Lynn Richardson Pitcher Papers
Scope and Contents
The collection mainly consists of correspondence written by Lynn Richardson Pitcher to his mother containing details about personal life and military action. The letters are often addressed "Dearest Mom" but include other family members as well. Original envelopes are present. The letters were handwritten in pencil and also include a few Western Union telegrams.
Several letters have been transcribed via typewriter. A few related documents are present, notably correspondence regarding Pitcher's death, military honors, burial, and histories of his unit. These latter types of documents are present in the form of photocopies while the letters are original.
Dates
- 1943-1945
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Curator of Manuscripts.
Biographical / Historical
Lynn Richardson Pitcher was born in Charleston, West Virginia on October 1, 1923. His parents were Albert Merritt Pitcher (1889-1960) and Frances McPherson (Richardson) Pitcher (1892-1971). He had two siblings, Albert Merritt Pitcher Jr., who went by Jack and served in the Navy during World War II; and Alice Dennis Pitcher (1926-2014, later Dibble).
In 1942, at the age of 18, Lynn registered for the draft and served in the Army infantry. He held the role of platoon runner, responsible for transporting messages to and from headquarters. On March 29, 1945, he was reported missing in action in the Rutland Daily Herald. According to military and cemetery records, he died on February 18, 1945 at the age of 21 in Saarlautern, Germany. He was buried in the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial in Hamm, a portion of Luxembourg City. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star in October 1945.
Note that Pitcher's older brother Albert Jr. had a daughter Lynn Richardson Pitcher (later Tracy) who was born in 1958 and should not be confused with this Lynn Richardson Pitcher.
Extent
0.6 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Collection consists of letters home from the European Theater of World War II to Londonderry, Vermont, by Lynn R. Pitcher.
Physical Location
Library Research Annex; contact uvmsc@uvm.edu for access.
Bibliography
- Frost, Josephine C. The Frost genealogy: descendants of William Frost of Oyster Bay, New York. New York, New York, 1912.
- Title
- Guide to the Lynn Richardson Pitcher Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Date
- 2018 July
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the University of Vermont Libraries, Special Collections Repository
Silver Special Collections Library
48 University Place, Room B201
Burlington Vermont 05405 U.S.A. US
(802) 656-2138
(802) 656-4038 (Fax)
uvmsc@uvm.edu
