Remember Me: Camp Butner Pillow Covers

Our collection includes at least 29 Camp Butner pillow covers with most pictured below. The vast majority are specifically for sweethearts with wife, mother, and sister following close behind. Most contain a short poem which we have transcribed for easier readability.

Pillow covers commemorating military events seem to have come to use just before the First World War; however, there is fictitious information out there claiming that pillow covers date back to the War of 1812. There is no proof for such a claim. Pillows from World War I rarely reflect a relationship between the sender and recipient (wife, mother, sister, etc.) and are lacking in poetry which is so characteristic of WWII pillow covers. Instead, WWI covers incorporated imagery of flags, Lady Liberty, General Pershing, Columbia, and eagles. This is much different from what these pillow covers morphed into by WWII.

Pillow covers remained a facet of American life during the interwar years, specifically during the Great Depression. Pillow covers were sold to Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) members, also known as "Roosevelt's Tree Army." CCC pillow covers share more commonalities with WWII pillow covers in that they tended to focus on relationships between sender and recipient and carry the same sort of poetry.

Ultimately, these pillow covers function much like a modern day greeting card and for some, may represent a last point of contact with people the senders cared about. Unlike greeting cards, these pillow covers were not cheap! In 1944, each would have cost about $7.50 which is equivalent to $136 today. This was definitely a financial commitment considering a private earned $50 a month.

While we know gifting pillow cases to loved ones was a common practice during WWII, there are a lot of lingering questions that remain. How did the themes of relationships (predominately with women) get joined with war and what does this link signify? Why did buyers of these pillows, largely service personnel, buy them? What did their recipients think? Why do these pillow covers seldom recognize relationships with men? Dad only appears to be an option when connected with Mom and brother pillows do not appear to be an option at all. Was it just assumed that brothers were in uniform too or would grow up to be the buyers and senders of these same pillow covers?

Sweetheart!

Thinking of our days together

And the things we say and do

Thinking of how very happy

I have been just loving you

A wish to you darling

That will be your very best

Whispering "I love you truly

More than you have guessed!"

Sweetheart

Love unending warm and true,

Sweetheart mine this brings to you,

Love which hopes that happiness,

All your days may

Cheer and Bless.

Mother and Dad

No one knows but Mother and Dad

About the smiles and tears we've had.

None is willing and glad to share

That part of life with joy or care.

No one was there in years gone by,

To understand each smile and sigh.

The dearest hearts on this old Earth

Are the hearts at home of golden worth.

Sister

Of all the girls I ever knew,

There never was one like you;

You're the nearest,

You're the dearest

Pal I ever knew.

Mother

To one who bears

the sweetest name,

And adds a luster

to the same.

Who shares my joys--

who cheers when sad,

To the greatest friend

I ever had.

Long life to her--

for there's no other,

Could take the place,

of my dear Mother.

Just Hello

This message is bringing

To far-away YOU

A special "Hello"

And a warm "Howdy-do,"

Some very glad memories

Of what used to be,

And many good wishes

From far-away ME!

The Camp Butner Society is unaware of the original buyers and owners of these pillow covers in this exhibit except for this one and the one pictured below (the brown "mother" pillow). These last two were purchased by Karl W. Schwarz (78th Division, 310th Company "M").

Donated By: Fred Schwarz, son of Karl W. Schwarz.

Mother

Tho' far away from you I seem

Each night I see you in a dream

The rose long famed for its grace

Is not as nice as your dear face

And when my work o'er here

Is through

I'll hurry home

To be with you

The Camp Butner Society

The Camp Butner Society

Remember Me: Camp Butner Pillow Covers

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