Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

Collected materials include Civil War diary (1863) of William Harts, soldier with Co. B, 1st Michigan Infantry; also papers of Leon Bell, member of 339th Infantry (Polar Bears) sent to northern Russia after World War I.

Soldier from Grand Rapids, Mich., member of 337th Ambulance Company who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes diaries and reminiscences of his service in Russia and training at Fort Custer, Michigan; also his diaries of life in Grand Rapids, photographs, motion pictures, and miscellaneous.

The collection includes diaries and a reminiscence of his service in Russia, at Obozerskaya and Archangel, and his training at Fort Custer, Mich.; also clippings and miscellanea. The collection also includes views of Fort Custer, Mich., and photos taken in Russia (both U. S. Signal Corps photos and snapshots) of American and allied soldiers, cities and towns, Russian people, battle scenes, and means of transportation; also a motion picture (16 mm original with DVD and streaming file use copies) containing miscellaneous scenes of American troops in Archangel. Also included Smith's diaries dated 1910 and 1914-1916.

Resident of Detroit, Mich., who served as a photographer with the 310th Engineers during the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes photographs of 310th Engineers training at Camp Custer, Mich., and in Russia, Detroit Fire Dept. personnel and equipment, Detroit waterfront, farming in Roscommon County, hunting and fishing in Roscommon County, logging in Baraga County.

The photograph album has been disbound. It contains photographs of the 310th Engineers training at Camp Custer, Mich., and in Russia, Detroit Fire Dept. personnel and equipment, the Detroit waterfront, farming in Roscommon County, hunting and fishing in Roscommon County, and logging in Baraga County.

Detroit attorney, assistant U. S. Prosecutor at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East following World War II; correspondence and official court materials largely relating to Japanese intervention in Manchuria; materials relating to service in Polar Expedition to northern Russian during World War I; miscellaneous papers relating to other political and legal activities; and photographs.

The Walter McKenzie Collection consists largely of materials created as a result of the Japanese War Crimes Trials. The collection has been arranged into eight series: Biographical/Personal; Correspondence; Articles, Speeches, etc.; International Military Tribunal for the Far East, International Prosecution Section; University of Michigan; World War I (Polar Bear Expedition); Miscellaneous; and Photographs.

Soldier from Port Huron, Mich., member of Co. B, 339th U.S. Infantry who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes letters describing primarily food and the weather.

Letters describing daily activities; also diaries containing brief descriptions of his activities in Russia and of his passage home. Most of the collection has not been digitized.

Papers of a soldier in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition."

Trammell's collection consists primarily of photocopies of records from the National Archives documenting the search and retrieval of Trammell's body from Russia. Also, photocopies of photographs of Trammell and his grave.

Soldier from Detroit, Mich., member of Co.K, 339th U.S. Infantry who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes diaries and correspondence relating to World War I, his military training, and experiences in Russia on the Polar Bear expedition.

The 1916 diary describes his civilian life. The diaries, July 1918-March 1919 and June-July 1919, describe the ocean voyage to Russia, life in Archangel and on patrol, his dislike of British officers and strategy, fighting at Seletskoe, Sept. 1918; Kodish, Sept.-Oct. 1918; Verst 455 (on the railroad), Oct. 1918; and Kodish, Dec. 1918-Jan. 1919; a mutiny of Russian troops, Dec. 1918, his visit to France and Bolshevik agitation in the army there, and the voyage home. The correspondence, May 1917-June 1919, describes his experiences at Fort Sheridan, Ill., at Camp Custer, and in England, the Russian people, Archangel, and his daily routine. Also included is a letter from Charles E. Lewis, March 14, 1919, recounting Private Charlie Price's description of fighting by Co. K at Kodish, Oct. 13, 1918.

Collected papers documenting the role of Michigan in World War I, including the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1919, the "Polar Bear Expedition."

The collection includes diary (1918-1919) of Henry Ahrens, 330th Field Artillery; scrapbook (1916-1936) of Ernest Kaser, 126th and 128th Infantry; papers of Thomas J. McCarthy, 339th Infantry, chiefly relating to disability and insurance; papers of Carl G. Olson, 337th Infantry, including a letter received from relatives; papers of Jesse H. Stage, 160th Depot Brigade, Camp Custer, including letters received from relatives; pamphlets from the YMCA, Red Cross and other publishers; ration cards, artifacts, and photographs.

