The papers of Milton W. Sklansky are divided into two series: Papers and Photographs.
Papers (1942-1945) contains scattered correspondence between Sklansky and his family during his service in the war. In the letters, especially those to his sister, he writes in the style of a novel and makes light of his experiences. Aware of censors, little explicit detail is given about his movements, but he discusses the general conditions that he faced. There are several letters that Sklansky received from Joe E. Brown, a prominent entertainer that he met through the USO. Also included are newspaper clippings that describe Sklansky's service, mostly focusing on his role in “The Three Goldbricks” and their efforts to entertain the troops overseas. Programs to entertainment performances document his involvement in both “The Three Goldbricks” and other acts. Other items are mostly ephemeral and include a Thanksgiving menu from Camp Blanding, an itinerary from his furlough in Switzerland, and the document officially transferring him from the 16th Evacuation Hospital to the 5th Army headquarters. A photocopied scrapbook preserves captions that Sklansky wrote for many of his photographs. The scrapbook was dismantled due to deterioration, with the pictures going to the photograph series.
Photographs (1942-1945) contains shots of Sklansky and the people and places he encountered during his service. Many of the photographs have witty captions written on the back. There are photographs of him and his two partners performing their trademark show as “The Three Goldbricks.” There are also pictures of famous actors and actresses who performed with the U.S.O., such as Marlene Dietrich and Joe E. Brown. Pictures of the Spaghetti Bowl, a football game played in Rome between men from the 5th Army and the 12th Air Force, shows Sklansky as a member of the coed cheerleading squad. This series includes photographs of individuals, including Sklansky, his girlfriend and future wife Beverly Buchalter, and entertainer Edie Feinstein. There are numerous scenery shots that Sklansky took while serving in Italy, and also some from his furlough in Switzerland.
