Students translate WWI letters

OXFORD, Miss. (WTVA) – Three Ole Miss students translated letters linking Oxford to a French family struggling with loss in World War I.

The university said that three students in a French class translated letters sent from the mother of a three-year-old French boy named Henri.

The letters – from the the Woman’s Book Club of Oxford Collection – were sent after the club donated funds through the Fatherless Children of France.

“The letters illustrate how women in Oxford were involved in international relief efforts during World War I. They also remind us that the history of war is not only about battles, but also about families.”

The money helped Henri’s family – who lived in southwest France in Gouze – after his father was killed while serving in the army amid the Great War.

The University of Mississippi said this project allowed the students to learn about the Oxford community and to delve into the historical context of the letters, local idioms and social customs.

To learn more about how much the Woman’s Book Club was able to donate, about how students felt about the project, and more, read more at olemiss.edu.