The papers of Chester H. Budish are divided into two series: Papers and Photographs.
Papers (1941-1952) contains materials relating to Budish's service during World War II and his rehabilitation from wounds received in the line of duty. The correspondence consists of scattered letters that Budish sent and received during his service. Conscious of censors, he did not go into detail about his movements during the war; instead he focused on recreational activities and questions about home. His family wrote him about the homefront, with stories about school for his siblings and work for his parents. Budish made the acquaintance of an English woman, C. Bannard, while stationed there in 1944, and she wrote him several letters during and after the war. Dubbing him as her adopted American boy, she described conditions in England and expressed hopes that he would remain safe. Other papers are largely ephemeral, including postcards that Budish collected during his wartime travels. The biographical data and personal service records provide some details about his service.
Photographs (1942-1945) document Budish's time in the military from his training through his recovery in the hospital. Candids from training at Fort Sheridan, Jefferson Barracks, and Rising Sun School show his early training in aircraft repair, as well as some recreational activities like sightseeing. The candids from Europe include a couple of shots from a landing at Normandy, as well as pictures of Budish in his new role as artilleryman. Finally, photographs taken at Mayo General Hospital document his recovery from surgery at the end of the war.
