The letters in this collection are drawn from files created by ISNU's first university librarian, Angeline "Ange" Milner as part of her work with the university's War Service Committee. The committee was comprised of faculty appointed by then president David Felmley to document and provide services to ISNU students and alumni who were serving in the military or volunteering for support organizations such as the Red Cross and YMCA. With help from community volunteers, including 14-year-old Kenneth R. Pringle who later became her chief assistant, Milner created a two-page survey and sent it out to hundreds of current and former students asking for information about their war experiences. Often, survey participants would also write to Milner, giving her more detail about their lives in service. Milner saved these letters in the participants' files along with their completed surveys, photographs, and more.