Collections : [University of Michigan William L. Clements Library]

This collection is made up of correspondence, documents, photographs, printed items, and genealogical papers related to Joseph LaVille Young, who served in the Virginia Militia, United States Army, and United States Navy from the 1890s to the end of World War I. Most of the materials pertain to Young's military career, particularly during the Spanish-American War and World War I.

This collection (1 linear foot) is made up of approximately 200 letters and documents, 15 photographs, 30 printed items, and genealogical papers related to Joseph LaVille Young, who served in the Virginia Militia, United States Army, and United States Navy from the 1890s to the end of World War I. The bulk of the collection is comprised of a partially disassembled scrapbook; the loose items from the scrapbook have been arranged into series of correspondence and documents, photographs, printed items, and genealogical materials.

The majority of the Correspondence and Documents relate to Young's service in the Spanish-American War and World War I. They include commissions, orders, memorandums, and financial records. One small group of items pertains to Theodore Roosevelt's efforts to raise volunteer troops during World War I, including a signed letter from Roosevelt to Young, who had wanted to raise a Virginia regiment (May 25, 1917). Joseph LaVille kept a small memorandum book while stationed in France from January to February 1918. Most of the notes concern his expenses and other financial affairs, and he also copied information about converting English measures to metric units.

Additional manuscripts include some personal letters that Young wrote to his sister Linda while in France during World War I and a small number of documents related to the military service of Joseph LaVille Young, Sr. The later letters and documents concern Young's desire to return to the military during World War II, his real estate career, and the genealogy of the Pritchard family.

The Photographs include group portraits of the "Richmond Light Infantry Blues" during their Spanish-American War service in Cuba, and studio and informal portraits of Joseph LaVille Young as a young man, a Spanish-American War soldier, a member of the United States Navy, and an older man. One image shows Young posing in front of the family home in Portsmouth, Virginia, and another shows an unidentified man flexing his biceps and upper back muscles.

The Printed Items series is made up of 9 picture postcards, featuring scenes from multiple French towns; newspaper clippings, including obituaries for the elder Joseph LaVille Young and other family members; advertisements for real estate in Richmond, Virginia; and a pamphlet titled La Langue Anglaise sans Màître (1915).

The Genealogical Papers series includes histories, tables, and notes related to the Hollowell, Bacon, Hunter, Pettit, Godfrey, Swift, James, and Pritchard families. Included is a family tree showing Joseph LaVille Young's ancestors and a binder containing information on heraldic crests.

This collection is made up of letters that Chelsea Williams and William C. ("Bill") Williams wrote to Chelsea's family while serving with the United States Army's 1st Engineers, Company D, during and just after World War I. They commented on their health and aspects of their service in France and Germany.

This collection is made up of 9 letters that Chelsea Williams and William C. ("Bill") Williams wrote to Chelsea's family while serving with the United States Army's 1st Engineers, Company D, during and just after World War I. Chelsea Williams wrote to an unidentified sister (September 14, 1917, and October 7, 1917), to his father (May 17, 1919), and to his sister Hazel (June 26, 1919). He mentioned his inability to provide details about the war, described his leisurely life in occupied Germany in 1919, and responded to news from home, including news of his father's ill health. In his letter of June 26, 1919, he told Hazel that he was not surprised to hear of returning soldiers consuming large amounts of alcohol, as "the first six months over here was enough to make the best of men fall." In his letters to Hazel Williams (4 items, April 11, 1918-June 14, [1919]) and Alice Williams (1 item, January 12, 1919), William C. ("Bill") Williams provided news of Chelsea, who was wounded in July 1918.

This 132-page diary chronicles the experiences of Bert C. Whitney, of Washington, Michigan, who served with the 304th Sanitary Train in France during World War I. Whitney described his transatlantic voyages, his experiences near the front line at Verdun in late 1918, and his travels around France after the armistice.

