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Samuel H. Bryant correspondence

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0631

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of about 350 letters written by Dr. Samuel H. Bryant of Baltimore, Maryland, to his wife, Edna C., between May 14, 1941 and November 15, 1944. Most of the letters were sent from undisclosed locations in the South Pacific (around the islands of Fiji), and are accompanied by their envelopes, some of which have been annotated (presumably by Edna) with dates of receipt and other marginalia. The letters reflect the daily life of Samuel Bryant as he served abroad in the Army, as well as his relationship with his wife and son at home. With one exception, the letters are all addressed to Edna by one nickname or another, usually "darling," "dearest," "pet," or "petsy." One (dated December 2, 1943) is addressed to Samuel and Edna's then-infant son Robert Bryant on the occasion of his second birthday. In addition to the letters, one correspondence from May 1942 includes both a photograph of Samuel and the photograph's negative, while another, dated Christmas Day 1942, includes a menu for a holiday banquet held for the soldiers on an American airbase in Fiji.

--Information taken directly from dealer description.

Dates

  • Creation: 1941 May 14 - 1944 November 15

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours notice for retrieval. Please contact Special Collections for more information.

Collection is open for use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.

Biographical / Historical

Dr. Samuel H. Bryant, of Baltimore, Maryland, was born on March 25, 1905. He married Edna C. Bryant (born September 16, 1910), with whom he had a son, Robert S. Bryant (born December 2, 1941). Dr. Bryant enlisted in the Unites States Army on April 20, 1941 and served in World War II as a lieutenant colonel in the Dental Corps, stationed primarily in the Pacific theater around the islands of Fiji and briefly at Fort Dix in New Jersey.

After his discharge from the Army on January 30, 1945, Bryant returned home to Baltimore where he became a professor of clinical diagnosis in the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery at the University of Maryland. Dr. Bryant died on December 7, 1972 at the age of 67, and was survived by his wife, who died on October 13, 2006 at the age of 96.

Extent

0.57 Cubic Feet (1 letter size document box, 1 letter half-size document box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Dr. Samuel H. Bryant, of Baltimore, Maryland, was born on March 25, 1905. This collection consists of about 350 letters written by Dr. Samuel H. Bryant of Baltimore, Maryland, to his wife, Edna C., between May 14, 1941 and November 15, 1944. Most of the letters were sent from undisclosed locations in the South Pacific (around the islands of Fiji).

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was purchased from Benjamin Katz Rare Books in January 2014.

Processing Information

Finding aid prepared by Emily Davidson on April 4, 2014.

Title
Samuel H. Bryant correspondence
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
The Sheridan Libraries
Special Collections
3400 N Charles St
Baltimore MD 21218 USA