Marion Reh Gurfein
Gurfein
Marion Reh
World War, 1939-1945
Unknown
Civilian
PERSONAL AD: "Mrs. Marion Gurfein requests the Captain to Please end the war in a hurry and come on home where he belongs!!" The Goofein Journal, May 26, 1943
When Marion Gurfein wrote to her husband Joe during his tours of duty in World War II and Korea, she sent him something more than letters. She created a mock newspaper, The Goofein Journal, which she hand-lettered on card stock. The Journal contained banner headlines, illustrations, photos, and "news" stories recording family events and a "social column" which kept track of their friends' whereabouts. Complementing Marion's view from the home front are Joe Gurfein's memoirs about his 26 years with the Army Corps of Engineers.
Marion and Marjorie Gurfein, photograph from "The Goofein Journal." [4/1945]
Family Ties
Voices of War
Memoirs: "You Built It- You Drive It Across"
Memoirs: "You Built It- You Drive It Across"
Poems: "Just Between Friends"
Poems: "Just Between Friends"
Manuscript: "More Bridges Crossed"
More Bridges Crossed
"Mrs. J. Ingram Goofein Jr. Opens Nylon Exhibit to Public", The Goofein Journal [05/26/43]
"Mrs. J. Ingram Goofein Jr. Opens Nylon Exhibit to Public" [05/26/43]
"Thousands Throng A Station Seeing Hero Off", The Goofein Journal [06/43]
"Thousands Throng A Station Seeing Hero Off" [06/43]
"Mrs. Goofein, Noted Butterfly, Signs up for Course in 'Infant Care'", The Goofein Journal [9/43]
"Mrs. Goofein...Signs up for Course in 'Infant Care'" [09/43]
"All U.S. Breathlessly Awaits Goofein Heir", The Goofein Journal [10/43]
"All U.S. Breathlessly Awaits Goofein Heir" [10/43]
"Marjorie and Majority Arrive the Same Month", The Goofein Journal [01/44]
"Marjorie and Majority Arrive the Same Month", The Goofein Journal [01/44]]
"Fashion World in Uproar as Mrs. Goofein Changes Hairstyle", The Goofein Journal [02/44]
"Fashion World in Uproar as Mrs. Goofein Changes Hairstyle" [02/44]
"Marjorie 'Button Nose' Goofein, Popular Sub-Deb, To Lead Easter Parade", The Goofein Journal [Mar-April 1944]
"Marjorie 'Button Nose' Goofein ... To Lead Easter Parade" [3-4/44]
"Popular 'Crowder Crowd' Visits N.Y.", The Goofein Journal [05/44]
"Popular 'Crowder Crowd' Visits N.Y." [05/44]
"Special Anniversary Issue (first in full color)", The Goofein Journal [06/44]
"Special Anniversary Issue (first in full color)" [06/44]
"Goofein Heiress Stands at Six Months", The Goofein Journal [07/44]
"Goofein Heiress Stands at Six Months" [07/44]
"Foreign Powers Decorate Famous Major - Hero Too Modest to Write Wife", The Goofein Journal [08/44]
"Foreign Powers Decorate Famous Major..." [08/44]
"Extra! Generals-Cry-For-Him Goofein Quits Italy for France", The Goofein Journal [09/44]
"Extra! ... Goofein Quits Italy for France" [09/44]
"Famous Marine Departs for West Coast", The Goofein Journal [10/44]
"Famous Marine Departs for West Coast" [10/44]
"Hints That 'Man of Mystery' May Get Transfer", The Goofein Journal [11/44]
"Hints That 'Man of Mystery' May Get Transfer" [11/44]
"Goofein Heiress Reaches First Birthday", The Goofein Journal [12/44]
"Goofein Heiress Reaches First Birthday" [12/44]
"Margie Goofein Voted 'Most Charming'", The Goofein Journal [02/45]
"Margie Goofein Voted 'Most Charming'" [02/45]
"The 'Amazing Major' Does It Again (So Help Us), The Goofein Journal [03/45]
"The 'Amazing Major' Does It Again (So Help Us)" [03/45]
"Major Goofein, on Verge of Beating Own Record, Moves Again!", The Goofein Journal [04/45]
"Major Goofein, on Verge of Beating Own Record, Moves Again!" [04/45]
"Germany Surrenders!! Gives up soon after the 'Iron Major' arrives", The Goofein Journal [05/45]
