Collections

The Dorothy Andrew letters consist of 16 letters addressed to her by five of her nephews during their military service in the European and Pacific theaters during the last year of the Second World War.

The Dorothy Andrew letters consist of 16 letters addressed to her by five of her nephews during their military service in the Second World War. Her nephew Francis Earl Smith, a frequent correspondent, reported on his life in Belgium and England in 1944 and 1945. His letters reflect an interest in local currency; when he was in Belgium, he enclosed two local coins in a letter; one was Belgian money and the other was German invasion money (January 12, 1944). In the same letter, he remarked that even though he saw only a "fraction of what is happening," he found no glory in war. In England during the June 1944 "invasion of Hitler's Fortress [Europe]" (June 9, 1944), he expressed his hopes for a quick end to the war and, later, told her of his life in Germany in the early days of the occupation (August 14, 1945). He shared his fear of the atomic bomb following the conclusion of the war in the Pacific: "That new bomb makes one realize how quickly this world could be destroyed. Let's hope they put it to good use instead of destructive power for another war." (Germany, August 14, 1945)

Dorothy's other nephews related similar aspects of military life, including a dislike of the tedium of the army. Richard frequently complained of the swamps near the air base in Alexandria, Virginia, and Dale K. Smith mentioned the weather in the central Pacific. Several of the letters referred to another relation, Dewey; Dale encouraged him to stay out of the army, but Robert (Bob) wanted to know, "what the hell are you waiting for?" (March 23, 1945). Bob described his impression of Indians' opinions of America in his December 1944 letter, written from "somewhere in India," and in a later letter enclosed Chinese money and Japanese invasion money as souvenirs (March 23, 1945).

This volume contains the author's reminiscences about his service with the 319th Field Artillery Regiment, Battery C (part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade), in Vietnam from June 1968-June 1969. He listed the fire support bases where he was stationed and recalled anecdotes about combat, his relationships with other soldiers and officers, and other aspects of military life.

This volume (31 pages) contains the author's reminiscences about his service with the 319th Field Artillery Regiment (part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade) in Vietnam from June 1968-June 1969. The first 7 pages consist of a numbered list of the locations where his unit was stationed during his time in Vietnam, including several identified as fire support bases, the city of Bảo Lộc, and Cambodia, along with brief notes.

The bulk of the volume (24 pages) consists of notes written on December 13, 1983. The author reminisced about many aspects of his military service, including his participation in artillery support for infantry troops ("grunts") and the clearing and construction of landing zones and bunkers. He named some of his friends and discussed their activities, including frequent drinking and, on one occasion, the use of "coke." He sometimes interacted with local residents, who often sold goods to the soldiers, and frequently mentioned eating rations and local foods such as cucumbers and green lemons. On a few occasions, he recounted interactions with superior officers, and he once bragged about his ability to calculate data faster than a field computer. The memoir contains some descriptions of the scenery near the army's fire support bases and bombed-out villages. The memoir is written in a spiral-bound notebook with an image of an Asian woman on the front.

This collection is made up of letters that a soldier named Frank sent to his mother and siblings while training at Camp Devens, Massachusetts, in late 1917 and early 1918. He discussed his equipment, dental health, and other aspects of military life.

This collection is made up of 8 letters that a soldier named Frank sent to his mother and siblings while training at Camp Devens, Massachusetts, between December 8, 1917, and February 15, 1918. Frank mentioned physical conditioning, combat training, and outdoor cooking. He sometimes mentioned other soldiers, including another man from "Georgetown" who had taken to gambling. Frank noted when his friends were sent overseas or to different posts; he expected that he would go abroad around mid-February 1918. Frank's letter of February 8, 1918, contains a list of equipment he had received in preparation for overseas deployment. Though the military encouraged soldiers to travel home on weekends on account of food shortage, Frank regretted that he could not travel on account of that train fare. Several letters refer to Frank's dental problems and recommended treatment.

This collection consists of 4 letters that Private Josephus W. Voodry wrote to his sister and to a female friend during his service with the 3rd Vermont Infantry Regiment, Company G, between 1861 and 1863. He discussed military life, his eagerness to participate in battle, and an August 1863 visit to the battlefield at Gettysburg.

