Materials are arranged alphabetically by last name of letter sender. Materials with the same sender are further arranged chronologically.
Accession No. RARE.2026.0052: Lou Pitschmann, 2024 November
[identification of item], Correspondence Sent to Karl A. and Florence S. Pitschmann From Family Members, Primarily Related to Service in World War II, SPEC.RARE.0389, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University
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Processed by: Casey Blackmore, 2026 May; Finding aid written by: Casey Blackmore, 2026 May.
Carl (Karl) A. and Florence S. Pitschmann were from Lake County, Ohio, and lived in Chardon, Ohio. Their family, consisting of Karl’s brothers Alvin “Bobby” or “Bob” Joseph Pitschmann (1921 August 23-2017 June 20), Louis Arnold Pitschmann (1920 February 1-1996 October 22), sister Helen Pitschmann Peitzmeyer (1918 September-2015 October 16), mother Martha Hummel Pitschmann (1882 August 3-1983 February 18), and Florence’s brother-in-law Richard “Dick” Blair (1914-2008), sister Dorothy “Babe” Spear Williams, and maternal cousin Willettea M. Eggleston Steinfurth, exchanged letters during World War II, specifically 1942-1945.
Alvin, Louis, and Richard all served in the military during World War II, while Helen and Dorothy accompanied their husbands (Daniel J. Peitzmeyer and Ralph Williams, respectively) to their posts.
The Correspondence Sent to Karl A. and Florence S. Pitschmann From Family Members, Primarily Related to Service in World War II contain correspondence from the family of Karl and Florence Pitschmann. The letters they recieved were sent from Karl's brothers Alvin and Louis Pitschmann, Florence's brother in law Richard Blair, Karl's mother Martha Hummel Pitschmann, Karl's sister Helen Pitschmann Peitzmeyer, Florence's sister Dorothy ("Babe") Spear Williams, and Florence's maternal cousin Willetta M. Eggleston Steinfurth. The letters describe life during wartime, as well as women's efforts on the homefront in Cleveland, Ohio. Correspondence is dated 1942-1945.
Karl’s brothers and his wife's brother-in-law detail their military services and life on the base in their letters to Karl and Florence. Alvin discusses his life during training programs in New Hampshire, Boston College, New York City, New York and his military services overseas in areas including India, China, and Burma. Louis describes his training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, along with engaging in combat in Europe. Richard discusses his life while he was serving in New Hebrides in the South Pacific and correspondence courses he was taking while on active duty.
Helen, Dorothy, and Willetta’s letters describe life on the home front, including how Dorothy accompanied her husband, Ralph Williams, to Rhode Island for his training in the United States Navy. She returned to Ohio after her husband shipped out and worked at a Cleveland area defense plant as a “Rosie the Riveter.”