Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections
Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access:
Collection is open to all researchers.
Preferred Citation:
Norman E. Lau Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Acquisition Information:
Mss. Acc. 2015.076 was received by Special Collections on 3/5/2015. The purchase was made possible by the Frances Randolph
Howard endowment.
Processing Information:
Accessioned and minimally described by Tim Eklund, SCRC staff, in April 2015.
The bulk of this collection consists of letters to and from Norman E. Lau, who served as an aviation metalsmith for the U.S.
Navy during World War II, and his family. The correspondence was written before and after the war, and concern Lau's search
for a job in Chicago during the Depression, his training, his time spent overseas during the war stationed in the Philippines,
and his life after the war in California. Many of the letters were written to or by his wife, "Kitty." Correspondence between
other members of the Lau family are also included, along with items such as pamphlets, notebooks, and other ephemera.
A more detailed description of the collection by the seller is filed in front of Box 1.
Photograph of Katherine Dell Newcomb Lau and Norman Ellsworth Lau. He is in his Navy Blues and she is dressed in blue or
black with a dressy hat. Addition Mss. Acc. 2107.023 from their daughter, Deborah Dell Lau.
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 27
Katherine Lau to Norman Lau
1945 July
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 28
Katherine Lau to Norman Lau
1945 August
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 29
Katherine Lau to Norman Lau
1945 September
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 30
Katherine Lau to her In-laws, Mr. and Mrs. A.G. Lau
1944
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 32
Caryl Lau to his Parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Lau
1929-1939
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 33
Caryl Lau to his Parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Lau
1941-1944
Mixed Materials Box: 2
Box 2
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 1
Marie Lau to her In-Laws, Mr. and Mrs. A.G. Lau
1930-1942
Scope and Contents
Marie to Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Lau
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 2
Marie Lau to her In-Laws, Mr. and Mrs. A.G. Lau
1943-1945
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 3
Ruth Lau McHugh to her Parents
1933-1939
Scope and Contents
Ruth Lau McHugh to Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Lau
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 4
Ruth Lau McHugh to her Parents
1940-1942
Scope and Contents
Ruth Lau McHugh to Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Lau
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 5
Ruth Lau McHugh to her Parents
1943
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 6
Ruth Lau McHugh to her Parents
1944-1945
Scope and Contents
Ruth Lau McHugh to Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Lau
Mixed Materials box: 3
Box 3
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 1
Mr. and Mrs. A.G. Lau to their Children
1929, 1944, 1946
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 2
Lau Grandchildren to their Grandparents
1938-1944
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 3
Mr. and Mrs. A.G. Lau - Personal and Business Correspondence
1933-1943
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 4
Postcards
1941-1945
Scope and Contents
Mostly letters from family members, but a few blank ones are included.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 5
Telegrams
undated
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 6
Greeting Cards
1938-1951
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 7
Diplomas and Marriage Certificate
1926, 1932, 1944
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 8
Poems, Negatives, Flyers, Cartoons and Other Mementos
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 9
Ephemera
Scope and Contents
Pamphlets, small new testament bible, test notebook, school notebook and religious booklet.
Mixed Materials box: 3 Folder: 10
Photograph of Katherine Dell Newcomb and Norman Ellsworth Lau
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