Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, discussing his options of where and when to leave his Navy post and the post-war changes being made to the island. Enclosed is a letter from Robert F. Knoth to Sidney Legendre regarding the possibilities and profit of the timbering of Medway Plantation.
Letter from Gertrude Legendre to her husband, Sidney Legendre, regarding her job in the Office of Strategic Services (O.S.S.) taking her to England and all the preparations she was making for the plantation and their children.
Letter from Gertrude Legendre to her husband, Sidney Legendre, regarding a pair of earrings she recently bought at Cartier and her disappointment at already losing one down a subway vent.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, responding to the accusations she made in her last letter about him withholding information about their social activities on the island, that they had purchased a house, and that he was not writing to her “APO number.”
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, describing a quarantine as a result of an outbreak of Dengue fever, an incident where a plane flew into a bus of people, and an afternoon he spent playing tennis with a friend. Sidney continues in his letter to discuss what soldiers will do after the war. [Copy]
Photograph of members of the Italian para-military group, Opera Nazionale Balilla, with drums. In the background is a statue of a member of the Opera Nazionale Balilla. Captioned: “Deccenial Opera Balilla. The monument was opened to the Balilla from the Duce al Foro Mussolini.”
Photograph of the Villa Carpeneto, “La Loggia” in Torino, Italy. Captioned: “La Loggia – Castello Carpeneto Prop. Conte Theo Rossi di Montelera – Monumento Nazionale”
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, describing the family who sat across from him at a luau, expressing his concern for her safety in London, England with all the bombings, and discussing plans for their children. He continues to explain his lack of leave to Gertrude and lament that he does not know when he will next be able to return to the mainland.
Letter from Gertrude Legendre to her husband, Sidney Legendre, regarding her plans and meetings with various officials in her attempt to join Sidney in Hawaii.
Letter from Gertrude Legendre to her husband, Sidney Legendre, regarding her social life, plans for the children to stay with his sister-in-law, Olive, for the winter, and her war job.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, describing what he now looks like and trying to dissuade Gertrude of her ideals on how he looks. Sidney continues in his letter to discuss the war and Gertrude’s trip to their friend Polly’s.
Letter from Gertrude Legendre to her husband, Sidney Legendre, regarding how unhappy she is to be separated from him and apologizing for being irrational. Gertrude continues to discuss the business and troubles in managing Medway Plantation’s affairs.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his brother, Armant Legendre, describing the business affairs and successes of his Drink-O-Mat Corporation holdings in South Carolina and North Carolina.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, describing a book he had recently read and arguing multiple points as to why they should sell Medway Plantation after the war. This letter is a copy sent to New York.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Sanford Legendre, responding to what she had said in her last letter, his activities in Hawaii, describing his job, and expressing how much he misses her.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Sanford Legendre, regarding her escape from internment as a prisoner of war in Europe. Sidney continues in his letter to express his continued love of the island and a scheme to possibly join him in Hawaii. He also recounts a story of a softball game he and Morris participated in at a picnic with men from their section.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Sanford Legendre, thanking her for the flowers she sent, discussing business affairs and plans for the children, and informing her of his social activities.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, advising her to sell Medway Plantation if she can, describing the apartment house he and Morris purchased in Hawaii, and discussing the possibility of them living in Hawaii after the war. Sidney continues in his letter to tell her of a friend from New Orleans coming to visit and their social activities.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, regarding a friend of his coming to visit and delivering news of the war atmosphere in the continental United States. Sidney continues in his letter to describe a day off he spent playing tennis and strolling around the island.
Photograph of Mario Pansa and unidentified persons resting on the banks of a body of water. Captioned: “Dear Mario , I am sending you the two very bad photos I took of you - I had such a lovely time in Denmark [and] it was a joy to see you - Take care of yourself. Love Jo.“
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, describing the events of his previous evening and his birthday, when they visited a new club on the beach and went swimming. Sidney continues in his letter to recount a story of them playing tennis with some friends, a ship that was recently sunk, and the new rules of the Bachelor Officers’ Quarters (BOQ) that prevented them from having supper that evening.
Letter from Gertrude Legendre to her husband, Sidney Legendre, regarding how much she dislikes Washington, news of friends and family, and telling a story of Miss Evans fetching a ham from a friends house with the use of a baby carriage.
Letter from Gertrude Legendre to her husband, Sidney Legendre, regarding a sunburn she got by laying on the beach too long with a friend, relaying news of friends, and expressing her raptures over the play “Oklahoma.”
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, regarding the consequences for those naval officers who have attempted to have their dependents join them in Hawaii, dissuading her of her ideal of him as a surfing, hula dancing, guitar playing man of the islands, and describing how he and Morris spend the majority of their days. Sidney continues in his letter to describe how their office is emptying of officers and illustrate how purple hearts are distributed. This letter is a copy; the original was sent to Watch Hill, Rhode Island.
Letter from Gertrude Legendre to her husband, Sidney Legendre, regarding her last days at her Washington job, her time at Watch Hill, and what she expects from life in London, England. Gertrude goes on to describe time she’s spending with their children at the beach before her departure from the United States.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, joking about how she is stuck in the rain as atonement for her sins, relaying his issues on getting a clear answer as to whether or not he will have leave soon, and explaining why he can not get out of the Navy until the war is over. Sidney continues in his letter to discuss her social activities and describe Hawaii.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, regarding a conversation he and Morris had with their real estate agent about a property and explaining the restrictions placed on the districts of Hawaii.