This collection consists of 4 letters (16 pages) that Private Josephus W. Voodry wrote to his sister (1 item) and to a "Sarah," a female friend (3 items), during his service with the 3rd Vermont Infantry Regiment, Company G, between 1861 and 1863. He discussed military life, his eagerness to participate in battle, and an August 1863 visit to the battlefield at Gettysburg.

In his early letters, Voodry expressed his disdain for the Confederate cause and his eagerness to participate in battle, a sentiment somewhat lessened by the time he wrote his final letter in August 1863. In his letter of October 12, 1861, he commented on hearing shellfire and on visits from General George McClellan and Napoleon III. On January 9, 1862, Voodry stated that his unit had not yet engaged in battle and that he had not seen much blood beyond having a tooth pulled that morning. Voodry's final letter, written on August 9, 1863, contains his description of the Gettysburg battlefield shortly after the fighting.

• August 10, 1861: Red, white, and blue. Woman holding an American flag, accompanied by a four-line poem.
• October 12, 1861: Red, white, and blue. "The Shield of Liberty," accompanied by the dates 1776 and 1861.
• January 9, 1862: Purple. Soldier standing in front of tents, resting his arm on the state seal of Pennsylvania.
• August 9, 1863: Red, white, and blue. Patriotic shield in front of a five-pointed star, with the words "North," West," East," and South."

This diary, kept by a soldier in the 138th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, chronicles the regiment's movements throughout Maryland and northern Virginia between June 16, 1863, and January 1, 1864.

This diary, kept by a soldier in the 138th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, chronicles the regiment's movements throughout Maryland and northern Virginia between June 16, 1863, and January 1, 1864. The author listed three soldiers from Company A who died, deserted, or were discharged, and he also frequently mentioned Captain L. C. Andress of Company H, who died on November 12, 1863. He composed entries of varying lengths on an almost daily basis, consistently noting the regiment's movements during the pursuit of Lee from Pennsylvania to Virginia. The author also documented various aspects of camp life. Though the regiment saw little action, it did participate in guard duty near Washington, D. C. The soldier reflected upon the history of the war as he passed Manassas, where he saw "Graves every mile or so" (October 19). In early December, he received 10 days of leave. In the back of the journal, which concluded on January 1, 1864, the author recorded his "Expenses for Mess" and the amount of money sent home to his wife.

An anonymous United States Army sergeant wrote these 3 letters (18 pages) to his mother while serving at Camp Hancock, Georgia, between August and December 1917. "Herb," a member of Company D, 103rd Engineer Regiment, reported on his regiment's work laying pipes and about several aspects of military life.

An anonymous United States Army sergeant wrote these 3 letters (18 pages) to his mother while serving at Camp Hancock, Georgia, between August and December 1917. "Herb," a member of Company D, 103rd Engineer Regiment, reported on his regiment's work laying pipes and on several aspects of military life.

In each of his letters, "Herb" encouraged his mother not to worry about him, and he took pride in his work with the military and in his continuing advancement through the ranks; he was expecting a commission as lieutenant. He also mentioned some of his regiment's duties, which included laying pipes for newly constructed buildings at Camp Hancock and building temporary bridges for other units on bivouac assignments. Herb described other aspects of camp life, such as the comings and goings of other soldiers and his leisure activities, which included trips to nearby Augusta and football games. In two of his letters, he discussed the reorganization of the army's cavalry and artillery units, and in one letter, he mentioned English and French guest officers' instruction in trench warfare (November 11, 1917).

The Walter Crane papers contain 88 letters, 2 postcards, and 1 Christmas card written by Corporal Crane to Ruth Backof, a former high school classmate, while he served in the Machine Gun Company of the 138th Infantry Regiment during the First World War. He described his experiences in training at Camp Clark, Missouri, and Camp Doniphan, Oklahoma. Crane also reported extensively on his involvement in combat along the Western Front, including his service in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and on life in the trenches.

The Walter Crane papers contain 88 letters, 2 postcards, and 1 Christmas card written by Corporal Crane to Ruth Backof, a former high school classmate, while he served in the Machine Gun Company of the 138th Infantry Regiment during the First World War.

