I have a large stack of love letters from a young man and woman that he was in love with when he was in ww2 and serving. I have had them for 15 years. I saved them from a man who was going to toss them out in a flea market. I was a teenager then. I recently found them and started to read them. A couple even made me cry. I realize the historical value that can be brought out of the contextualization. I value any thoughts or ideas you can give me and hopefully can find a place for their history.
Your best bet would be getting in touch with a local historical society or history museum about donating them. Though they may not necessarily do anything publically with the letters for if the original recipient or a family member is not the donor (for privacy reasons), they may still archive them for future use.
Museum of World War 2 in Natick, Massachusetts. One of the largest private collections that deals primarily in written artifacts. http://museumofworldwarii.org
I would suggest talking to a library so they can put the letters in a special collection or properly preserve them.
You might also check with any museums in your area, perhaps someone there would be able to connect you with an organization that would want them.
Also might try to track down and get in touch with any family that may still be alive.
Should I make copies and post them on a blog?
Try contacting the veteran's history project at the library of congress to see if they are interested.
Here is the right answer. The National World War II Museum in New Orleans http://www.nationalww2museum.org Actively collect such documents as well as oral histories from vets. It is the official national WWII museum and they will soon builds library devoted to suck materials.
Could you post pictures of them by any chance? This really piqued my interest
I started an Imgur account. It will be updated as read and I scan them. Here is what I am starting with: http://imgur.com/a/7iBy3
Thank you for your responses. If it helps some came from west point ny as look at them. It feels like it could be movie or a book. I wish I could post pics for you folks to see.
One more question. When I do put them on imgur how do I send link you folks?
One of my friends did research specifically on Dear John letters during WWII. I'd be happy to direct you to her with these letters.
I don't know how. If you tell me, I'll do it. I looked at another letter and she had mutiple suiters.
Contact the ww2 museum in new Orleans. They have thousands of donated items from people who served. They could become part of an exhibit.
Update for everyone- I have found two places for them to go to. Thank you all for your time,kind gestures, and answers. I'll post where they end up!
Do a little research and try to find their families? I would imagine that's where they would be most appreciated.