Wayne Cooper Correspondence
Object NameCorrespondence
Letter
Postcard
Historic Owner
Wayne H. Cooper Jr.
Historic Owner
Shirley Cooper
Association
USS Intrepid (CV/CVA/CVS-11)
Date1956–1958
PeriodCold War
Mediumpaper, ink
ClassificationsCommunication Artifacts
Credit LineCollection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of Wayne Cooper. A2018.69
Object numberA2018.69
DescriptionExtent: 17 foldersThe Wayne Cooper Correspondence collection contains letters, postcards, greeting cards, and a Summary of the Survivor's Act from Cooper’s time aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CVA-11). The majority of the letters are love letters between Wayne Cooper and Shirley Simpson, his fiancé at the time, and cover his two years in the U.S. Navy from June 1956–1958. The bulk of the letters are from 1956–1957. It also includes several letters to Cooper and Simpson from other family members and friends during this time.
The letters between Cooper and Simpson are a series of love letters that also discuss everyday life, work and family as Cooper serves two years in the Navy. Cooper and Simpson had become engaged right before Cooper left to begin his service, with the majority of that time spent on Intrepid. Much of their correspondence discusses what they hope for in their married life together, coordinating travel to see each other, Shirley’s job and move from Akron, Ohio to Cleveland, Ohio, contact with family, and some mention of Wayne’s job on Intrepid and where the ship is headed next. In the course of the letters, Wayne is on Intrepid first in Norfolk, Virginia, then in Brooklyn, New York. He mentions the ship will be sent to Cuba in the future, but the letters do not cover that deployment. The family correspondence discusses everyday life and family news for both Wayne and Shirley from their respective families.
The last item in this collection is a Summary of the Survivors Benefits Act.
Correspondence; between Wayne Cooper and Shirley Simpson, June 3, 1956 – May 13, 1958
- 185 letters, 5 postcards, 9 cards
Correspondence; to Wayne Cooper and Shirley Simpson from family & friends
- 8 letters, 1 postcard, 3 cards
-- Letter & envelope; Linda Simpson to Shirley Simpson, January 31, 1956 (1 page)
-- Letter & envelope; Louvina Trover to Shirley Simpson, September 9, 1956 (1 page)
-- Postcard; Mrs. Wayne Cooper to Wayne Cooper, September 26, 1956
-- Receipt & envelope; Paris Root Store Co. Inc. to Shirley Simpson, September 27, 1956 (1 page)
-- Letter & envelope; Mr. DuPont to Shirley Simpson, November 9, 1956 (2 pages)
-- Letter & envelope; Mrs. Simpson to Shirley Simpson, November 12, 1956 (3 pages)
-- Cards & envelope; Mrs. Wayne Cooper to Wayne Cooper, December 5, 1956 (2 cards)
-- Letter; Mrs. Simpson to Shirley Simpson, December 12, 1956 (2 pages)
-- Letter & envelope; Linda Simpson to Shirley Simpson, January 9, 1957 (1 page)
-- Letter & envelope; Peggy Westerberg to Shirley Simpson, January 9, 1957 (1 page)
-- Letter & envelope; Helen Simpson to Shirley Simpson, January 22, 1957 (1 page)
-- Card & envelope; Marge & Jim to Shirley Simpson, January 29, 1957
Summary of the Survivors Benefits Act (blank), January 1, 1957
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