Photograph of Galeazzo Ciano speaking with an unidentified member of the National Socialist Motor Corps. Photographs taken by the “official photographer, Schmidtbauer,” a member of the “NSKK Bildbericht Sonderstaffel W,” a photography group incorporated within the National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK).
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, describing his day spent playing tennis with friends and his social activities on the island. [Copy]
Letter from Gertrude Legendre to her husband, Sidney Legendre, describing her social life, a dinner party she attended, how unfair it is that women’s roles in the war are being limited, and discussing the last letter she had from him.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, advising her to rent the same cottage in Watch Hill for the children the following summer, describing a day off he and Morris spent driving around the island and playing tennis at the Racquet Club. [Copy]
Letter from Gertrude Legendre to her husband, Sidney Legendre, regarding a baseball game to raise money for war bonds she had attended, her life in Washington, and the problem she is going to have replacing the typists in her office. Gertrude continues in her letter to discuss possibilities of joining Sidney in Hawaii if she takes a job in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACs) and the cottage at Watch Hill she has rented for the children’s summer.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, reminiscing on time they spent together at Medway and describing how he remembers her. Sidney continues in his letter to describe the difficulties the telephone company had with connecting their call and recounting the story of a doubles tennis tournament he and Morris played against an army team.
Letter from Gertrude Legendre to her husband, Sidney Legendre, regarding how the weather has effected agriculture and caused food shortages, her war job, a dinner party she is throwing, and discussing war news. Gertrude continues in her letter to inquire as to how he is going to spend his 40th birthday in Hawaii.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, regarding her recent renter for the apartment, expressing his satisfaction with eating soup, and recounting the events of his office that day.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, responding to the last letter he received from her, stating that Hawaii should be where they spend their lives after the war, and describing the meals at the Outrigger beach club. Sidney continues in his letter to lament the departure of his second tennis opponent and describe their current office layout.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, describing the “night blooming cereus” flower on the front of the card. Sidney continues in his letter to describe the upkeep of the apartment building he and Morris purchased, discussing the ideas of a man he was giving a ride, and lament the slow speed of the mail.
Letter from Gertrude Legendre to her husband, Sidney Legendre, regarding a Sunday she spent golfing in the English countryside with her friends, discussing his life in Hawaii and news of their friends. Gertrude continues in her letter to discuss the war and speculate its conclusion.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, addressing the allegations leveled against him in the last letter he had received from Gertrude. Sidney tells her that he was not trying to rush her off the phone, urges her to give up on her attempts to join him in Hawaii, as the Navy has figured out all the tricks and she would not be allowed, and stressing to her how much he does love and miss her.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, describing the monopoly on building houses in Hawaii, advising her to stick with her plans to go to England, and advising her to sell Medway Plantation if she had the opportunity. Sidney continues in his letter to detail a directive that was sent to all navy personnel regarding leave.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, complimenting her description of a baseball game she attended, advising her on legal matters to do with the government attempts to seize parts of Medway Plantation, and speculating what their lives will be after the war. Sidney continues in his letter to praise how efficient she has become and describe his life on the island.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, regarding the news he has heard of his sister and brother-in-law, Jane Sanford Pansa and Mario Pansa, discussing the business aspects of running Medway Plantation, and praising their family friend, Polly, for how generous she is to their family. This letter was written to Gertrude when she was a prisoner of war in Europe and was likely to have been received in the package that was given to her upon her escape and return to the continental United States.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his brother, Armant Legendre, describing a New Years Eve party he attended and the “crazy Christmas week” they had at Medway Plantation. Sidney continues in his letter to detail the extent of his worrying about Medway Plantation and recount a story he’d heard from a friend.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, regarding his departure for Hawaii, his trip, and a book he was reading. Sidney continues in his letter to discuss their relative, Fifi’s, plans for moving back to New Orleans after the death of her husband.
Letter from Gertrude Legendre to her husband, Sidney Legendre, regarding plans to go to India that have fallen through, her job in Washington, how much she misses Sidney, and her social life.
The first page of the letter from Gertrude Legendre to her husband, Sidney Legendre, is missing. Page two of the letter describes how cramped they are in the small house Gertrude has rented before the children leave for the cottage at Watch Hill. Gertrude goes on the tell Sidney of Landine’s displeasure with her decision to let “Mademoiselle” go and let “Miss Evans” handle both children for the summer. Gertrude also informs him of her travel plans.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, describing the “anthurium” flower on the front of the card and wishing her a Happy Christmas.
Letter from Gertrude Legendre to her husband, Sidney Legendre, relaying news of their friends and family and describing the climate of London, England.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, discussing their work, how she could possibly join them in Hawaii, and Morris’s work success. Sidney continues in his letter to reminisce on time they had spent with their beloved dog, Clippy, lament over how much coffee and Coca-cola the officers in his office drink, and describing their meals.
This album is comprised of photographs from the Legendre Indochina Expedition, including photos of Gertrude and Sidney Legendre and T. Donald Carter of the American Museum of Natural History. Photos show expedition members traveling throughout Indochina.
