Administrative Information

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Preferred Citation

Edward L. Hopewell and Hopewell family Papers, 1942-1948, Accession #11693, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

The Library purchased this collection from Charles Apfelbaum of Watchung on October 31, 2000.

Biographical/Historical Information

Capt. Edward L. Hopewell was a physician attached to a medical regiment serving with the U.S. Army in the South Pacific during World War ll.

Scope and Content Information

This collection consists of 191 letters he wrote from posts in Panama, Tonga, New Hebrides, Guadalcanal and British Samoa. Most of them were to his mother, Mrs. H.T. Hopewell (Rose) and his sister Ruth, both of Strasburg, Virginia, and his brother, Tilden, and his wife Billie, who were in Alaska while Tilden served with the Civil Aeronautics Administration. The collection also includes 8 letters from Effie Hopewell, Edward's wife, who worked during the war as a nurse in Nicaragua; 59 letters to Mrs. Rose Hopewell from Tilden and Billie; 13 to Rose and Ruth from friends and relatives, and 3 miscellaneous letters,6 postcards and 1 telegram.

Letters of Captain Edward L. Hopewell
Eleven letters from April through August of 1942 chronicle Hopewell's departure by ship from Indiantown Gap Military Reservation in Pennsylvania to his arrival on islands in the Pacific. Because of censorship, he can give no names of exact locations, but he does describe life aboard ship, including an interesting account (May 10) of hazing rituals involved in crossing the equator; appearance and habits of natives on the lush, tropical islands where his units disembark; the boredom and monotony of camp life; and diversions such as native feasts and fishing expeditions in which he participates (Aug 10-Aug16).

Nine of Hopewell's letters from September through November of 1942 continue with his descriptions on life on the islands, the monotony that is broken by mail and news (some of it from U.S. stations) on his radio. In letters of November 13 and 18, he tells of arrival at a new tropical but less civilized location, where he and several others are engaged in setting of a makeshift hospital for from ten to 26 patients.

In December, 1942, Hopewell's seven letters tell of his having moved again to a different site, where the natives and facilities are more primitive. He still works at a makeshift hospital, where some patients have been very ill and where much improvisation of medical equipment is required. The soldiers are doing their own laundry and most are suffering from homesickness as Christmas approaches. He has heard from Effie, (Dec. 7) who now is teaching nursing in Spanish as an employee of the Rockefeller Foundation in Managua, Nicaragua, and seems to be adjusting better to his absence. Christmas dinner was two days early because of early arrival of the perishable food, but the radio managed to receive some carols on Christmas Eve, which heartened them all.

From January through April of 1943, Hopewell wrote thirteen letters, mostly describing life in various positions on the island where he is stationed. This life is quite monotonous, with the quality of food varying from good to poor, entertainment sparse (although on February 28, he notes that entertainers Joe E. Brown and Johnny Marvin, made appearances there) and heat, mosquitoes and flies almost intolerable. He discusses various faults of "V-Mail" use, describes the foibles of a friend who is an astrologer, and in a letter of March 21, vividly describes for his Mother his first engagement in combat and how he was changed by the experience. On April 27, he is able to mention that his first station was Tonga, where the natives were friendly. Continuing, he writes that in his present spot, natives are extremely "ugly" but respectful after apparently having suffered horrendous treatment by the enemy (now driven out.)

Fifteen letters (and one decorative postcard) from May through August of 1943 detail Hopewell's movement to a new address where days are delightful and nights cooler. In fact, he writes that he is near civilization where there is a town and a "Governor's mansion." He attends several dances at this mansion, which he describes as very pretty affairs with white women, attractive dresses, orchestras and delicious food. (June 6, June 20, July 4). He talks of frequency of air raids and descent into underground bomb shelters, and in several letters makes numerous comments on the epidemic of malaria and treatments, including his own 3-week bout with the disease in a hospital in a coconut grove, where he finds ward boys in attendance much superior to female nurses (August 12). He is bitterly disappointed in the rotation procedure by which he and two other medical officers were ignored. In a letter May 9, he tells his mother he has sent her an enemy skull he found on a battlefield and soaked in formaldehyde for two weeks before mailing it. The enemy's treatment of its dead, he writes, contrasts sharply with the more humane care given by Americans.

