Trove of WWII Love Letters Discovered in Nashville Home

The letters by William Raymond Whittaker and Jane Dean offer an intimate look at a couple's courtship during wartime.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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More than 200 love letters found in a Nashville home tell the story of William Raymond Whittaker and Jane Dean's courtship and marriage during World War II. The letters, donated to the Metro Nashville Archives in 2016, chronicle the couple's relationship from their initial reconnection in 1942 to their eventual marriage that November. The collection provides a personal perspective on navigating life and love amidst the challenges of wartime.

Why it matters

The discovery of this trove of intimate letters offers a rare glimpse into the personal lives of ordinary people during World War II. The letters provide a unique historical record that humanizes the wartime experience and highlights the resilience of love in the face of uncertainty and separation.

The details

The letters were found in a Nashville home that had belonged to Jane Dean and her siblings. William Raymond Whittaker, known as Ray, was from New Rochelle, New York and attended the historically Black Meharry Medical College in Nashville, where he met and dated Jane, another student at the college. After losing touch, Ray reconnected with Jane in the summer of 1942 when he was drafted into the Army and stationed at Fort Huachuca in Arizona. The couple's correspondence chronicles their rekindled romance, Ray's proposal, and their eventual marriage in Birmingham in November 1942, despite having to remain apart due to Ray's military duties.

  • 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 after their reconnection.
  • 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."

The players

William Raymond Whittaker

Also known as Ray, he was from New Rochelle, New York and attended Meharry Medical College in Nashville, where he met and dated Jane Dean.

Jane Dean

A student at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, where she met and dated William Raymond Whittaker.

Metro Nashville Archives

The repository that received the donation of the love letters in 2016.

Kelley Sirko

The metropolitan archivist at the Metro Nashville Archives.

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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 (kcra.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 Whittaker (kcra.com)

“Events are changing so rapidly these days that one can't really plan for the future. But I am going to make a decisive decision in matters of most importances.”

— William Raymond Whittaker (kcra.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 (kcra.com)

What’s next

The Metro Nashville Archives plans to continue digitizing and making the collection of love letters publicly accessible through the Nashville Public Library's digital archives.

The takeaway

This trove of WWII-era love letters provides a poignant, personal account of how ordinary couples navigated the challenges of wartime separation and uncertainty, underscoring the enduring power of love to transcend even the most difficult circumstances.