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

This collection is comprised of 3 letters that Private Herbert C. Linton wrote to his mother, Katherine B. Linton, while serving in the United States Army during World War I.

This collection is comprised of 3 letters (11 pages) that Private Herbert C. Linton wrote to his mother, Katherine B. Linton, while serving in the United States Army during World War I. Linton commented primarily on military life, the possibility of returning home, and his movements within France. He also wrote about his brother Keith, who was a member of the United States Armed Forces during the war. See the Detailed Box and Folder Listing for more information.

The Howard F. Barnum World War I photograph album contains 216 items relating to Barnum's service during the war. A majority of the collection are personal photo-postcards of his time overseas and postcards from his travels with the Army of Occupation in France, Germany, and Luxembourg. Also included are photographs, letters, a print, and ephemera.

The Howard F. Barnum World War I photograph album contains 216 items relating to Barnum's service in the American Expeditionary Forces. The majority of the collection is comprised of personal photo-postcards of his time overseas and postcards from his travels with the Army of Occupation in France, Germany, and Luxembourg. Also included are photographs, letters, a print, and ephemera.

The album begins with 92 personal photo-postcards, many of which have a short handwritten caption on the front. The majority were taken while Barnum was stationed near the Rhine River, in Mayen, Germany. They show daily life, the ammunition dump, M.O.R.S. details, studio portraits, monuments and castles along the Rhine, and a Rhine River boat tour. One image is of the men he served with, "Billet #6," and lists the name and hometown of each man. There are a few images included from his training at Camp Hancock in Augusta, Georgia.

Seemingly unrelated to Barnum’s service, are five photos likely taken in the United States of construction on a neighborhood street. Following, are an image of captured American soldiers, one of a simulated gas attack, and 15 smaller images similar in content to the photo-postcards. Most of these smaller images have handwritten captions on the back.

This album includes a total of 78 picture postcards include a complete collection of 20 black and white views from the painting Panthéon de la Guerre. Other locations depicted include Paris, Southampton, Koblenz, and Camp Dodge and Rock Island in the United States

The last portion of the album contains ephemera from Barnum's military service, with the exception of one letter from August 6, 1905 written by Barnum to his mother while on vacation with his father and brother. Other items include the board game Trench Checkers, a Third Army Carnival program, a Mother’s Day pamphlet, an honorable discharge chevron, a USS Santa Paula billet card, and a "Souvenir Roster of the New York Masonic Club of the Army of Occupation."

The Irl Potter Haynes correspondence is made up of over 100 typewritten letters from Irl Haynes to his wife Josephine Haynes while serving in the YMCA as part of the American Expeditionary Forces in the United States and France during and after World War I. Haynes received transportation training in the summer and fall of 1918 at "College Camp", Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; New York City; and Hoboken, New Jersey. He worked for the YMCA as a cashier/financial manager at the Hotel Pavillon in Paris from November or December 1918 to June 1919, and at the "Garden" soda fountain from June to at least December 1919.

In June 1918, Haynes underwent training at the Lake Geneva Encampment of The Young Men's Christian Association College at "College Camp", Wisconsin, serving in both secretarial and physical capacities. He arrived in Washington, D.C., in July 1918 and by October, he had settled into a training regimen and as a physical director in New York City. During his time in New York, he received mail and regularly visited the International and War Work Council Headquarters at 347 Madison Avenue. In the city, he wrote letters about crowds and sightseeing in New York, working on learning to drive different trucks, and volunteering at the transport school at Hoboken, New Jersey. He also described armistice celebrations in New York City.

