NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Highlights from a trove of more than 200 love letters exchanged between William Raymond Whittaker and Jane Dean during World War II are now available for digital viewing through the Nashville Public Library. These letters offer a heartfelt glimpse into their relationship during wartime.

The letters were discovered in a Nashville residence that belonged to Jane and her siblings, later donated to the Metro Nashville Archives in 2016. Whittaker, known as Ray, moved to Nashville from New Rochelle, New York, to study at Meharry Medical College, where he first met Jane.

After losing touch, Ray was drafted into the Army in 1942 and reached out to Jane, who was working at Vanderbilt University. In her reply, she expressed both delight and concern: It sure was a pleasant and sad surprise to hear from you, reflecting the uncertainty of wartime life.

A ‘pleasant and sad surprise’

While Ray's first letter is missing, Jane's response illustrates their close bond. She hints at their shared acquaintances’ marriages and encourages further correspondence, closing with, Lovingly Jane. Archivist Kelley Sirko noted the letters convey an intimate view of two ordinary individuals navigating a tumultuous period.

A story told in letters

The letters highlight not only the couple's romance but also societal issues of the era. Nashville archivists have been unable to locate any living relatives, making the letters their primary source of information on Ray and Jane's lives; they reportedly never had children.

The collection includes photographs and Ray's patch from the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, providing a richer context to their story.

Love and doubts

As Ray's deployment progressed, so did their relationship. By September 1942, he hinted at marriage in an undated letter: I might even ask you to marry me. One never knows. Jane responded skeptically, questioning whether his affections stemmed from loneliness.

Ray reassured her of his feelings, expressing that distance had led him to date others but ultimately find no companionship that matched what he shared with Jane.

A ‘darling husband’

The couple married on November 7 in Birmingham. In a letter just days later, Jane exuberantly referred to Ray as her darling husband while lamenting their separation. Expressing her deep love, she wrote, Darling, you’ll never know how much I love you. Her wishes for a swift end to the war encapsulated their hope for a future together.