This 132-page diary chronicles the experiences of Bert C. Whitney, of Washington, Michigan, who served with the 304th Sanitary Train in France during World War I. Whitney described both of his transatlantic voyages, his experiences near the front line at Verdun in late 1918, and his travels around France after the armistice. The journal is housed in a leather wallet, and has a drawing of a flag on its inside cover.

Whitney began his account in early July 1918, while en route to Brooklyn, New York, where his regiment embarked for France on July 10. During his time at sea, he described the ships in his convoy, submarine scares, and daily life onboard the transport ship Lutetia. Shortly after their arrival at Brest on July 21, Whitney recounted his movements in France until mid-September, when he reached the front lines. Though he did not participate directly in active combat, he described life behind the lines and witnessed artillery barrages, gas attacks, and aerial battles. Near the end of the war, he remarked about the destruction of the area around Verdun and anticipated an armistice, particularly after he saw a German delegation on their way to meet with General John J. Pershing. On November 11, 1918, Whitney counted down the final minutes of active combat, noting the ferocity of the fire until the stroke of 11:00 a.m. After the armistice, he recorded his travels around France and his negative opinions of French soldiers. He embarked for the United States in the spring of 1919 and wrote his final entry on May 30, 1919, as the ship approached the United States. Enclosures include poppies taken from a battlefield (pressed into the volume around October 22, 1918), 2 military documents related to his promotion to sergeant, and a poem entitled "Romeo to Verdun," printed in the Romeo Observer.

This collection is made up of 6 letters that Roy M. Whiteman sent to his family in Burlington, Iowa, while stationed in France in late 1918 and early 1919. Whiteman wrote about his recovery following an injury, his travels in France, and his life in the U.S. military.

This collection is made up of 6 letters that Roy M. Whiteman sent to his family in Burlington, Iowa, while stationed in France in late 1918 and early 1919. Whiteman wrote about his recovery following an injury, his travels in France, and his life in the military.

Whiteman addressed most of his letters to his sister Clare, his parents, and other siblings. He responded to family news and reported his limited interactions with soldiers from home, whom he met only occasionally while abroad. In one undated letter, he discussed his ongoing recovery from an unspecified wound, which damaged his eyes and caused him general pain. In later letters, sent from Le Mans and Chamonix, France, he described his travels following the armistice, which included trips to the mountains and to the Bossons glacier in the Chamonix valley. He also mentioned his leisure activities, which included playing soccer and hiking. Whiteman discussed some of his religious habits, and remarked on the comfort he received from reading the Bible in times of loneliness.

This collection is made up of letters that Clarence V. Wherley sent to his wife Sara while serving with the United States Army's 313th Infantry Regiment in France during World War I. He commented on military life, leisure activities, and his travels in France during and after the war.

This collection (66 items) is primarily made up of letters that Clarence V. Wherley sent to his wife Sara during World War I. The correspondence includes 42 original letters and 23 contemporary copies of these letters; 21 of the copies accompany the original items, and 2 have no extant original. The final item is a letter from A. E. Wherley to Sara, his daughter-in-law, about Clarence's return home, with an enclosed newspaper clipping (June 2, 1919).

Clarence V. Wherley's letters to his wife Sara, dated July 22, 1918-May 15, 1919, cover the entirety of his time in France, where he served with the 313th Infantry, Company H. Wherley discussed his daily activities, which included drills, marches, and office work, and shared his optimism about an Allied victory. His letters contain few direct references to the fighting, though he mentioned dodging snipers, exploding discovered German ordnance, and traveling from "Hell" to "Heaven." Wherley spent some time in a convalescent center and expressed his joy at returning to his regiment afterward. He described the French villages and scenery he encountered during marches, and his visit to Nice and Monte Carlo in early 1919. His letters also refer to lice inspections, the influenza epidemic, and a lack of correspondence from home. Enclosures include a Christmas card from the 79th Division (January 19, 1919); a printed poem by S. Ralph Harlow, entitled "Your Answer?" (February 18, 1919); a typed history of the insignia of the 79th Division (February 24, 1919); and a copy of The Lorraine Cross, the 79th Division's newsletter (March 26, 1919, enclosed in letter dated April 3, 1919).

