history
Love letters between WWII soldier, future wife found in Nashville home: 'Something very important to tell you'
Updated on: February 11, 2026 / 7:11 AM EST / CBS/AP
TL;DR
- Over 200 love letters between William Raymond Whittaker and Jane Dean during WWII are now digitally available through the Nashville Public Library.
- The letters were discovered in a Nashville home and donated to the Metro Nashville Archives in 2016.
- Ray Whittaker, a student at Meharry Medical College, met Jane Dean, also a student there, in Nashville.
- After being drafted into the Army, Ray reconnected with Jane, leading to their correspondence.
- The letters document their growing romance, Ray's military service, and his proposal to Jane.
- Ray and Jane were married on November 7th, and the letters express their deep love and the challenges of being apart due to the war.
- The collection provides insights into the lives of African Americans during WWII, including racial issues and the experiences of soldiers.