The papers of George J. Wanserski are divided into two series: Papers and Photographs.
Papers (1940-1945) consists mostly of the voluminous letters that Wanserski and his wife Florence exchanged during his service with the Navy in World War II. Starting during his call to active duty in 1940, George and Florence wrote letters almost daily while they were apart. George described his daily life in the Navy, his pursuit of an early discharge, the recreational activities sailors engaged in, and his love for his wife and family. Florence updated her husband about conditions on the home front, the growth and development of their sons, the family's financial situation, and her desire to be with him. In one letter, written from Racine on August 13, 1942, Florence described an evening of fun at an establishment formerly known as the German Beer Garden. She told George that the name had been changed to Wind Point Beer Garden, and that the musicians hadn't worn their Bavarian costumes since the war began. Also included are letters to George from his family, Florence's parents, and others. Correspondence with Representative Stephen Boller relates to Wanserski's unsuccessful attempt to get an early discharge because of the financial hardship his service was causing his wife and children. This series also contains some of Wanserski's military papers, including a continuous service certificate that traces his service in the Navy and Naval Reserves from 1928 through the war. A summary of service describes some encounters with Japanese forces in the Aleutian Islands. Ephemeral items include an application for a war ballot for the 1942 election, an empty war ration book, and religious materials that reflect his strong Catholic faith. A watercolor painting, presumably done by Wanserski after the war, depicts the explosion of the Petersburg Mine during the Civil War.
Photographs (1941-1944) contain shots of Wanserski and his family taken during the war. An individual photo of Wanserski shows him Navy dress uniform in 1944. Other shots show his wife, Florence, and his two oldest children, George and Dick, at home during the war. A final photograph shows Wanserski in uniform with Florence, George, and Dick.
