WWII Love Letters Offer Intimate Look at Wartime Romance

Trove of letters between soldier and sweetheart now on display at Nashville Public Library

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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A collection of over 200 love letters exchanged between William Raymond "Ray" Whittaker and Jane Dean during World War II has been donated to the Nashville Public Library, providing an intimate glimpse into their wartime courtship and marriage. The letters, found in a Nashville home, chronicle the couple's relationship from their initial reconnection in 1942 through their wedding and separation as Ray served in the Army.

Why it matters

The letters offer a rare, personal perspective on the challenges and uncertainties faced by couples during wartime, shedding light on issues of race, gender, and the experiences of soldiers and their loved ones. The collection provides historians and the public with a unique window into the lives of "regular people" navigating a complicated period in history.

The details

Ray, a medical student from New York, met Jane, another student, while attending the historically Black Meharry Medical College in Nashville. After losing touch, Ray reconnected with Jane in 1942 when he was drafted into the Army and stationed in Arizona. The couple's letters trace their rekindled romance, Ray's marriage proposal, and their eventual wedding in Birmingham in November 1942, though they had to remain apart as Ray returned to his Army base.

  • In the summer of 1942, Ray was drafted into the Army and stationed at Fort Huachuca in Arizona.
  • On July 30, 1942, Jane replied to Ray's first letter to her since he left Nashville.
  • In September 1942, Ray wrote to Jane about potentially proposing marriage.
  • On November 7, 1942, Ray and Jane were married in Birmingham.
  • On November 9, 1942, Jane wrote to Ray as "my darling husband" after their wedding.

The players

William Raymond "Ray" Whittaker

A medical student from New York who attended Meharry Medical College in Nashville, where he met and dated Jane Dean. He was drafted into the Army in 1942 and later married Jane.

Jane Dean

A student at Meharry Medical College in Nashville who dated and later married Ray Whittaker. She worked as a medical lab technician at Vanderbilt University during the war.

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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 (greeleytribune.com)

“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 "Ray" Whittaker (greeleytribune.com)

“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 (greeleytribune.com)

What’s next

The Nashville Public Library plans to continue digitizing and making the full collection of letters available to the public through their online archives.

The takeaway

This trove of WWII love letters provides a rare, intimate glimpse into the personal lives and challenges faced by couples separated by war, offering a poignant human perspective on a pivotal moment in history.