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By Kyle Beeler
Collection Overview
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Robert Earl Lanter enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and much of this collection consists of correspondence with friends and family during his service in World War II in the Pacific Theater. Besides the war correspondence there are also letters to various women he dated, materials relating to his and his father's business, and documentation of his final years in a nursing home and his death and estate settlement.
Biographical Note
Robert Lanter was born in Richmond, KY and traveled to various locations throughout his life. While a teenager, he and his family moved to DeLand, FL, but they later moved back to Richmond at which point Robert enlisted in the United States Navy. He served on a patrol craft in the Pacific theater near the end of the war, and he continued to work for military companies after his discharge. He and his father also operated their own automotive repair business for nearly 20 years in Richmond. He was an avid collector of rare coins and weapons, and he also enjoyed photography and developing his own photos along with metal detecting.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives
Acquisition Source:
Lanter, Robert E. via William C. Adams
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
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Box 2],
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Box 3],
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Box 4],
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- Box 1
- Barcode: 31234014046351
- Folder 1: Lou Ann Lanter to Robert Lanter, 1943-1960
- Most of these letters were written to Robert while he was in the Navy during World War II. His mother wrote to him while he was in training and deployed, and she mostly updated him on what was happening within the family and community. There are a few outlying letters that were written later in time, and they serve the same purpose of keeping Robert updated while absent from Richmond.
- Folder 2: Preston Lanter to Robert Lanter, 1943
- This is a single letter written from father to son a week after Robert left for Naval training. Preston asked a lot of questions in the letter about how Robert's arrival at training was and things about the military. He also tells Robert a little about what had been happening locally since he left.
- Folder 3: Barbara Lanter to Robert Lanter, 1943-1980
- These are letters to Robert from his sister. She wrote to him a few times while he was training for military service, and the letters served to update him on what he was missing in Richmond. There is also a single letter written in 1980.
- Folder 4: Shirley Jean Webb to Bob Lanter, 1958-1959
- These letters were written to Bob by one of his girlfriends who lived and went to school in Richmond. Most of the correspondence had the purpose of informing Bob about her day-to-day activities.
- Folder 5: Shirley Jean Webb to Bob Lanter, 1959
- As with the other folder, these letters are general correspondence to Bob from his girlfriend in Richmond. The final letters talk about a possible medical problem, and then the letters cease.
- Folder 6: Vicki Clopton to Bob Lanter, 1968-1992
- These are letters from a friend of Robert that moved to Florida. Some of the letters contained pictures which are filed with the other photographs.
- Folder 7: Thomas Pollock to Robert Lanter, 1993-1994
- These letters were written by an old ship mate of Robert's from the War. Mr. Pollock undertook the task of updating contact information of the PC-479 crew to facilitate contact between old friends. Some of the letters also discuss reunion information.
- Folder 8: Correspondence to Robert Lanter, 1943-1994
- This is a folder of general correspondence to Robert Lanter from a variety of people. The letters also cover a wide range of topics including WWII and business.
- Folder 9: Post/Greeting Cards to Robert Lanter, 1943-1998
- This is a collection of cards that were sent to Robert over many years. The majority are from the 1940s when Robert was away for the War.
- Folder 10: Robert Lanter to Lou Ann Lanter (Mother), 1943-1946
- These letters from Robert inform his mother about his activities in the US Navy while at training and abroad. He also answers many questions that were asked of him in prior letters from his mother and family.
- Folder 11: Robert Lanter to Lou Ann Lanter (Mother), 1946-1958
- The majority of these letters were written while Robert was in process of being released from the Navy. There are few others from later in time when Robert was abroad working various jobs.
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
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Box 2],
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Box 3],
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Box 4],
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