I read the subreddit rules and this seemed like the best place to post this.
I have recently acquired what I think are authentic letters (including an envelope) from 1917. The issue is I cannot read the cursive as I unfortunately never learned how.
Here are the Letters in question, including an envelope, a letter that seems to have been sent by or from a YMCA, and a 2 page letter dating December 31, 1917.
The important thing is I would like to know he context of the letter, whether they be love letters, letters to family, short reports, or some other type of document.
From what I can tell the two letters seem to be sent from different people due to the different qualities in writing, but I cannot be sure.
If this post does not seem to fit this subreddit, I would appreciate being pointed in the right direction. Thank you!
Hi, the transcription of the images is as follows:
Image 1 (envelope):
Jennie [?Ramsden]
748 atwell st [I'm not familiar with the US postal system so I don't know if there's any significance in the first character on this line]
Pittsburgh
Pa.
Image 2 (letter one):
Camp [?Luthus] Vail
Dear Anna, Beth and Virginia:
this is from your big brother
Tom who is now a soldier boy.
I am feeling fine and wish you
all the same. I have lots to eat
and plenty of water so I won't
have to [?etial] [?Jenny's] every meal
I will send you some pictures
in about a week, and maybe
a few other little things. Write
and let me know how you
all are and don't forget [your/yore]
big loving brother, I still
love you all as much as
ever and hope you all
love me,
your big brother
Tommy
P.S. Tell the [presumably pa]rent I will write latter
Image 3 (letter two):
Dec 31, 17
Dear Jennie
I reaved your letter
and was glad to
see that all is well
and tom is working
every night after school
Well I see that
Santa Claus was
good to all of [Jowine?]
Well Louis [?Frigy] and
the cat are they still
living yet. Does George
Beamer come over
yet. Tell him to write
I wrote to him and he
did not answer me
Well did Not join the
army yet. Are you
Image 4 (letter 2 part 2)
having good sled
riding there. How is
Jessie and [went/wert] getting
along now. We are still
[?jend] up yet. We arnt
aloud out. Tell dick
to write anyway. I cant
write nether. Well we
are going to sine the
pay roll today. and
monk and Dicke get
there ford yet. Well
I will close now
From James Madine
write soon
I'm not overly familiar with cursive but I do have some transcription experience. There's a few place and person names I'm not sure about and a few slang terms. If anyone more experienced at reading this wants to contribute then feel free to correct me.
As you correctly guessed, these are letters from two different people, 'Tommy', who is at [possibly] Camp Luthus Vail and writing to his sisters, and James Madine, to whom the envelope belongs and who is from Pittsburgh and is writing to Jennie Ramsden. Madine makes multiple spelling errors which would imply he is less educated than Tommy.
Are these letters from a family member or did you just happen to find them?