Alben-Davis Letters (8 total)
Correspondence between Samuel Alben and the Davis family during World War II. Letters describe life in the US Navy during the war and discuss Alton, Illinois.
- Collection: Alben-Davis Letters
| Thumbnail | Title | Description | Date | Date Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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1939 Envelope to Thomas Eugene Davis | 1939 envelope of a letter to Thomas Eugene Davis, sent from California | April 23, 1939 | November 17, 2025 |
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1942 Letter from Thomas Eugene Davis to Mom | A 1942 letter from Thomas Eugene Davis to "Mom." The letter was written on October 22, 1942, at 7:30pm. It discusses Davis's well being. | October 22, 1942 | November 17, 2025 |
![November 1942 Letter from Thomas Eugene Davis to "Mom and Pop"](https://madison-historical.siue.edu/archive/files/thumbnails/19d2962a15827209f319092df04146ac.jpg "November 1942 Letter from Thomas Eugene Davis to "Mom and Pop"") |
November 1942 Letter from Thomas Eugene Davis to "Mom and Pop" | A one-page letter written by Thomas Eugene Davis to "Mom and Pop" talking about daily life while in service during World War II. | November 1942 | November 17, 2025 |
![November 27, 1942, Letter from Thomas Eugene Davis to "Mom and Pop"](https://madison-historical.siue.edu/archive/files/thumbnails/da01f3e52582ff65281cb634cfeb9f45.jpg "November 27, 1942, Letter from Thomas Eugene Davis to "Mom and Pop"") |
November 27, 1942, Letter from Thomas Eugene Davis to "Mom and Pop" | A one-page letter written on November 27, 1942, from Thomas Eugene Davis to "Mom and Pop" discussing his Thanksgiving while serving in the US Navy during World War II. | November 27, 1942 | November 18, 2025 |
![December 1942 Letter from Thomas Eugene Davis to "Mom and Pop"](https://madison-historical.siue.edu/archive/files/thumbnails/17d4e01445023fb39e14aa2e0631c9e0.jpg "December 1942 Letter from Thomas Eugene Davis to "Mom and Pop"") |
December 1942 Letter from Thomas Eugene Davis to "Mom and Pop" | A two-page letter from Thomas Eugene Davis to Mom and Pop written on December 3, 1942, while in port. The letter mentions his friends Sam and Fred serving on different ships. He finishes the letter by wishing his parents a happy wedding anniversary. | December 3, 1942 | November 18, 2025 |
![January 26, 1943, Letter from Samuel J. Alben to "Mom and Dad Davis"](https://madison-historical.siue.edu/archive/files/thumbnails/152d6face4712405227d21ebc91c6760.jpg "January 26, 1943, Letter from Samuel J. Alben to "Mom and Dad Davis"") |
January 26, 1943, Letter from Samuel J. Alben to "Mom and Dad Davis" | A three-page letter from Samuel J. Alben to "Mom and Dad Davis" written on January 26, 1943, discussing daily life in the United States Navy during World War II. Alben discusses how he spent the holidays while in service. | January 26, 1943 | November 18, 2025 |
![June 7, 1944, letter from Samuel J. Alben to "Mom and Davis"](https://madison-historical.siue.edu/archive/files/thumbnails/08e56a6b1ae45afdde175444271e42d9.jpg "June 7, 1944, letter from Samuel J. Alben to "Mom and Davis"") |
June 7, 1944, letter from Samuel J. Alben to "Mom and Davis" | A two-page letter from Samuel J. Alben to "Mom and Dad Davis" written on June 7, 1944, discussing his disappointment at not being in the invasion. He talks about his short time in Naples in Italy and how they never had a bit of trouble. When he wrote this letter, he was en route to home. Note that this letter is a product of its time. It contains a racially offensive slur. | June 7, 1944 | November 18, 2025 |
![Undated "What To Do In Case of An Air Raid" Document](https://madison-historical.siue.edu/archive/files/thumbnails/fb4e14012e26f0c4e4108cdc3563709a.jpg "Undated "What To Do In Case of An Air Raid" Document") |
Undated "What To Do In Case of An Air Raid" Document | One-page satirical message listing eight things to do when an air raid occurs. | Circa 1944 | November 18, 2025 |