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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:
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Box 1],
[Box 2],
[
Box 3],
[
Box 4],
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All]
- Box 2
- Barcode: 31234014046625
- Folder 1: Robert Lanter to Preston Lanter (Father), 1944-1960
- The majority of the letters in this folder were written while Robert was still in the Navy. Others were written while Robert was abroad working various jobs.
- Folder 2: Robert Lanter to Barbara Lanter (Sister), 1945-1946
- These letters were written while Robert was deployed during WWII in the Navy. He writes to his sister informing her of where he had been during the War, and he describes what the people of the world were like to him.
- Folder 3: Robert Lanter to Barbara Lanter (Grandmother), 1944
- This letter informed his grandmother about how arrival to Navy training was.
- Folder 4: Correspondence to Lou Ann Parks/Lanter, 1920-1957
- This is general correspondence that was written to Lou Ann by relatives and friends.
- Folder 5: Lou Ann Lanter to Preston Lanter, 1942
- This letter was written while Lou Ann's husband, Preston, was away at work.
- Folder 6: Wedding Notices/Invitations, 1975
- This folder contains wedding-related documents pertaining to a variety of people.
- Folder 7: Post/Greeting Cards, 1908-1959
- Most of these are to Lou Ann Lanter and Preston Lanter. Others are addressed to their family in general.
- Folder 8: Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1943-2007
- These letters are general correspondence between various people. Some of the letters had no indicated receiver, therefore they were placed in this folder.
- Folder 9: Business Cards
- These are business cards collected by Robert Lanter as he traveled and conducted business. Some of the cards may have belonged to Preston Lanter, but that is not clear.
- Folder 10: Membership Cards, 1943-1989
- The membership cards within the folder were accrued by Robert for participation in various organizations like the Kentucky Colonels.
- Folder 11: Money Collection Files, 1974-1988
- Robert had an extensive collection of coin and paper money from around the world. Most of these files are inventories of his collection, and some are files related to money collecting.
- Folder 12: Theft Records, 1985-1992
- Robert was victim to a theft in 1985, and many of his prized possessions including money and weapons were stolen from him. This folder contains a list of the stolen property and other documents related to the reacquisition of the stolen goods.
- Folder 13: Religious Material, 1942-1976
- Many of these documents were sent to Robert Lanter while away serving in the Navy. His mother sent a few church bulletins from home to him, and he collected a few while he was moving around the country.
- Folder 14: PCSA/Naval Documents, 1944-1995
- These are mostly documents related to the Patrol Craft Sailor's Association (PCSA) which Robert's old shipmate was very active in promoting and organizing. It includes a listing of PC-479 sailors, a record of all activity of PC-479, and newsletters from PCSA reunions.
- Folder 15: Newspaper Articles, 1946-1976
- These are articles clipped out of various newspapers, but the most prominent source is the Richmond Register. There are articles on local people and events.
- Folder 16: Genealogy Files
- Most of these notes were compiled by Robert Lanter concerning Park family history. There are also documents related to the Bogie family, but it is not clear who collected the information.
- Folder 17: Lanter Motor Company Files, 1978-1979
- Includes an inventory listing for the business, a receipt for service, contractual documents related to the sale of the business, and a letter advertising the company which was apparently circulated through the community.
- Folder 18: Nursing Home Documents, 1999-2004
- Documents related to Robert's stay at a local nursing home after becoming chronically ill.
- Folder 19: VA Benefits Documents, 2000-2005
- Documents related to Robert's earned benefits from service in the Navy during WWII.
- Folder 20: Medicaid Documents, 2004
- Files associated with Robert's Medicaid including his card and a facts sheet concerning Medicaid.
- Folder 21: Financial Documents, 1944-2005
- Includes pay-stubs of Preston Lanter from the Blue Grass Depot, earning statements of Robert Lanter, and account booklets for Robert.
- Folder 22: Land Documents, 1924-2005
- Most of the files within the folder are deeds for various plots of land. Some were acquired by Robert, and some of them were acquired by his parents. It also includes documents related to the sale of land.
- Folder 23: Burial Plot Records, 1959-1979
- These files pertain to the Lanter family plots in Madison Memorial Gardens.
- Folder 24: Robert Lanter Death Certificate, 2005
- The death certificate for Robert Lanter.
- Folder 25: Death Notices, 1892-1998
- Contains death notice material for friends and family of the Parks and Lanters. Also included are very old death cards which are protected in plastic sleeves.
- Folder 26: Funeral Documents, 1999
- These documents are related to preparations made by Robert Lanter for after his passing regarding funeral services with Turpin Funeral Home.
- Folder 27: Inheritance/Will Files, 1977-2007
- These documents include the wills of Preston and Robert Lanter as well as documents related to the disbursal of estates.
- Folder 28: Personal Estate Auction Files, 2005
- These files pertain to the auction of Robert Lanter's personal property immediately before his death.
- Folder 29: Ephemera, 1902-1989
- Among the items within the folder are grade booklets for Lou Ann Parks while she attended school, a Ladies Birthday Almanac, sporting event tickets, and a registration card from the Selective Service for Preston Lanter.
- Folder 30: Miscellaneous, 1996-2005
- Items included a memoir of Robert Lanter, miscellaneous legal documents, and a packet pertaining to church fundraising.
Browse by Box:
[
Box 1],
[Box 2],
[
Box 3],
[
Box 4],
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All]
