The Dole Family Papers consist of correspondence to and from a set of three siblings: Charles E., Robert A., and Florence “Margaret” Dole, during the First World War and the following decades. This collection contains hundreds of letters, spanning from 1917-1976, as well as ephemera such as Christmas cards and family photographs. The letters talk of the brothers’ time in the service during the First World War, as well as daily life in the years after and Margaret's travels.

Charles Edmond Dole, Jr. was born December 8, 1894 in Bangor, Maine. He served in the Army during World War I, stationed in Puerto Rico. He married Kathleen Florence Hue on May 7, 1922, and they had two children – Charles E. Dole III and Virginia Dole. He spent his life working in the oil industry, mostly in California. He died on November 15, 1980.

Robert A. Dole, Sr. was born on February 16, 1899 in Bangor, Maine. During WWI, he served in France with the “Ambulance Service.” After the war, he remained in Europe for a couple of years before moving back to the United States. He married Mary Eleanor Ives on February 20, 1928, and they had at least one child – Robert, Jr. Robert A. Dole, Sr. died on July 27, 1970.

Florence “Margaret” Dole was born on February 12, 1892. During and after the war, she worked as a secretary for Arthur Curtiss James. She married her first husband, Halsey Powell, a U.S. Navy Captain who served in China 1926-1929, in 1924. After he died at the end of 1936, she married Captain Albert E. Tuttle. Margaret died on her birthday, February 12, 1988.

The Dole Family Papers consist of correspondence to and from a set of three siblings: Charles E., Robert A., and Florence “Margaret” Dole, during the First World War and the following decades. This collection contains hundreds of letters, spanning from 1917-1976, as well as ephemera such as Christmas cards and family photographs. 

Charles E. Dole’s correspondence includes a few letters detailing his time serving with the army in Puerto Rico during the First World War. His correspondence, which spans 1918-1926, is all addressed to his mother, Mrs. Charles E. Dole, Sr., and deals with his life after the war.

Robert A. Dole, Sr.’s correspondence spans 1917-1922, and mostly recounts his time serving during the First World War and the time he spent in Europe afterwards in countries such as France and Belgium. During the war, he served with the “Ambulance Service,” and he talked of his desire to become an aviator after his current stint with the ambulance services, but this never happened. His letters are addressed to his mother, Mrs. Charles E. Dole, Sr., though there are also letters he sent to various other people.

Florence “Margaret” Dole’s correspondence documents everyday life and family affairs, spanning 1917-1976. The letters, sent mostly to her mother, Mrs. Charles E. Dole, Sr., talk about her travels and often provide an update of her new address. Her correspondence also includes letters she sent to various people, as well as correspondence from Nesta Jane Monsell.

The ephemera consists of unaddressed correspondence, as well as letters to Halsey Powell, Margaret’s first husband, and Mrs. Charles E. Dole, Sr. One letter to Powell is in French. In addition to this correspondence, there are Christmas cards, family photographs, newspaper clippings and loose envelopes.

This collection is arranged into 4 series:

Series 1: Correspondence to and from Charles E. Dole, Jr.

Series 2: Correspondence to and from Robert A. Dole, Sr.

Series 3: Correspondence to and from Florence “Margaret” Dole

Series 4: Other Correspondence and Ephemera