This collection contains over 500 letters that Captain Edward Van Winkle wrote to his wife Sama while serving in the United States Army during World War I. Van Winkle, a member of the 24th Engineer Regiment, discussed his experiences at Washington, D.C. and Camp Dix, New Jersey, and in France and Germany from 1917-1919.

This collection (0.75 linear feet) contains over 500 letters that Captain Edward Van Winkle wrote to his wife Sama while serving in the United States Army during World War I.

The Correspondence series contains 533 letters and telegrams that Van Winkle (who signed his letters "Papa" or "Ted") sent to his wife while serving in the United States Army from September 1, 1917-June 2, 1919. Van Winkle trained at American University in Washington, D.C., and worked at the General Engineer Depot from September 1917-November 1917, when he joined the 24th Engineer Regiment. By November 1917, he had joined the 24th Engineer Regiment at Camp Dix, New Jersey, and he wrote about the regiment's preparations to head overseas in February 1918.

From February 1918-May 1919, Van Winkle was stationed in France, where he served behind the front lines. He described his quarters and his daily activities and discussed topics such as an American cemetery, German air raids, French and German soldiers, and his trips to the front to observe the fighting. After the armistice, Van Winkle traveled to Germany; he noted the disintegration of the German army, and anticipated his return home while he was stationed in France throughout early 1919. Van Winkle sometimes included sketches in his letters; one letter is written on the back of a military map of Bitburg, Germany (December 4, 1918).

The Documents, Map, Printed Items, and Poem series (12 items) contains additional material related to Edward Van Winkle's army service, including a brochure about insurance policies, a directory for the United States Army's Office of the Chief of Engineers, and a memorandum regarding Van Winkle's transfer to the 24th Engineers. The series also contains a copy of a European edition of the New York Herald from September 14, 1918, and additional newspaper clippings pertaining to the war. A program for a production by the 25th Engineers, Company F, is illustrated with a drawing of soldiers in costume, posing as the bottom halves of the letters in the word "camouflage." The final items are a manuscript song about engineers' war experiences and a manuscript map of the Leonval Camp, located in the Forêt de la Reine in eastern France.

The Photograph shows a United States soldier in uniform.

The Realia series includes a black case and canteen that belonged to Edward Van Winkle. The case holds 6 medals, 5 buttons and cufflinks, and a compass.

This collection contains 52 letters that George Van Buskirk received while working as county clerk for Bergen County, New Jersey, between 1917 and 1919. Multiple soldiers from Hackensack, New Jersey, wrote to him about military life at Camp Dix and other bases in the United States, and service in Europe during and after World War I.

This collection contains 52 letters that George Van Buskirk received while serving as county clerk for Bergen County, New Jersey, between 1917 and 1919. Multiple soldiers from Hackensack, New Jersey, wrote to him about military life at bases in the United States, and service in Europe as part of the American Expeditionary Forces during and after World War I. They occasionally requested assistance with administrative military matters.

George Van Buskirk's correspondents commented on their experiences at American military bases, including Fort Dix, New Jersey; Camp McClellan, Alabama; Camp Crane, Pennsylvania; Camp Greene, North Carolina; and Camp Humphreys, Virginia. The writers served in different infantry, artillery, and medical regiments. At least one writer served with a British regiment, though he referred to Hackensack as his home. Many of the soldiers traveled to France, though few participated in combat. The men often referred to other soldiers from Hackensack, including Van Buskirk's other correspondents. After the war, the writers provided details about their overseas experiences; one recalled his travel and combat experiences (November 28, 1918). Others expressed regret or gratitude that they had not seen action. One letter respects life in postwar Coblenz, Germany.

