»Center for American War Letters Archives

The Center for American War Letters Archives actively preserves and promotes the research of original correspondence and other materials from all American conflicts; from the American War for Independence through the present day. This includes letters, postcards, V-Mail and email, or any other medium upon which correspondence was kept, as well as supplementary materials including photographs, ephemera, or realia sent to or from American service members, their families, and all those involved in American conflicts at home or abroad. Also found in the collection are materials not sent but collected during wartime; including journals and diaries, newspaper clippings and scrapbooks, as well as alternate forms of media including audio and video recording.  

The goal of the Archives is to make available one of the largest and most unique collections of materials in the country to researchers and scholars, so that they may not only contribute to the scholarly discussion on war and its effects, but also add to the narrative of the American experience and bring a voice to the individual at war.  

Although the exhibit is open to the public, the Center for American War Letters Archives includes a reading room where researchers may request and research specific materials in person. Whenever possible, please schedule an appointment in advance to avoid scheduling conflicts and to receive the highest quality assistance.

For more information about the archives, how to use the archives, and how to conduct research using these materials as primary sources, please review the CAWLA LibGuide. 

The Center for American War Letters operates in conjunction with the Center for American War Letters Archives.