PBA Galleries

Includes, among other items:

• Approximately 150 letters from Jack Lewey to Helen Lenz, most handwritten, some typed, most with envelopes - some are V-Mail or Western Union telegrams.
• Approximately 100 snapshot photographs, either sent by Lewey to Lenz, or retained copies of photos evidently sent by Lenz to Lewey, plus two large professional portrait photos, colorized; one of Jack and one of Helen.
• Three annotated calendars kept by Lenz, chronicling the relationship between Lenz and Lewey.
• Various mementos of their romance, including tickets, menus, etc., and a Voice-O-Graph Recording Disc of Helen singing and speaking briefly.
• A few military items such as Lewey's dog tag, uniform patches, etc.

Significant archive of letters from a seaman who served aboard an LST (Landing Ship-Tank) during the Normandy invasion and other actions. The collection was preserved over many decades by Helen Lenz, who had a whirlwind romance with Jack Lewey beginning in October 1943, and ending in November of 1947, when the correspondence ceased - apparently Lewey's efforts to adjust to civilian life posed insurmountable challenges to their future together. Lenz was to marry someone else the following year. Besides a two-page summary and overview of the collection, the archive is also accompanied by a 32-page "interpretive supplement" compiled by the consignor (the daughter of Helen Lenz) with an in-depth description of the archive, and historical context. This is available in digital format.

Personal Correspondence: 150+ letters dated Jan 1944 - Nov 1947

• Condition: most good or very good; stored for decades in box in dark, dry closet; not musty or stained; stamps retain color
• Most letters hand-written in ink, 2-sided; some typed; all readable
• Original envelopes (some torn or bent), addressed, stamped or marked “Free,” with cancellation mark 
• Some V-Mail and Western Union telegrams 
• Written by US Coast Guard Reserve Seaman (later Radar Man) Cyril Laverne "Jack" Lewey  (college graduate, mid-20s) of Louisville, KY, during and after his military service
• Sent to his girlfriend, Helen Lenz (clerical worker, early 20s) of Richmond Hill, NY 
• Both parties now deceased
• Long letters focused both on daily life of a sailor and his relationship with Helen, offering insight into the effects of war on a young man’s personality and plans: descriptions of training for service on a landing ship in Norfolk, VA; episode depicting racial divide between white and black sailors; life aboard ship headed to Normandy; attempt to evade censors with coded content; mental toll of life in a war zone; details of life when ship was ported in Southampton, England, including descriptions of experiences on liberty in London and environs; detailed description of VE Day; return to America; experiences when stationed in Rhode Island, including affects of boredom and alcohol on all crew; difficulty transitioning to civilian life in Kentucky, e.g., finding employment and relating to family and acquaintances; two quirks of fate that probably led to the demise of his relationship with Helen.

• Most depict Jack alone, with Helen, or with his family in Louisville prior to entering service and before departure for European Theater of Operation; some depict Jack with other sailors during training in St. Augustine, FL.
• Some are duplicates Helen made at the time of photos of herself that she sent Jack in response to his requests.
• Condition: generally good to very good; not cropped; just a few have fold marks; many with readable notes on back
• Also included: two professional portrait photos, colorized; one of Jack and one of Helen

• Created by Helen, starting at the beginning of her relationship with Jack (condition good; cramped but mostly readable entries with some fountain pen blotches) 
• Transcription of entries and clarifying information provided - see “Notes” on page 2
• Helen’s notes indicate a) when and where the couple saw each other, b) the number of letters written and received on a given day, c) the photos, clippings, cookies, and cakes she shipped to Jack, and d) events in her daily life. 
• Though these calendars end in 1945, Helen and Jack’s correspondence continued through Nov 1947 when his efforts to adjust to civilian life posed some surprising and ultimately insurmountable challenges to their future together.

• From the period of Jack and Helen's whirlwind NYC romance (Oct 1943 - early 1944) prior to his departure on a landing ship delivering tanks and equipment for the Normandy Invasion
• Numerous ticket stubs, menus, dried corsage, Lucky Strike package, drinking straw in paper wrapper from Longchamps Restaurant, theater program (mostly poor or fair condition)
• Helen's War Emergency Identification Card issued by the City of New York (kept in wallet; signs of heavy wear but readable)
• Voice-O-Graph Recording Disc of Helen singing and speaking briefly, believed to have been made with Jack on a liberty visit; very good condition; discs plays and has been tested

• Jack's dog tag and chain (heavily tarnished)
• Decoration bar with two battle stars received for service on LST-262 (show signs of wear)
• Uniform patches (good condition): one with two stripes; one for the Amphibians (his group); one believed to relate to his promotion to Radar Man 

• Dec 1943 All Hands Magazine for the USCG-Third Naval District, 16 pages, with Jack's signature on cover (in tact but fold marks evident)
• US Coast Guard Magazine - Vol 17, Number 1, Nov 1943 (in tact but fold marks evident)
• Several pages from an unknown photo magazine saved by Helen because it covers the activities of an LST, offering insight into Jack's experience in Europe (poor condition)
• Clippings (browned paper; readable): a) on weekly dances at the Arcadia Hotel in NYC, where Jack and Helen met; b) on the Coast Guard Academy, which Jack hoped to attend

• Highlights from each of Jack's letters
• Transcription of Helen's calendar entries, cross-referenced with the mementos she saved
• Jack’s bio (researched in 2017)
• Brief Lewey family history (researched in 2017)