The correspondence often includes requests for Van Buskirk's assistance with transfers, discharges, or other administrative issues. One woman wrote, protesting that a man had falsely claimed her as a dependent in order to obtain a quicker discharge (February 4, 1919). Other items of interest are letters from William Ruland about steam boilers; a postcard depicting a well in Beaune, France; and a letter chastising Van Buskirk and an unidentified committee for failing to recognize the Knights of Columbus volunteers when honoring war veterans. Drafts of Van Buskirk's typed responses are attached to a few of the letters.

This collection is comprised of 51 letters that 2nd Lieutenant Erwin A. Thomas wrote to his family in Pontiac and Brown City, Michigan, while serving in Europe during World War I. Thomas, a member of a machine gun company in the 125th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Division, discussed his experiences in the trenches, offered advice to his younger brother, and described his travels in France, Luxembourg, and Germany during and after the war.

This collection contains 51 letters (plus additional enclosed letters) that 2nd Lieutenant Erwin A. Thomas wrote to his family in Pontiac and Brown City, Michigan, while he served in Europe during World War I. Thomas, a member of a machine gun company in the 125th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Division, discussed his experiences in the trenches, offered advice to his younger brother, and described his travels through France, Luxembourg, and Germany during and after the war. Also included are 2 letters that Erwin's cousin, Gideon E. Foster, wrote to the Thomas family, and a reprinted newspaper article.

Erwin wrote one letter to his parents, John C. and Lucy Ann Foster Thomas, from Fort Custer, Michigan, in September 1917, and sent his remaining letters from Europe between March 6, 1918, and May 1, 1919. In mid- to late 1918, Thomas shared his impressions of France and of military life. He spent significant time in active combat in the trenches along the Western Front, and described the effects of constant artillery fire. On September 2, 1918, he mentioned his participation in the Oise-Aisne offensive, and in his postwar letters, he occasionally commented on his trench experiences in further detail. Thomas also reassured his parents that he frequently read his copy of the New Testament, from which he sought comfort during his breaks from the frontline fighting. While in France, he visited Quentin Roosevelt's grave (August 11, 1918). Thomas often signed his letters as "a true soldier boy," and took pride in his military accomplishments, which included awards of merit.

After the war, he wrote about the armistice, peace negotiations, and his experiences in Germany. He provided his impressions of some of the freed parts of France and of the area around the Rhine River, where he was stationed throughout early 1919. In his letters to his brother Walter, he encouraged him to continue his violin lessons.

The collection also contains two letters from Private Gideon E. Foster to John and Lucy Thomas, his aunt and uncle, about his service with Battery A of the 330th Field Artillery, which did not see active combat on the front (November 14, 1918). Erwin Thomas also sent his parents a typed copy of a New York Herald article entitled "Three Cities Wait to Welcome Thirty-Second Division" (February 3, 1919).

The Albert E. St. Germain collection contains correspondence, military documents, and other items relating to the St. Germain family. The bulk of the collection pertains to Albert St. Germain's service in the United States Army's press service in Europe during and just after World War I.

The Albert E. St. Germain collection (over 190 items) contains correspondence, military documents, and other items relating to the St. Germain family. The bulk of the collection pertains to Albert St. Germain's service in the United States Army's press division in Europe during and just after World War I.

The Correspondence series (28 items) is made up of personal letters related to members of the St. Germain family. Sisters Clarinda (1 item) and M. Clementina (8 item) wrote French-language letters to their parents from the Convent of Mercy in Meriden, Connecticut, between 1894 and 1900. Other convent correspondents included Sister Teresa, who invited the St. Germain family to a ceremony (August 10, 1896), and Sister M. Augustine, who sent a telegram about Sister Clementina's death in November 1900. A woman named "Leontina" wrote 4 letters to Leon St. Germain from Québec in 1905.

Albert E. St. Germain wrote 6 letters to his mother and 2 letters to his brother Oscar while serving in the United States Army in France during and immediately after World War I. He described his travels in France and discussed some of his duties in the press section. In 1919, an acquaintance named J. Morgan wrote Albert St. Germain a personal letter and a letter of recommendation. Later correspondence includes a letter that one of Albert's children wrote to him in 1959, a letter about the 50 reunion of the Bulkeley High School class of 1914, and a World War II-era greeting card from the South Pacific.

