The McGowan Family papers consist of letters primarily between Ella McDonald McGowan and Donald "Kirk" McGowan, dating from 1933 to 1944. The letters were sent and received from various Oregon cities and towns, including Pendleton, Portland, Eugene, and La Grande. Kirk's letters to Ella during World War II were written from various Army installations in the United States including Fort Lewis and Camp Abbot, and illustrate the life of a soldier during that time. Letters from Ella to Kirk during the same period describe domestic life in La Grande, Oregon.
The collection is open to the public.
McGowan Family papers, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123.
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Materials donated by Mary McGowan Sondertrom, DATE?
The Thompson Family papers also contain correspondence between family members during World War II.
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