Photographs and postcards of Camp Custer, Mich.; group photos of members of 32nd Division in the Army of Occupation in Germany, 1919; 160th Depot Brigade, Camp Custer; oversize group portraits of members of 41st Machine Gun Battalion; 107th Supply Battalion; 214th Field Signal Battalion; 330th Field Artillery; Company B, 337th Infantry; 339th Infantry; 2nd Company, Officers' Training School, Camp Custer; and survivors of the troop ship Tuscania; portraits of members of 339th and 340th Infantry; photos of 126th and 128th Infantry in scrapbook of Ernest Kaser; postcard of military parade in Flint, Mich.; 330th Field Artillery pennant.

Papers of Corporal Albert Joseph Gitzen, resident of Houghton, Mich., member of Co. A., 310th U.S. Engineers who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes Gitzen's personal and military papers, as well as Company A records, printed materials, maps, and an armband.

The Albert Joseph Gitzen collection includes Gitzen's diaries, letters and postcards, enlistment cards and field passes, poems and photographs; Co. A rosters and histories; typewritten issues of newsletter The Midnight Sun, newspaper clipping, printed materials, oversize maps, and an armband.

1st Lieutenant, Co. M., 339th Infantry, sent to northern Russia at the end of World War I. Diary (with transcription) describing war-time activities, 1917-1919; scrapbook of clippings from Detroit and Toledo newspapers describing the "Polar Bear" expedition; orders received; photographs; and CD-ROMs of selected items.

Diary (with transcription) describing war-time activities, 1917-1919; scrapbook of clippings from Detroit and Toledo newspapers describing the "Polar Bear" expedition; orders received; photographs.

Soldier from Armada, Mich., member of Headquarters Company, 339th U.S. Infantry who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes correspondence describing his experiences in the army during training at Camp Custer, Mich., and during his service in Russia; also miscellanea, photographs, and a paper based on Ramsey's correspondence, probably written by John O. Ramsey.

Correspondence describing his experiences in the army during training at Camp Custer, Mich., and during his service in Russia; also miscellanea, and a paper based on Ramsey's correspondence, probably written by John O. Ramsey. Photographs include a portrait (in uniform) and postcards of Camp Custer, Mich., and Archangel.

Papers of a soldier in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition."

This collection contains digital reproductions; the original papers and/or photographs are owned by the donor. The digital items in this collection were digitized from originals by the individual donors before being received by the Bentley Historical Library. Preservation copies of these files with their original file names and CD-ROM file structures intact have been submitted to Deep Blue. Access copies of these digital files can be viewed by clicking on the links next to the individual folders in the Content List below.

In this finding aid, the files have been arranged into one series, Papers. Within this series, files are listed numerically according to the file arrangement they were given by the donor. The files in this collection are in JPG and BMP format.

Files include digitized letters relating to his service in Russia (1917-1919). Also, digitized photographs and postcards of Russian scenes and photos of Bartels in uniform (1917-1919); digital photographs of Bartels' uniform, medals, accoutrements and field gear (2005-2006); digitized transcripts of an oral history (2005).

Papers of a soldier in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1919, the "Polar Bear Expedition."

This collection contains digital records; the original papers and/or photographs are owned by the donor. The digital items in this collection were digitized from originals by the individual donors before being received by the Bentley Historical Library. Preservation copies of these files with their original file names and CD-ROM file structures intact have been submitted to Deep Blue. Access copies of these digital files can be viewed by clicking on the links next to the individual folders in the Content List below.

In this finding aid, the files have been arranged into two series, Papers and Photographs. Within each series, files are listed numerically according to the file arrangement they were given by the donor. The files in this collection are in JPG format.

Digitized files include Bandemer's enlistment record from 1917, his honorable discharge from 1919, and a letter citing his promotion to Sergeant dated 1919. Digitized photographs are of individuals and groups, including portraits of Bandemer, a photograph of Polar Bear Expedition medics ca. 1918-1919, also includes photographs of a Polar Bear Expedition reunion.

Member of the 339th Infantry, Supply Company who took part in the Polar Bear Expedition in Northern Russia. Photo album contains group and individual portraits of the 339th Infantry Supply Company members, street views of Archangel, Russia, photos of barracks and other structures; newspaper clippings depicting return of the recovered bodies of the fallen Polar Bears Expedition soldiers to Detroit; and several portraits of Walter Smith taken later in his life.

