Harold R. Carter papers

The papers of Harold R. Carter consist primarily of correspondence to his fiancé, later his wife, Sara Campbell of Rock Hill and Spartanburg, South Carolina. His letters are filled with longing for her and for a swift end of the war so that he can come home. She visited him in Arkansas in March 1942 and they eloped. While stationed overseas in North Africa and Italy, he makes few comments about his surroundings or where he is located. He remarked in a letter of 4 March 1944 that “We were given a royal treat the other night. We had an honest – to – goodness coca cola and a hamburger served to us – no kidding…the coke really set things off. After not drinking one for nineteen months it really did taste good.” Carter’s letter of 7 May 1945 tells of the surrender of Germany, “Flash!! The news of the surrender just came through so I guess that winds up the fireworks over here.” He returned to the United States in September 1945. Realia includes floral china dinnerware and a “Do Not Disturb” sign from the McGehee Hotel in Little Rock, Arkansas where the Carters spent their honeymoon.