"It was the story of the war itself", wrote Nancy Thompson in the scrapbook she assembled of letters from Newark State Teachers College students serving in World War II. Turn the page to share in their experiences.

When the United States entered World War II, Newark State Teacher’s College librarian Nancy Thompson led a campus-wide effort to write to NSTC students serving the war effort. Many wrote back. Thompson and colleagues then shared the contents of their letters in “The Serviceman’s News,” that they distributed to NSTC students all over the world. Thompson preserved over 800 letters which are now available on this website. We invite you to experience the impact of World War II on young Americans by reading their letters and mapping their movement around the United States and the world.