Sincerely, Joel C. Swisher

Dear Folks, I got thy(1)Despite addressing this letter to “Dear Folks”, Joel mixes the Quaker “thee” and “thy”, as if writing to one person, with plural “you” and “your”. letter of Nov. 20 and Aunt…

Dear Aunt Mary, Thy letter of Oct 28 reached me yesterday and I shall endeavor to answer some of thy questions. I hope by this time you folks know I am safe. Do not worry…

Dear Folks, I wrote to you while on the boat but there is always a possibility of mail not getting to its destination so will write to you again while I have plenty of time…

Dear Folks, I wrote to you about a week ago but have plenty of time today so will write a little. We had a splendid dinner today. Turkey, asparagus, sweet potatoes, peas, bread and butter,…

Dear Folks, I wrote you a letter while we were on our way but put it in the mailbox before we came into port. I am writing this to let you know we have gotten…

Dear Soldier Cousin— Wie gehts? Und wo bist-du? Nach Deutschland?(1)How are you? And where are you? To Germany? We are all wondering since we have not heard from thee(2)Edith uses “thee” in the tradition of…

Dear Folks, As I have lots of time now and may not have after a while I will write now. We have been on this boat for about 12 days and may be on it…

Dear Folks, Before you get this I expect you will be wondering where I am. I will mail this as soon as we get to the other side and it will come back in this…

[Postcard image not available. Caption: The Drafted Men, Camp Devens, Ayer Mass] Posted Oct 29 1917, Fitchburg, Mass. This is the way they come in here. This is the draft army cantonment for the New…

  Dear Helen, Your letter reached me about a week ago. It had been forwarded to Ft. Slocum but got there after I left and they held my mail down there sometime before they forwarded…