Photo album contains group and individual portraits of the 339th Infantry Supply Company members, street views of Archangel, Russia, photos of barracks and other structures; newspaper clippings depicting return of the recovered bodies of the fallen Polar Bears Expedition soldiers to Detroit; and several portraits of Walter Smith taken later in his life.

Papers of a soldier with the 310th Engineers in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1919, the "Polar Bear Expedition."

This collection contains digital reproductions; the original papers and/or photographs are owned by the donor. The digital items in this collection were digitized from originals by the individual donors before being received by the Bentley Historical Library. Preservation copies of these files with their original file names and CD-ROM file structures intact have been submitted to Deep Blue. Access copies of these digital files can be viewed by clicking on the links next to the individual folders in the Content List below.

In this finding aid, the files have been arranged into one series, Papers. Within each series, files are listed numerically according to the file arrangement they were given by the donor. The file in this collection is in PDF format.

Includes a file containing the digitized diary and narrative reminiscence of Spaulding's service; file also contains a brief biographical note with photographs, written by his son.

Engineer with the Fargo Engineering Company of Jackson, Mich. Collection includes correspondence relating to his professional activities with the U.S. Nitrate Plant in Muscle Shoals, Alabama; include copy of letter, Nov.1918, from W. C. Giffels, discussing construction work in Russia as part of the Polar Bear expedition.

The papers contain a typescript of a letter, Nov. 23, 1918, from W. C. Giffels, lieutenant with Co. A, 310th Engineers, describing the Russian railroad system and building practice, railroad repairs, and construction equipment used in the Archangel campaign.

Papers of a Y.M.C.A. volunteer depicting events following the 1917 October Revolution in Russia, POW camps in Germany, and relief work among Russian refugees in 1920-1924.

Correspondence of Howard Merrill and some of his wife Edith Merrill with relatives in the United States while stationed and traveling in Russia, Poland, Germany, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, and --to a lesser extent-- Japan describing social, economic and political conditions, everyday life, and work of the Y.M.C.A. offices and volunteers in these countries. Merrill travelled and wrote about locations in Siberia, Moscow, Petrograd, Pskov, Archangel, Nizhnii Novgorod, Samara, Riga, among other locations.

Correspondence and Y.M.C.A. reports from Germany contain depiction of conditions in German prisoner-of-war camps and Russian prisoners. Russian-language handwritten publications of Russian POWs include playbills and illustrated newsletters.

Papers of Donald A. Lowrie, Y.M.C.A. secretary who served in Russian and Eastern Europe between 1916 and 1932 include his 1920 "Moscow diary" and miscellaneous writings on the subject of Russian prisoners of war.

Member of 310th Engineers, U.S. Army who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes correspondence relating to his military service, "Final consolidated report of the 310th Engineers, Archangel, Russia" (1919) which describes the construction and other activities of the unit, photographs, and miscellaneous items.

Correspondence relating to his military service, "Final consolidated report of the 310th Engineers, Archangel, Russia" (1919) which describes the construction and other activities of the unit, photographs, and miscellaneous items. The photographs chiefly depict Engineer projects but also scenery, miscellaneous buildings, informal portraits of officers, troops marching, and Russian people.

Soldier from LaCrosse, Wisc., captain of Co. M, 339th U.S. Infantry who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes miscellaneous citations, orders, and correspondence relating to his activities with the Polar Bear regiment; also photographs.

The papers contain primarily certificates and personal documents. The photographs include pictures of American and foreign soldiers, Russian people and scenes, and naval ships; also pictures of the 1929 memorial services for bodies returned from Russia, Polar Bear Association reunions, and personal photographs. Printed maps have been removed from the collection and cataloged separately.

Charles Douglas Roe (1895-1931) was a soldier in the 4th Platoon, Company I of the 339th Infantry during World War I. He served in the war from December 18, 1917 until July 23, 1919 and was stationed in Northern Russia for nine months. His company was called Detroit's own, The Polar Bear. Collection includes photocopies of group portraits of the 339th Infantry, Company I while stationed overseas during World War I, a photocopy of Roe's services card, and his obituary.

Photocopies of group portraits of the 339th Infantry, Company I while stationed overseas during World War I, a photocopy of Roe's services card, and his obituary.