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Letters from Ivor Powell, an American serving in the U.S. Navy who writes about day to day life aboard the HMS Byrsa while in Bari, Italy. A letter dated April 20, 1945, includes a description of a major explosion on another ship (The Charles Henderson) where he is injured by the shock waves from the blast from 300 yards away.

This folder contains letters from Jack Rimalover to Sheldon F. Berlow discussing furlough in America and romance in Europe.

This folder contains twelve letters posted from San Rafael, San Francisco, Kentfield, Salinas, Paso Porbles, and King City. The postcards feature images of motor inns. The Battalion has recieved news they will be leaving for maneuvers on the 9th of August and are not expected to return before 8th of September. Husband Ray was sent back to camp to retrieve forgotten maps and was able to spend his birthday with Janet. He also shared some descriptions of maneuvers. In the August 15 letter, Ray returned for the weekend again and brought news the Battalion won't be returning to San Rafael, they are moving to Camp Roberts. She describes difficulty of finding housing on short notice and how the army wives have bound together. In the August 31st letter, she describes how M.G.M. studios has 'invaded' Camp Roberts to film See Here, Private Hargrove directed by Wesley Ruggles. Ray is in a background shot of a scene with the firing batteries.

This folder contains nine letters postmarked from Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, and Atascadero. The Marines and Navy move in around them as they figure out their own moving plans with the Wilsons. The residents of the house the Bryans are going to rent with the Wilsons have delayed their moving. The area around them has become the Navy's bachelors quarters while Val Wilson still hangs her son Bucky's diapers up on the line. To hurry things along, the Marines have donated a beach wagon to help them move. In their new home, Janet notes that army tanks have been going past all day in a convoy. Janet shares her news that she is pregnant, to be due around July 7th. The Post's theater has been shut down for a flu epidemic.

This folder contains five letters postmarked form Fort Sill and Lawton, Oklahoma. The first describes Janet's trip aboard, Jeffersonian and Pullman trains to Lawton, and her stops along the way. Janet and fiance Ray have discussed moving up their wedding date up two months to avoid being separated for six months, or risk Ray receiving an untimely transfer to possibly a much smaller post, and starting their marriage there. She mentions that a married First Lt.'s pay is $282.00 per month. In the January 5th letter, Janet runs out of ink and finishes the letter with her eyebrow pencil. The remainng letters describe the leisure activities available, as well as lack of variety, and Janet's immpression of life on a military base.

This folder contains eleven letters posted from San Rafael and a program from Arthur Rubinstein's performance at Dominican College that the Bryan's attended. The Camp's new Commanding Officer, Colonel George Davis, has been determined and arrived July 6th. Throughout these July letters, Janet expresses the contradicting information she receives regarding the Battalion going on maneuvers, husband Ray being sent to Fort Sill for schooling, the departure date, and duration. The camp officers created a pool to bet when the second front would start. Maneuvers are to take place in Houlon, near King City. Husband Ray was on a defense council for a court case that he lost. Janet makes observations of battleships, cruisers, aircraft carriers, and submarines going up the bay in San Francisco.

This folder contains eleven letters and a hand-drawn map of their new lodgings at the multi-millionaire Truxton Beale's widow's estate that includes roads to camp. Bryan notes observations of the changes to San Franscico with the presence of the Navy, confusion with transportation system, and the traditionally masculine jobs being filled by civilian women. She mentions difficulty of obtaining different items. Husband Ray is to be sent to Fort Sill for Survey schooling in Oklahoma for one month in July. In June 21st letter, the camp had an unidentified plane alert. The response was extremely unsuccessful. Only four planes got into the air, one with a nonfunctioning radio. In order to land, they had to turn on the field lights. Janet is assisting in planning a baby shower for a fellow army wife. There have been additional alerts at camp.

This folder contains eleven letters and one postcard. The letters are posted from Illinois, Nevada, and California. The postcard is posted from Utah. May 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th letters describe travel by train to San Franscisco, where Janet meets her now husband. They stay and eat at expensive hotels, costs noted, and head to his army post in San Rafael in the morning. She mentions Post procedures, day passes, and sewing machine rental. Husband Ray is temporarily Battery Officer of the Day. Officers attend school after dinner. In the May 20th letter, both Janet and Ray are sick, deviated sceptum in nose, and trench mouth respectively. They are having difficulties finding new lodging. The Post had a practise alert that was "unsuccessful."

This folder contains eight letters postmarked from Lawton and Morro Bay. The Bryans return from Fort Sill to observe that a Marine base intended to be a school is being built only two blocks away. All mechanics have been "frozen" to work on the base that is planned to be completed December 1st. Janet discusses post-war plans and replies to her mother's questions about day to day life in the army. In the November 26 letter, the Bryans learn that the Navy is taking over the autocourt, and they have four days notice to find new housing and leave. An hour after they receive the news other wives call to offer the Bryans and Wilsons a place to stay.