The Whole Damned World Book

World War II Correspondence of Dean Daniel B. Jett

Daniel B. Jett, the Dean of Engineering from 1938 to 1947 at what was known then as the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (later NMSU), carried on a personal correspondence with hundreds of his former students during World War II. Known affectionately as "Dad" Jett, Dean Jett was beloved by his students. During the war years, Jett composed class newsletters and wrote scores of letters to each of the men and women of the School of Engineering who served overseas or stateside. His tireless energy and enthusiasm boosted morale among those serving as soldiers or nurses, as well as those at home fighting to keep the school on an even keel during hard times. Jett's students wrote to him as well. These letters provide indelible insights into the lives of young men and women involved in cataclysmic world events. The letters reveal a nostalgia for the college, infused with hope for returning to the school when the war ended.

A graduate of Wellesley College, Martha Shipman Andrews received her Masters Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh. She is presently University Archivist and assistant professor at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces.

Richard Melzer is a professor of history at the University of New Mexico's Valencia Campus. A specialist in 20th century New Mexico history, he has written ten books and over a hundred articles about the Southwest. He is currently the president of the Historical Society of New Mexico.