BIDDEFORD — History buffs, especially those interested in World War II, will be interested in a new exhibit at the University of New England.
Even those who aren’t that interested in history may enjoy the exhibit “Write Again Soon: Letters from World War II,” which opened Thursday.
The exhibit includes emotional letters from those on the front lines of the second world war and those at the home front.
The exhibit is the final project for students of University of New England History Professor Elizabeth De Wolfe
To some, history is a dry subject. Even De Wolfe said she wasn’t a fan of the subject when she was in high school.
“It was about the names and dates of dead people. Boring,” said De Wolfe.
What made her change her mind about the subject was when she began to work with archives.
Working from primary sources “is like being a detective and digging out the stories of the past,” said De Wolfe.
To create an interesting experience for her students, De Wolfe incorporates archival research in all of her history classes. The course that put the exhibit together is primarily based on that type of research.
The course is challenging, said De Wolfe. First students need to learn to read manuscripts, something they’re not used to. Then, they choose what they will focus on, and they create all of the material for the exhibit. Putting the exhibit together ”“ a process that typically takes two years ”“ is crammed into a 15-week semester.
De Wolfe said she has taught the exhibit course for several years.
This year’s course is timely as the opening coincides with Pearl Harbor Day, Dec. 7.
The surprise military strike on Dec. 7, 1941 by the Japanese on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii marked the start of America’s entry into World War II.
The letters, which are the focus of the exhibit, contain personal stories about those in the war and those at home. They are from the university’s Cushing Collection of War Letters, part of the Bush Legacy Collection.
The purpose of the war letters was to keep up morale for both soldiers and those at home, said De Wolfe. It was considered an important and patriotic duty to write letters to those serving, she said. Through reading the letters, said De Wolfe, students followed stories of relationships between husbands and wives.
“I learned how important war letters were in relationships,” said freshman Corinne Kirby, one of the 15 students who took the class.
There were also a number of Dear John letters. The term “Dear John letters” ”“ for letters sent by women to end a relationship with their significant other in the military ”“ is believed to have been coined during World War II.
Freshman Megan Hall said the exhibit includes letters from one women who corresponded with five men in the military and presumably she sent some Dear John letters.
In addition to stories about relationships, the letters provide stories of life at home and on the front lines, in the European and African theaters.
Sophomore Jazmyn Ireland followed the story or Robert Long, from basic training to his time as a soldier in Italy.
He wrote about it raining a lot in Italy and how miserable he was, she said.
“It was really interesting seeing one person’s story,” said Ireland.
Ireland said she also enjoyed working on the exhibit and creating something many people would view.
Freshman Nate Taylor said, like his instructor, working with archival stories changed his mind about history.
“I was never really a fan of history,” said Taylor, but the exhibit course “changed my mind. Reading the letters was really interesting.”
“What grabs me about the letters,” said De Wolfe, “is that when we think of war, we think of bombs and big battalions, but it’s really about individual people. All they want to do is fight for their cause and go home. This exhibit brings that home.”
The exhibit, located at the UNE Ketchum Library Art Gallery on the Biddeford campus, is open through the first week of May. The hours are Sunday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or [email protected].
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