Get Letters From D-Day, Yorktown, Gettysburg, & More.

Explore military history using real letters from figures like Pershing, Sherman, and Lafayette.

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Six-Month Package

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26+ Real Letters

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First-Class Postage

Order six months today for just $129.

As Seen In

as featured in ny times history .com buzzfeed mental floss and others

— Andrew W.

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“Gave Letterjoy to my Dad for Father’s Day. He loves the letters. Best gift I ever gave him!” — Lisa L.

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“My husband said this is the best Father’s Day gift he has ever gotten. He loves the letters!” — Susan L.

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“Got our first one yesterday! My 12 year old history obsessed son loved it.” — Jen M.

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“My father really enjoys his letters. Received his first one after Father's Day and looks forward each week to the next one.” — Robert K.

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“Got my dad Letterjoy for his birthday, and the first one arrived today. Heard from him right away - he loved it!”

From The Battlefield To Your Door

Get letters in the mail from famous American generals, admirals, aviators, spies, and more.

Explore American military history with this six-month collection of weekly letters. This "From The Vault" collection features twenty-six of the best letters, telegrams, and memorandums we've found from throughout American military history.

Each letter also includes domestic first-class USPS postage and "the postscript," an article written by our curators providing historical context for your latest letter.

For more details on why this collection makes a great gift for anyone who loves reading about military history, visit this page.

This is part I of our Military History collection. We expect part II to be available sometime in 2025.

Meet Your Pen Pals

Learn about a few of the leaders and warriors who could grace your mailbox.

Civil War Letters and telegrams from General Sherman

William T. Sherman

General William Tecumseh Sherman wrote Letterjoy members to discuss his famous "March To The Sea" and the rationale behind his controversial decision to burn the city of Atlanta.

Korean War Letters and telegrams from Thurgood Marshall

Thurgood Marshall

Letterjoy members received a letter from Thurgood Marshall from before his appointment to the Supreme Court, when he was a young lawyer for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund investigating the malicious prosecution of black GIs in Korea. Through his letters home, Letterjoy members learned about Marshall's work overturning unjust courts-martial.

WWII and Cold War Letters and telegrams from Dwight D. Eisenhower

Dwight D. Eisenhower

President Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote Letterjoy members to discuss his efforts to de-escalate the Cold War, D-Day, and his work as Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe.

CIA Letters and telegrams from Allen W. Dulles

Allen W. Dulles

Long-time CIA Director Allen W. Dulles has written Letterjoy members to discuss notable CIA programs and operations, including the U-2 Spy Plane, Operation Paperclip, and the Bay Of Pigs invasion.

Naval History Letters from John Paul Jones

John Paul Jones

John Paul Jones, father of the American Navy, wrote Ben Franklin (and Letterjoy members) to discuss the exploits of the Bonhomme Richard, a vessel in the Continental Navy which drew its name from Franklin's famous Poor Richard's Almanac(k).

Navy and Spanish-American War Letters and telegrams from Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt

President Theodore Roosevelt wrote Letterjoy members to discuss the explosion of the U.S.S. Maine and his time leading the Rough Riders at San Juan Hill.

WWII and WWI Letters and telegrams from George S. Patton

George S. Patton

A young George S. Patton wrote his father (and Letterjoy members) to discuss his role in a WWI tank battle, the first mechanized battle fought by the US military.

John Brown Raid Letters and telegrams from Harriet and Dangerfield Newby

Harriet and Dangerfield Newby

Dangerfield Newby was one of five formerly enslaved men to join John Brown on his famous raid of the armory at Harper's Ferry, in the lead-up to the American Civil War. On his body, a letter was found from his wife Harriet, still enslaved, pleading for rescue. Letterjoy members received this letter as well as a note from Colonel Robert E. Lee (then serving in the US Army) to Brown demanding his surrender.

Letters and telegrams from Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Over the years, Letterjoy members have received scores of different war-time letters and memorandums from FDR. Among the best was a top-secret letter from Roosevelt to Winston Churchill pondering the question of whether to remove General Charles de Gaulle from his post as leader of Free French Forces.

Letters and telegrams from William Tudor

William Tudor

Lieutenant-Colonel William Tudor was the first Judge Advocate General of the Continental Army. As the soldier solely responsible for adjudicating courts-martial during the early years of the American Revolution, he struggled to keep up. George Washington's micromanagement didn't help. Nevertheless, he single-handedly set many of the precedents later enshrined in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (though many were borrowed from the British). Letterjoy members received a letter he sent to Washington plotting reforms to this nascent system.

Letters and telegrams from William Jennings Bryan

William Jennings Bryan

After the sinking of the RMS Lusitania, President Woodrow Wilson pushed his advisors to demand that Germany accept responsibility and take corrective action. Secretary Of State William Jennings Bryan, fearful of escalation, pushed back. After Wilson drafted a particularly inflammatory note, Bryan threatened to resign if it was sent. Wilson didn't back down. Bryan sent the note, then resigned. Letterjoy members received Bryan's note and the German response.

Letters and telegrams from And More...

And More...

We have a long list of amazing letters we look forward to sharing with you. In fact, we have so many that we had to save some for Part II - Stay tuned!

Please note: Authors are subject to change

Member Testimonials

★★★★★

"My 12 year old history obsessed son loved his Letterjoy. It’s not just the letter- it’s the info that comes with it. My son is on Scholar Bowl and he sees these as a treasure trove of info. Took it to school today to share with team. Thank you!"

— Lauren, Florida

★★★★★

"If you are looking for a great holiday gift for someone in politics or who likes history I have really enjoyed @Letterjoy . They send you a historical letter each week and they are fascinating. One week might be from a WWII general & the next week about natural ice in the 1920s."

