WWII Love Letters Detail Couple's Courtship and Marriage

Intimate letters between Army soldier William Raymond Whittaker and wife Jane Dean Whittaker now on display at Nashville Public Library

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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A trove of more than 200 love letters between Army soldier William Raymond Whittaker and his wife Jane Dean Whittaker, documenting their courtship and marriage during World War II, have been donated to the Nashville Public Library. The letters offer an intimate look at the couple's relationship as they navigated the uncertainties of wartime.

Why it matters

The letters provide a rare, personal glimpse into the lives of ordinary people during the tumultuous WWII era, highlighting the resilience and determination of couples who found love amidst the challenges of war.

The details

The letters were discovered in a Nashville home that belonged to Jane and her siblings, and were donated to the Metro Nashville Archives in 2016. William "Ray" Whittaker, from New Rochelle, New York, met Jane Dean while attending the historically Black Meharry Medical College in Nashville. After being drafted into the Army in 1942, Whittaker reconnected with Dean, who was working as a medical lab tech at Vanderbilt University. The couple soon agreed to marry, tying the knot in November 1942 in Birmingham.

  • In the summer of 1942, Whittaker was drafted into the Army and stationed at Fort Huachuca in Arizona.
  • In July 1942, Whittaker reestablished contact with Dean, who was working at Vanderbilt University.
  • By September 1942, Whittaker had been assigned to Fort McClellan in Alabama and told Dean he had something important to ask her.
  • Whittaker and Dean were married on November 7, 1942 in Birmingham.
  • Ray Whittaker passed away in Nashville in 1989.

The players

William Raymond "Ray" Whittaker

An Army soldier from New Rochelle, New York who met and dated Jane Dean while attending Meharry Medical College in Nashville.

Jane Dean Whittaker

A student at Meharry Medical College in Nashville who later worked as a medical lab tech at Vanderbilt University and married William Raymond Whittaker during World War II.

Nashville Public Library

The institution that now houses and digitally displays the collection of over 200 love letters between the Whittakers.

Metro Nashville Archives

The archives that received the donation of the Whittakers' letters in 2016.

Kelley Sirko

The library archivist who oversees the Whittakers' letter collection.

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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

“I have something very important to tell you when I do see you. I might even ask you to marry me. One never knows.”

— William Raymond Whittaker

“You can't help but smile when you read through these letters. This was just such an intimate look at two regular people during a really complicated time in our history.”

— Kelley Sirko, Library Archivist

The takeaway

The Whittakers' love letters provide a poignant, personal account of how ordinary couples navigated the challenges of wartime, finding ways to nurture their relationships despite the uncertainties and hardships of the era. Their story serves as a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of great adversity.