The Documents series is divided into two subseries. Military Documents (97 items) are mostly comprised of news bulletins and intelligence summaries providing details about the Allied war effort in France from September 1918-November 1918, as well as 2 copies of Gerald Morgan's recollections about service as Chief Field Censor for the American Expeditionary Forces, written in February 1919. Department of Labor and Personal Documents (15 items) include intelligence tests, Albert St. Germain's employment history, a blank naturalization form, documents related to Leon St. German's estate, and documents regarding field stations during World War II.

The Photographs series (3 items) contains 2 formal card photograph portraits of an unidentified couple and of Albert E. St. Germain, as well as a photograph of Albert E. Saint Germain, in uniform, shaking hands with a French soldier. The latter photograph is enclosed with a copy of the New York newspaper that ran the photograph on August 4, 1918.

The Writings and Pencil Sketch series is comprised of 7 copies of stories that Albert E. St. Germain wrote around the World War I era. The writings include an account of his interactions with a French citizen during the war, a camping trip, and various other subjects; some of the drafts have manuscript notes. The collection has duplicate copies of 2 stories. The series includes a pencil drawing of "Le Vieux Moulin."

• The Cards and Currency subseries (4 items) consists of 3 business cards of Albert E. St. Germain and a French banknote.
• The Maps subseries (5 items) contains printed maps of the Moselle River, the Rhine River, and Bar-le-Duc, France; one of the Rhine River maps was produced for members of the army of occupation. Also included is a blueprint map of properties that Leon St. Germain owned in Waterford, Connecticut.
• The Pamphlets subseries (6 items) has the following items: a retrospective and commencement program related to the Bulkeley School class of 1914, a cover from a copy of The Louis Allis Messenger, a page from a printed recipe book, a pamphlet about the United States flag, and a copy of the United States Constitution with additional information for use in passing the country's citizenship examination.
• The Newspapers subseries (13 items) contains around 10 articles about World War I, the Bulkeley School, Albert E. St. Germain, and army censorship. The newspaper articles originate from papers in Connecticut and France. Three copies of The Stars and Stripes, dated 1918, are also present.

The Address Book and Fragments series (14 items) includes manuscript, typed, and printed fragments, and an address book that Albert St. Germain owned while working for the United States Department of Labor.

The Artifacts series consists of a brown leather satchel.

This collection is primarily made up of letters and telegrams that Thomas E. Snook sent to his parents in New York City about his experiences as an United States Army engineer from 1916-1919. The collection also contains letters written by Snook's father and another soldier.

This collection (59 items) is primarily made up of letters and telegrams that Thomas E. Snook sent to his parents in New York City from July 12, 1916-May 24, 1919, pertaining to his service as a United States Army engineer. Snook wrote 5 letters to his parents about his military training in Plattsburg, New York, in July 1916; he commented on drill, marches, his fellow soldiers, and his diet. From July 1917-June 1918, he described his training with the 306th Engineer Regiment in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Washington, D.C.; and Camp Jackson, South Carolina. He was promoted to captain during this period. Snook's letters concern training exercises, unit organization and reorganization, a quarantine, and preparations for embarkation. In his letter of June 13, 1917, he mentioned his intention to marry Virginia Wright.

From August 1918-May 1919, but mostly after the Armistice, Snook discussed his experiences in France. Though he occasionally heard artillery fire, he later reported that he had not participated directly in combat, telling his family about the engineers' role during the final months of the fighting. After the war, he wrote about his interactions with French citizens and the Americans' efforts during and after the war. His letters of June 3, 1918, and April 12, 1919, contain lists of American casualties, and his letter of December 15, 1918, has a list of all of the items that he carried on his person. In addition to Snook's correspondence, the collection contains a small number of letters from his father and one letter to his mother from S. T. Bennett, another soldier serving in France (September 22, 1918).