COVID-19 pandemic, 2019-2020
Epidemics
Grand Valley State University
Grand Rapids (Mich.)
Personal narratives
Daily journal entry of Pamela Benjamin, spouse of GVSU history professor, Craig Benjamin, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally self-published on WordPress.
Benjamin, Pamela
University Archives. COVID-19 Journaling Project
Grand Valley State University University Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives.
In Copyright
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, May 4, 1944
United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th
World War, 1939-1945
Soldiers -- Michigan
Correspondence
Love letters
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated May 4, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated May 6, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes as he continues to wait patiently for Agnes' answer to his engagement proposal, explaining how much he misses her and how each month that passes by feels like another year they have spent apart from one another.
Olexa, Joseph P.
Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)
Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 30, 1944
Motion pictures--1940-1950
Gable, Clark, 1901-1960
Russell, Rosalind
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 30, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated May 2, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after writing to his mother, whose birthday is a few days away, and shares the news of his engagement proposal to Agnes. Joe also writes of the recent movie he had seen called "They Met in Bombay" starring Clark Gable and Rosiland Russell.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 29, 1944
Handwritten letter with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 29, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes of his excitement in receiving two letters from Agnes, re-reading them over and over again as he awaits her response to his proposal. Joe also writes of the recent movies he had seen including "North Star" and "Lost Angel."
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 27, 1944
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 27, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated April 28, 1944. In the letter, Joe describes how he thinks of Agnes constantly with the springtime beauty of the English countryside and eagerly awaits her response to his engagement proposal. Joe also writes of the recent movies he had seen including "Dangerous Blondes" and "Headline News."
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 23, 1944
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 23, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated April 26, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes on a lovely Sunday, wishing they could attend the morning church service together and sharing how he starts and ends every day looking at her picture while saying "Good morning, Darling" and "Pleasant dreams, Sweets."
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 22, 1944
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 22, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated April 22, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes as he anxiously awaits Agnes and her parents' response to his proposal, daydreaming about their future together and sharing the news of his brother Ollie's engagement.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 20, 1944
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 20, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated April 25, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while awaiting the answer to his proposal and looks forward to the grand day when they are able to see each other once again.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 16, 1944
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 16, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated April 19, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes in great anticipation as he awaits her response regarding their engagement, dreaming of their future wedding and the life they will build together.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 14, 1944
Handwritten letter with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 14, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes sharing the heartfelt news that he wrote to her mother asking for Agnes' hand in marriage, as he is unable to keep his secret from her any longer. He writes with great excitement over planning their future together, awaiting her parents' decision and Agnes' response in the days ahead.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 11, 1944
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 11, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated April 11, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes expressing his love for her and inquiring about whether she gathered with his family for Easter back home in Michigan.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 9, 1944
Easter
Church services
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 9, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated April 12, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes on Easter Sunday after attending the church service that morning and looks forward to the day when they can go to church together once again. He also writes of the recent double feature films he saw in town and how Agnes is always with him in spirit.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 6, 1944
Holland (Mich.)
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 6, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated April 13, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes with excitement after Agnes' letters from March had finally arrived and imagines going on a date to visit the tulips in Holland, Michigan with her one day.