Crane wrote his first letters while training at Camp Clark in Nevada, Missouri, in September 1917. He inquired about mutual friends and reminisced about his time at McKinley High School in St. Louis, Missouri. After moving to Oklahoma's Camp Doniphan in late October, he discussed his fellow soldiers, training exercises, and leisure activities. On December 25, 1917, he copied lyrics to a soldiers' song entitled "When Our Machine Guns Are Starting to Roar (for Me and My Gal)," and mentioned that his unit played sports in their spare time. Several envelopes bear the skull-and-crossbones insignia of the 138th Infantry Regiment's Machine Gun Company.

In April 1918, Crane moved to Camp Mills on Long Island, New York, and made final preparations to travel overseas. A May 14, 1918, letter provides an account of the trip. He first wrote from France on May 25, 1918, describing his journey across England. The remaining letters contain his impressions of France and news of his military engagements. Crane's vivid war letters mention both simulated battles (July 30, 1918) and real engagements. His stories of life in the trenches include several featuring trench rats. Between August and October, he wrote about his experiences in combat along the front lines just before and during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive -- the letters dated August 18, 1918, and October 6, 1918, are especially detailed. After November 1918, Crane’s company stayed in training near "Grimaucourt," France, despite the armistice. He continued to describe his daily life and on December 12, 1918, he copied three pages of poetry written by Sergeant S. F. McElhiney, a member of his company. On April 23, 1919, he wrote his final long letter while aboard the USS Kroonland, and, after he landed in the United States on the 29th, he sent Ruth a brief telegram.

The two French postcards are dated October 9 and December 21, 1918, and the Christmas card (1917) bears the insignia of Crane's unit. These three items are filed with the correspondence.

This collection consists of three letters 1st Lieutenant Jean C. Barnes wrote to his mother during his service in France during the First World War.

This collection consists of three letters 1st Lieutenant Jean C. Barnes wrote to his mother during his service in France during the First World War. In his first letter, dated September 8, 1918, he mentioned that he enjoyed the scenery, and alluded to his boredom and a recent illness. By October 26, he had just left the hospital and had revised his opinion of France, writing of the miserable weather and adding, "This is one hell of a place." In his final letter, written on December 20, Barnes anticipated his imminent return to the United States, and recorded high local prices for several food items. He also reflected briefly on his wartime experiences, which included the loss of most of his belongings on the battlefield and his participation in the Saint-Mihiel offensive and the Meuse-Argonne campaign. Though short, his letters provide his perspective on the war in France, which he survived: "I don't know how I came out but I did somehow" (December 20, 1918).

This collection is a series of four letters written by Louis Bevens during his time at Camp MacArthur in Waco, Texas, in November 1918. He addressed them to family members in Kansas City, Missouri, including his mother, brother, and sister-in-law. Bevens wrote about rheumatic pain in his leg, making it home for Christmas dinner, and need for employment. The letters have colored, printed "Knights of Columbus War Activities" letterheads.

The Louis E. Bevens letters are a series of four letters written by Bevens during his time at Camp MacArthur in Waco, Texas, in November 1918. He addressed them to family members in Kansas City, Missouri, including his mother, brother, and sister-in-law. Bevens wrote about rheumatic pain in his leg, making it home for Christmas dinner, and need for employment. The letters have colored, printed "Knights of Columbus War Activities" letterheads.

This collection is made up of 2nd Lieut. Oliver H. Beymer's letters to Miss Myrtle Springer of Scotia, New York, while he served in the 12th Aero Squadron on the Western Front during World War I. Subjects of his letters include training, daily army life, and expenses. Beymer freely expressed his affection to Miss Myrtle Springer, addressing her as "darling," "dearest," and "sweetheart." Some letters have two-color, printed "American Y.M.C.A." and "American Expeditionary Forces" letterheads.

This collection is made up of six letters from 2nd Lieut. Oliver H. Beymer's to Miss Myrtle Springer of Scotia, New York, August 23, 1918-October 18, 1918, and April 25, 1919. During this time, Beymer served in the 12th Aero Squadron on the Western Front. Subjects of his letters include training, daily army life, and expenses. Beymer freely expressed his affection to Miss Myrtle Springer, addressing her as "darling," "dearest," and "sweetheart." Some letters have two-color, printed "American Y.M.C.A." and "American Expeditionary Forces" letterheads.