Conner-Stein Family Papers, 1941-1994

Held by The Filson Historical Society

Creator: Conner-Stein family

Title: Papers, 1941-1994

Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Curator of Special Collections.

Size of Collection: 0.66 cubic feet

Location Number: Mss./A/C752

Scope and Content Note

Collection contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, reports, and obituaries.  A large part of the collection includes World War II letters from John Verser Conner, Jr. to his parents, John and Mary Conner.  In these letters, J.V. Conner, Jr. discusses his experiences in Army Air Corps flight school and then as a fighter pilot in 1944. Also included are correspondence from Luther R. Stein announcing his retirement from Belknap Hardware and Manufacturing Company and several of Stein’s obituaries.  Photos of the Stein family were transferred to the Filson’s photographic collection.

Biographical Note

John Verser Conner, Jr., was born on August, 25, 1925 in Louisville, Kentucky.  In 1941, after attending Ballard Memorial School, Conner graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy.  He then attended Princeton University until March 1943, when he joined the Army Air Corps.  On January 7, 1944, after receiving training at various air bases in the United States, Conner was commissioned a Second Lieutenant.  Beginning in June 1944, he served in the European theater, flying 64 missions over Italy before being killed in action on January 6, 1945.  While a fighter pilot, Conner received several commendations and a promotion to First Lieutenant.

Luther R. Stein was born November 3, 1877 in Louisville.  A relative of the Conner family, Stein served as the vice president and general sales director for the Belknap Hardware and Manufacturing Company from 1925 until 1954.  As a civic leader, he was involved with organizations like the Boy Scouts of America, Community Chest, Red Cross, and the Chamber of Commerce.  He died on February 26, 1957 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Folder List

Folder 1: J.V. Conner, Jr. college correspondence ca. 1941-1943

Folder 2: World War II correspondence, 1943

Folder 3: World War II correspondence, 1943

Folder 4: World War II correspondence, 1943

Folder 5: World War II correspondence, 1943

Folder 6: World War II correspondence, 1943

Folder 7: World War II correspondence, 1944

Folder 8: World War II correspondence, June-August 1944

Folder 9: World War II correspondence, September-October 1944

Folder 10: World War II correspondence, November 1944-January 1945

Folder 11: Conner correspondence, 1945-1982

Folder 12: Conner reports, newspaper clippings, programs

Folder 13: Stein correspondence, 1935-1994

Folder 14: Luther R. Stein obituaries, newspaper clippings

Folder 15: Family genealogy

Folder 16: Book, Britain’s Homage to 28,000 American Dead

Subject Headings

Conner family

Conner-Stein family

Princeton University

Stein family

United States. Army Air Corps

World War, 1939-1945

World War, 1939-1945 – Aerial operations

World War, 1939-1945 – Campaigns – Italy