Margaret Shelton Gillis papers

The Margaret Shelton Gillis papers (1936-1975; 0.9 cubic feet) document the education and personal life of Virginia teacher Margaret Gillis. The collection contains school ephemera and letters, the former including handwritten notes from high school, newspapers, programs from various events, tests, student photographs, a Westhampton College handbook, printed cards, invitations, and broadsides.

Of particular note within the collection are letters from... two soldiers during WWII. There are 61 letters from William P. Shelton of Richmond, Virginia, dating from 1942-1946. Shelton was an officer in the army during WWII, and a cousin of Margaret's, serving in England and France as a Military Police Officer and rising to the rank of Captain. Sixteen of the letters are sent from bases in the U.S. while completing his training, including MacDill Field in Tampa, Camp Lee in Virginia, Ordnance Automotive School, Omaha, and Camp Barkeley, Texas. Forty-five of his letters are sent from England, France, and Germany. Most of his letters contain war news including small details about his particular movements or duties, and the "news" he is reading overseas.

There are 21 letters from Ralph A. Strang, dating from 1943-1971. Margaret first met Strang at a dance at Camp A.P. Hill in May 1943. Ralph would be deployed to French North Africa only days after meeting Margaret. They communicated off and on for the next 30 years, as documented here. The final four letters from Ralph Strang are addressed to Mrs. Richard Gillis.

Finally there are 38 letters to Margaret from others, family and friends, dated 1937-1945.