity (the official title is never revealed) and, while at the university, pinned Dicki. While he was on Parris Island for Marine training in late 1944 to early 1945, she wrote him frequently. Dicki spoke at great length of her classes, friends, family, and personal philosophy as it related to their relationship (which was considered to be one step down from "engaged" at the time), as well as keeping him abreast of the University's triumphs and losses on the football field. A woman by the name of Shirley also corresponded with Jack in January of 1945, relating events that had transpired over the holidays. Over the course of the letters, Jack is promoted from Private to Private First Class. It is implied that once he leaves training, he will be going to Harvard Law School.

Extent

0.2 Linear Feet (23 letters, one magazine clipping and one newsletter clipping)

Overview

Personal letters addressed to John M. "Jack" Potter, a Private and later Private First Class in the United States Marines, during his duration on Parris Island, North Carolina.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Wade Hall.

Processing Information

Processed by Elizabeth Della Pella, 2009

Source

Title
Guide to the John M. Potter Letters
Status
Missing
Date
March 2014
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the The University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Box 870266
Tuscaloosa AL 35487-0266
205.348.0513