In thirteen letters from September through December of 1943, Hopewell tell of a month's vacation on another "beautiful" island and describe a native reception for a "high government official" including food, costumes and entertainment. He talks of the religious life and churches on the island, all of which are either Protestant or Catholic. He complains of the irregularity of mail, encloses a printed menu of Thanksgiving dinner for the troops and remarks on the number of "practical" Christmas gifts he has received. He also mentions that he hears there has been some maltreatment of men returned from the Pacific because of illness.

From January to April of 1944, Hopewell writes twelve letters. He mentions arriving at his 34th birthday and describes a party given for him at a hotel; the general improvement of food, movies and mail service from the U.S., talent shows and denial of his request for a transfer to hospital duty. On February 16, he writes Aunt Ruth that he and his group have been moved to an isolated spot, and in April letters, tells of being moved again with "each island growing worse."

In eleven letters from May through July of 1944, Hopewell says he now can write that he has been in New Caledonia. A long letter of May 21 details complications he has encountered concerning obtaining either a promotion, a transfer or leave. During this time, he becomes acting regimental surgeon, hears of the European invasion, and on July 2, writes of another move by ship back to his former APO address.

Highlights of nine letters from August-September, 1944, include a trip on the island in which he stopped at several French restaurants and ended with a visit to a Bob Hope show (letter of Aug 16) where ten to twelve thousand troops were present and he was fortunate to have a fifth row, center aisle seat for the hour long show. An Aug 20 letter describes arrival of a full time Red Cross girl and plans to build a Red Cross recreational facility. He notes that he can now say that he formerly was on Emira Island in the St. Matthias group of islands, less that 100 miles from the equator. In a Sep 2 letter, he describes attending a Jack Benny, Carol Landis, Larry Adler show ("really good, but not as good as Bob Hope"), and mentions concerns with securing narcotics, alcohol and poisons. Problems with promotion and rotation may delay his return home.

Eleven letters cover some events in 1945 and three undated in the folder appear to be from Hopewell's early days in the service. He tells of receiving a Bronze Star recommendation and of purchasing a new uniform in expectation of going home but is disappointed to learn that instead he is being sent on leave to New Zealand. When there, he becomes enamored of the island and its people, and in a letter of Feb 14, describes a brief tour of the area with Agnes Davis, a Metropolitan Opera star traveling with the U.S.O., and two Red Cross girls. The group goes through geyser and hot springs country, including Rotorua; visits sulfur baths at Lake Taupo, marvels at catches of large trout in Lake Taupo, samples a baked trout at dinner at an Australian home, and visits caves at Waitomo, where a river runs through one and the ceiling is sprinkled with glow worms. In an undated letter, he describes the difficulties encountered aboard ship in an emergency appendectomy in which he participates, and in a letter of April 15, says he has learned of President Roosevelt's death. By the letter of April 22, censorship has been lifted and he has been moved to a combat area where he relates his experiences going into a Japanese cave where much modern medical equipment has been stored.

Letters from Effie Hopewell
Eight letters and one postcard from Effie Hopewell, Capt. Edward T. Hopewell's wife, are to Mrs. H.T. Hopewell and her daughter Ruth in Strasburg, Virginia The letters span the years from August, 1942 to January, 1945 and primarily describe her activities as a nurse serving in Managua, Nicaragua. During this time, she studies Spanish and takes many nursing classes to prepare to teach. Her first letter August 19, 1942, gives an interesting description of her trip from Mexico through Guatemala, where she visits many Indian villages, through San Salvador and on to Managua. Her last letter of January 2, 1945, tells of her return to her home of Augusta, Ga., where she plans to then go on to Strasburg to prepare for her husband's return.

Letters of Tilden and Billie
1940-1942--In sixteen letters, Tilden and Billie describe life in Alaska, where he is an engineer for the Civil Aeronautics Administration. In the letters of November, 1940, Til tells of his trip to Alaska by both train and ship. He sails from Seattle, arrives at Seward, and travels to Anchorage, where he travels back and forth from one to the other during his service. He describes the beauty of Alaska, which he calls "America's last frontier," and the variations in the weather. He goes in greater detail in a March 2, 1941 letter, where he tells of a trip to the Interior on a plane equipped with skis where the weather reached 36 degrees below zero. He saw a herd of buffalo, helped lay out a defense airfield and radio station 13 miles south of Big Delta, and visited an Indian village (Nabesna Village) near the Canadian border, where soil tests were made to see if the site was feasible for a landing site. While there, he was a guest of the Chief, and participated in an Indian dance. He makes arrangements for Billie to fly to Alaska to join him (Mar 16, 1941), and on Aug 15, 1941 describes their living arrangements in a 1-room log house in Big Delta, where an "airport is springing out of the wilderness." On May 12, 1942, Billie tells "Mother Hopewell" they now are living in a 14 by 20 foot hut in Gulkana, which is humming with International Highway, railroad, bridge and airport construction underway. She is the only woman in camp. June letters of 1942 from Til and Billie tell of a bombing at Dutch Harbor 1,100 miles away from their camp and mention that letter censorship has begun. On Aug 23, 1942, Til writes he has bought a rifle and plans to shoot moose. The couple now are living in Big Delta in a regular house.