"Germany Surrenders!! Gives up soon after the 'Iron Major' arrives", The Goofein Journal [05/45]
"'Man Of A Thousand Transfers' Returns to Original Unit", The Goofein Journal [06/45]
"'Man Of A Thousand Transfers' Returns to Original Unit" [06/45]
"Famous Major Allowed to Stay Behind in Europe", The Goofein Journal [07/45]
"Famous Major Allowed to Stay Behind in Europe" [07/45]
"It's Back! And It's Bigger, Better than Before!", The Goofein Journal (Korea) [08/50]
"It's Back! And It's Bigger, Better than Before!" [08/50]
"Man of Destiny Enters Korea! Enemy Flees!", The Goofein Journal [Sept/Oct 1950]
"Man of Destiny Enters Korea! Enemy Flees!" [Sept/Oct 1950]
"Goofein Journal Appears Twice in One Month!", The Goofein Journal [10/50]
"Goofein Journal Appears Twice in One Month!" [10/50]
"Silver Star Winner Idol of the American Press", The Goofein Journal [02/51]
"Silver Star Winner Idol of the American Press", [02/51]
"Nation's Capital in Uproar Over Famous Goofein Family Visit", The Goofein Journal [04/51]
"Nation's Capital in Uproar..." [04/51]
"US Senate Demands Reason Why Goofein Didn't Replace MacArthur", The Goofein Journal [05/51]
"US Senate Demands Reason Why...." [05/51]
"'Goofy' Goofeins Quit City for Beach", The Goofein Journal [06/51]
"'Goofy' Goofeins Quit City for Beach" [06/51]
"National Holiday Declared as Goofein Wins Promotion", The Goofein Journal [07/51]
"National Holiday Declared as Goofein Wins Promotion" [07/51]
"Col. Goofein Tries for Title 'Last Man Out of Korea!'", The Goofein Journal [10/51]
"Col. Goofein Tries for Title 'Last Man Out of Korea!'" [10/51]
"Last Edition", The Goofein Journal [11/51]
"Last Edition" [11/51]
Card: "This Valentine Went to Paris...", Korea [1951]
"This Valentine Went ..." Card
Card: Happy Birthday Again [n.d.]
"Happy Birthday Again..." Card
Card: "Anniversaries are Such Wonderful Things..." Anniversary, [n.d.]
"Anniversaries are Such Wonderful Things..." Card
Valentines Day Card [n.d.]
Valentines Day Card [n.d.]
Card: "Merry Christmas Three Months Ahead of Time..." [n.d.]
"Merry Christmas..." Card
Card: If Magic Potions Were in Style..." Christmas, [n.d.]
"Magic Potions..." Christmas Card
Card: Fathers Day "'D'-Day Stands for Daddy Day [n.d.]
"D-Day Stands for..." Card
Card: Monkey's Uncle [n.d.]
"Monkey's Uncle" Card
Card: "When I First Heard You Weren't Here..." Miss You [n.d.]
"When I First Heard..." Card
Card: Three Slightly Damaged Goofein Hearts [n.d.]
"Three ... Goofein Hearts" Card
Card: "You've seen your share of Arabs …" [n.d.]
"You've seen your share of Arabs …" [n.d.] Card
Card: "We've asked you to come home …" [n.d.]
"We've asked you to come home …" [n.d.] Card
Card: "I'm a 'Lass and a Lack' Until You Get Back" [n.d.]
"I'm a 'Lass and a Lack'..." Card
Card: Dear Daddy [n.d.]
"Dear Daddy..." Card
Card: "Congrats To the New C.O." [n.d.]
"Congrats To the New C.O." Card
Card: Airborne Kisses [n.d.]
"Airborne Kisses..." Card
Card: Pin-Up Girl Card [n.d.]
"Pin-Up Girl..." Card
Card: Gremlin Poem [n.d.]
Gremlin Poem
Poem: "The Mail Situation" [1942]
Poem: "The Mail Situation" [1942]
Poem: "Goofy Gremlins"
Poem: "Goofy Gremlins"
Writing her husband every day; consoling other wives.
Three daily mail deliveries; telegrams from Joe.
Nightmares of bombing; wartime shortages.
Her prewar life as a military wife.
Saying goodbye to Joe; a road trip adventure.
Joe's emotional homecoming.
Joe off to Korea; Marion alone with two children.
Putting her foot down when Vietnam calls.
Keeping up spirits through times of separation.
"Gurfein's Christmas" recorded in 1951 and "Bayside" recorded 1957
Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.00799/
DLC-AFC
2023-06-02
loc.natlib.afc2001001.00799