Park City Museum researcher
A piece of “V-mail” reproduced upon arrival in the U.S., folded in its mailable form. This letter is from Parkite Pvt. Frank Nancarrow to his mother.
Park City Historical Society & Museum, Mary Martin Vincent Collection
During World War II, Parkites kept informed of war events primarily via newpapers, radio broadcasts and newsreels played in movie theaters. However, the news families treasured most came directly from the letters of their soldiers in the field.
Wartime correspondences were relayed in part via a postal system known as “Victory mail” or “V-mail.” This system was implemented to condense the space required to deliver the mail. Letters were penned on special forms and converted to microfilm for transport. Letters were then reproduced on arrival in the U.S. Although only in use from June 1942 until November 1945, more than 1 billion pieces of mail were processed through the V-mail system.