February-May 1943--eleven letters in which Til writes to his mother from Seattle, where he has been positioned from Alaska before going to Vancouver, B.C., where he has been assigned to duty with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He spends two months in Vancouver on a survey team before he goes to Seattle in preparation for a return to Anchorage, Alaska as an assistant chief of construction section, with a budget of 15 million.

June-December 1943--twelve letters from Tilden (one from Billie) mostly to Mother and Ruth. Til's letters primarily are from Anchorage, Alaska, where he has taken up flying and is looking for and has successfully found housing so Billie can return after an absence of eight months. On September 30, he describes a hunting trip to Farewell, Alaska, where he killed a 600-pound grizzly bear, a 100 pound mountain sheep, and a 1200 pound moose. He also saw caribou and heard the howling of wolves. On October 5, he tells of cutting up the meat for freezer storage, pointing out that law prohibits selling moose meat, but it can be traded for other commodities. On October 24 he tells more about shooting the grizzly. On November 9, Billie writes Mrs. Hopewell describing her long trip to Alaska by train and boat.

1944--twelve letters and one card are from Tildon and Billie to Mrs. Hopewell, and one is from Billie to "Aunt Lizzie." All but two are from Anchorage, Alaska and describe the couple's day to day life there, including their work, problems with starting flower gardens, variations in Alaskan ivory and a 1500-mile trip Tilden takes through Alaska (including Farewell, McGrath, Unalakleet, Moses Point, Nome, Kotzebue, Aniak[chak?], Bethel and Iliamna . On November 3, Til writes from New York City where he has been transferred and where the couple have set up housekeeping in Jackson Heights on Long Island.

1945-1946--Eight letters to Mrs. Hopewell from Til and Billie tell of their adjustment to New York City life, including "meatless Tuesdays " decreed by Mayor LaGuardia (January 12), of Til's business trips to Massachusetts and West Virginia, of their personal visits to Billie's mother in Washington, D.C., and Til's visit with his own mother in Strasburg, Virginia In 1946, Til is transferred to work in Torreon, Coachuila, Mexico, and his letters from there and from San Luis Potosi tell of the climate, the difficulties encountered with working conditions and employees, and life on the plazas. He mentions (May 28, from Torreon, Coachuila), that he is pleased Effie and Ed, who are reunited in this country, have named their baby son after him, and goes on to discuss politics by saying "John L. Lewis has gotten this country in a mess."

Letters to Rose and Ruth Hopewell from Friends and Family
Thirteen letters are from friends and relatives --one from late 1942, and the rest from 1943. Most discuss family matters, although two to Ruth--8-13-43 and 8-29-43--are from her friend Pete Preston, who is in training in Air Force Officer Candidate School in Miami, Fla., and describes some of his experiences there. A letter Sep 2, 1943, to Rose from Capt. Robert Jerles describes Edward Hopewell's participation in the Battle of Guadalcanal where, he writes, "your son did a magnificent job." On Nov 13, 1943, Rose's sister May writes from Roanoke describing a trip she took to Marianna, Georgia to visit her son in service and his living conditions on the base. In an undated letter to Rose from Roanoke, May tells of a visit home at the same time by four servicemen, all of whom grew up together--her son Jack from Australia; one from Italy, another from England, and another from North Africa.

Miscellaneous Letters
There are three miscellaneous letters, two in 1934 which deal with a problem involving $5.48 which a neighbor is attempting to collect from the estate of Dr. E.T. Hopewell (father of Edward) for damage to window panes and draperies in his house by Edward when he was practicing casting a fishing line.

Postcards and Telegrams
One telegram is from Edward Hopewell on his Mother's birthday. Six postcards, mainly to Rose, are from traveling friends and relatives, all from locales in the southeast United States. There also in this folder is a booklet for "Mendenhall's Chill and Fever Tonic."

Arrangement

These letters are arranged chronologically.