— John, Alabama

★★★★★

"We did the Letterjoy thing as a Christmas gift for our son, and I’m definitely the biggest beneficiary. I read them aloud to the whole family, in the accent/voice I imagine each author would have had."

— Stephanie, New York

Sign Me Up!

Topics Covered In This Collection:

  • The Revolutionary War
  • The Civil War
  • The Spanish-American War
  • World War I
  • World War II
  • The Korean War
  • The Cold War
  • Courts-Martial & Military Justice
  • Military innovation
  • Conscription
  • & More.

Branches, Services, & Agencies Covered In This Collection:

  • The Continental Army
  • The Continental Navy
  • The United States Army
  • The United States Navy
  • The United States Marine Corps
  • The United States Air Force (and Army Air Corps)
  • The United States  Coast Guard
  • The United States Merchant Marine.
  • The State Department
  • The Department of War
  • The Central Intelligence Agency

About The Letterjoy Experience

Legendary Pen Pals

Each week, you’ll receive a reproduction of a real letter from American history in your (physical) mailbox.

Over the course of your membership, you’ll read dispatches from a variety of famous or eloquent historical pen pals. Recent letter writers include Benjamin Franklin, Sitting Bull, Sojourner Truth, and Douglas MacArthur.

Timely & Timeless Topics

Each month, you'll receive letters from a few different eras. You may find yourself reading letters from infamous Wild West Gunslingers one week and Manhattan Project scientists or Civil Rights icons in the next.

Old-School Charm

No screens are required to enjoy Letterjoy. Opening your letters is as “old-school” an experience as can be. Each is mailed in an ivory envelope with a real first-class stamp, and all of your letters will arrive on fine stationery, vellum, or parchment with letterhead and other design touches engineered to transport you back in time.

The Context To Dig Deeper

Alongside each of your letters, you’ll receive “the postscript”, an article written by our expert researchers with detailed background information on your letter.

Each postscript is brimming with historical details perfect for inspiring an afternoon of reading or helping you win your next pub trivia game.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Letterjoy gives you a reason to check your mailbox, something to look forward to every week, and the opportunity to study history in a fun & intimate format.

For gift-givers, Letterjoy is a constant reminder that you care. Each time a Letterjoy letter arrives in your recipient's mailbox, they'll think of you.

We hear often stories about gift recipients who call the person who gave them Letterjoy whenever a new letter arrives to discuss it.

For recipients, Letterjoy is an immersive offline escape. Our letters, produced on premium stationery or parchment, are the perfect break from your overwhelming email inbox or social media feed.

Anyone! We have seriously seen it all. Letterjoy is particularly popular as a present for lawyers, grandparents, teachers, veterans, and college students, but we've seen Letterjoy gifted to governors, comedians, plumbers, and more.

We have gift members on six continents, including spouses, bosses, parents, grandparents, children, great grandparents, and more.

We have also seen Letterjoy gifted to people of all professions, from top politicians and captains of industry to local reverends and teachers.

Of course! Treat yourself to any of our packages. You deserve something to look forward to as you check the mail each week.

Yes. The historical letters we mail to your door are reproductions of real letters (or telegrams) written by legendary figures and eloquent eyewitnesses. They are sourced from some of the finest archives, special collections, and private sources on the planet.

For more information on sourcing, and the philosophical debate over what constitutes authenticity (and our stance on it), reach out to Support[at]letterjoy[dot]co.

Our signature American History collection tells the story of our nation from 1776 through 1960.

A few of the major eras covered include the American Revolution (obviously), the early republic, the Civil War, World War I, the Industrial Revolution, World War II, the Civil Rights movement, and the Cold War.

A few of the specific events this collection includes letters from are The Alamo, Pearl Harbor, John Brown's raid, and the Constitutional Convention.

For the most detailed and up-to-date list of topics you'll receive letters about, please refer to this page.

In addition to this collection, we offer a growing list of additional topic-specific collections. Our current offering includes:

Please Note: All collections with the exception of our signature American History collection are offered only in six-month packages.

We do. You can download our customizable explanation letter here. Mail it, email it, send it as a telegram, or wrap it and put it under the tree. However you deliver it, our welcome letter is an excellent way to introduce your gift.

In addition to our main "Letters From American History" collection, we offer a few topic-specific "special collections". Please Note: Special collections are only available in six-month increments.

These are the special collections currently available for purchase:

Yes. All Letterjoy packages include free USPS First-Class postage. Members with mailing addresses outside the United States will incur a modest international postage surcharge.

Every Letterjoy letter is accompanied by "The Postscript," a detailed article about your letter, the person who wrote it, and the events described within it.

For more details on how we write "The Postscript" and why many Letterjoy members consider it the highlight of their experience, visit this page.

Yes! No screens are required to enjoy Letterjoy. Our letters arrive via First-Class mail, and "the Postscript," the article about each letter, arrives in the very same envelope.

Letterjoy is a great way to decompress and disconnect from the digital world.

Of course you can! Our samples page has high-resolution PDF scans of a few of our past letters.

Yes. We mail to addresses around the world. Charges for additional postage may apply (and letters may take 2-3 weeks to arrive, depending on the quality of your local postal carrier).

Letters are sent via first-class mail once per week. Newly activated orders usually go out in the first mailing of the month you selected at checkout.

If you purchase within a week of the start of your start month, your first letter will (in most cases) go out with our 2nd mailing of the month.

Recently moved? On an extended vacation? You can change your address right from our self-serve member portal (Members.letterjoy.co).

We’re here to help! Visit our support page or send us an email. We’ll be in touch soon with an answer.

You can also reach us by letter at 1101 14th St N.W., Suite 910, Washington, DC 20005.

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