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Trove of WWII Love Letters Offers Intimate Glimpse Into Wartime Romance
More than 200 letters between a soldier and his sweetheart found in Nashville home shed light on their courtship and marriage.
Published on Feb. 11, 2026
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A collection of over 200 love letters exchanged between William Raymond Whittaker, a soldier from New Rochelle, New York, and his sweetheart Jane Dean, a student at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, has been donated to the Metro Nashville Archives. The letters, dating from 1942 when Whittaker was drafted into the Army, provide an intimate look at the couple's courtship and eventual marriage despite the challenges of wartime separation.
Why it matters
The letters offer a rare, personal perspective on the experiences of African American soldiers and their families during World War II, shedding light on issues of race, gender, and the uncertainties of wartime. The collection also highlights the resilience of the couple's relationship and the power of love to endure even in the face of great upheaval.
The details
Whittaker and Dean met while they were both students at the historically Black Meharry Medical College in Nashville. After Whittaker was drafted in the summer of 1942, he reestablished contact with Dean, who was working as a medical lab technician at Vanderbilt University. The couple's letters chronicle their deepening romance, Whittaker's proposal, and their eventual marriage in November 1942, despite having to remain apart for much of the time due to Whittaker's military duties.
- In the summer of 1942, Whittaker was drafted into the Army.
- On July 30, 1942, Dean replied to Whittaker's first letter after he was drafted.
- In September 1942, Whittaker wrote to Dean about potentially proposing marriage.
- On November 7, 1942, Whittaker and Dean were married in Birmingham.
- On November 9, 1942, Dean wrote to Whittaker as "my darling husband."
The players
William Raymond Whittaker
A soldier from New Rochelle, New York who attended Meharry Medical College in Nashville, where he met and dated Jane Dean.
Jane Dean
A student at Meharry Medical College in Nashville who worked as a medical lab technician at Vanderbilt University during World War II.
Metro Nashville Archives
The archive that received the donation of over 200 love letters between Whittaker and Dean in 2016.
Kelley Sirko
The metropolitan archivist at the Nashville Public Library who helped make the Whittaker-Dean letters more accessible to the public.
What they’re saying
“It sure was a pleasant and sad surprise to hear from you. Pleasant because you will always hold a place in my heart and it's nice to know you think of me once in a while. Sad because you are in the armed forces — maybe I shouldn't say that but war is so uncertain, however I'm proud to know that you are doing your bit for your country.”
— Jane Dean (Letter to William Raymond Whittaker)
“I have something very important to tell you when I do see you and you will be surprise to know as to what it is. I might even ask you to marry me. One never knows.”
— William Raymond Whittaker (Letter to Jane Dean)
“It's a wonderful thing to have such and sweet and lovely husband. Darling you'll never know how much I love you. The only regret is that we didn't marry years ago... As it is now things are so uncertain and we are not together but such a few happy hours. But maybe this old war will soon be over and we can be together for always.”
— Jane Dean (Letter to William Raymond Whittaker)
What’s next
The Metro Nashville Archives plans to continue digitizing and making the Whittaker-Dean letters more accessible to the public through their online collections.
The takeaway
The intimate letters between William Raymond Whittaker and Jane Dean provide a rare, personal glimpse into the experiences of African American couples navigating the challenges of wartime separation and the uncertainties of the future, while also highlighting the enduring power of their love and commitment to one another.
