Judy Barrett Litoff, professor of history at Bryant University and author of more than a dozen books, spoke to a group of about 40 people in the Barrington library auditorium Monday evening.
BARRINGTON — The letters told the story; words penned decades ago by the women who lived through the challenges of World War II. Some took an active part in the war effort at home or abroad, others coped with absent husbands or sweethearts, sons or fathers.
Judy Barrett Litoff, professor of history at Bryant University and author of more than a dozen books, spoke to a group of about 40 people in the Barrington library auditorium Monday evening.
The talk featured letters Ms. Litoff has collected from American women all across the country who wrote to loved ones during the war years. A slideshow of posters from that era that encouraged women to get involved in some aspect of the war effort accompanied the talk.
Women who lived through World War II worked in factories and on farms, shuttled planes to wherever they were needed, distributed coffee and donuts to the troops, and encouraged servicemen with letters from home.
Ms. Litoff read excerpts from some of these women, including words penned years ago from Marjorie La Palme, from Massachusetts. Her letter talked about the difficulties of dealing with the death of servicemen, destruction falling from the skies, as well as the camaraderie and quiet courage of women working together during the war.
“One thing is sure, we will never be the naive innocents we were,” Ms. La Palme wrote.
Following the presentation, one of the audience members, Bonnie Warren, offered her reaction: “This was very interesting, and the graphics were splendid.”
The event was sponsored by the Barrington Preservation Society.
Following the event, audience members were invited downstairs to view the preservation society museum’s exhibit ,which includes uniforms and other military related items, some dating back to the Revolutionary War. The exhibit is entitled “One of Our Own — Barrington Military 1776-1956.”
The society’s museum is located on the bottom floor of the Peck Center, downstairs from the library. The museum is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or by appointment: Call 289-0809 or e-mail museumdirector@barrpreservation.org for more information.
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