Around November 18, 1918, Haynes shipped out on board the Lamport & Holt Line, S.S. Vauban, arriving in Paris in early December. He started working in a garage after his arrival and shortly thereafter, as cashier at the Hotel Pavillon. In regular letters, he shared with his wife observations on different areas of the city; attendance at prizefights, shows, and other entertainment; discussions of French women, a Belgian nurse, and other women; and updates on mutual friend Catherine Stinson and Irl's friends Jo Barnard and "Hayden". He wrote about everyday life, including information on acquiring and washing clothing, costs of living, the weather, food, the home he stayed in, aspects of his work, reading and writing, health and medical treatment (requesting at times for his wife to send him particular medicines), visits to the Red Cross, typewriters, securing souvenirs, and interacting with other Americans in Paris. Early after his arrival in France, he talked of censorship and the censors mutilated at least two of his letters (December 12 and 20, 1918). In one instance, he mentioned that the hotel would be temporarily restricted because of the flu (February 26, [1919]). The subjects of Irl's letters changed little after taking on new employment at the "Garden" soda fountain in June 1919, though he included details about his new responsibilities.

Irl Haynes clearly felt the distance from his family and the correspondence with his wife regularly included requests for information about their children, discussions about the children's education, thoughts on a newly purchased piano and on whether or not the family would buy a dog, queries about health, and talk of financial matters. He emphasized the importance of reading to the children, particularly Bible stories.

Irl Haynes wrote a few of his letters on the reverse side of a typed 1-page daily serial titled "THE KIT BAG : Trials and Smiles Concerning the Overseas Conferences of the YMCA" ed. Ira C. Young and Robert Good out of the Bristol Hotel, New York City, November 2, 1918-November 12, 1918. The serial is illustrated with a suitcase marked "O.K. BRISTOL Y.M.C.A. A.E.F."

The collection includes a 1-page illustrated printed flier titled "'On to Victory' From painting by Edgard Léon. Copyright 1917" with the text of "A MESSAGE TO HEROIC FRANCE", also by Edgard Léon (Polytechnic Institute, Kansas City, Mo.).

Irl Haynes copied two poems into his letters, which were written or partially written by his friend and colleague "Hayden":

• "The Flag" by "Hayden" (January 10-14, [1919])
• "Mrs. Malone and the Censor" by unidentified and "Hayden" (February 23, [1919])

This collection is made up of six letters written by Private Kirwin to his mother while serving in France between August 1918 and December 1919 with the American Expeditionary Forces. He mentioned Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the Armistice of November 11, 1918, and he utilized colored, printed "Y.M.C.A," "Salvation Army," or "American Red Cross" stationery.

This collection is comprised of 8 letters written by John Barr to his girlfriend, Ethel Mae ("Polly") Trueblood, of Cleveland, Ohio, during his World War I service with the YMCA near Paris in 1918. In these love letters, Barr discussed his experiences near the front, his negative opinions of the Germans, and the nature of his daily work.

This collection is comprised of 8 letters written by John Barr to his girlfriend, Ethel Mae ("Polly") Trueblood, of Cleveland, Ohio, during his World War I service with the YMCA in Paris in 1918. In these love letters, Barr discussed the nature of his daily work and his experiences. Despite being located near the front and witnessing some of the horrors of war, he maintained a positive attitude, and optimistically told Polly, "One has to be here to fully realize the importance of winning the war. And we are going to win" (June 27, 1918); however, he did not brook any tolerance toward the "Jerrys," "Boches," and "Huns," whom he often disparaged in his letters. Along with his descriptions of life in France and frequent proclamations of love and hope for the couple's future, he responded angrily to reports of strikers in the United States, questioning their loyalty and reinforcing the importance of men in the American Expeditionary Forces. In the letter of September 14, 1918, Barr attached a clipping from the June 7, 1918 issue of Stars and Stripes, featuring an article about war refugees captioned "Helpless Victims of the Hun."

This diary of Corporal John H. Harris concerns his service with the United States Army's 145th Infantry Regiment in France and Belgium during World War I. The volume also contains lists of soldiers' equipment, battles in which Harris participated, and members in his first squad.

The 37-page diary of Corporal John H. Harris concerns his service with the United States Army's 145th Infantry Regiment in France and Belgium during World War I. The volume also contains lists of soldiers' equipment, the battles in which Harris participated, and members of his first squad.

Harris began his diary with a history of his service from his enlistment in the American Expeditionary Forces through his transfer to the 145th Infantry Regiment of the 37th Division. Between June 6 and June 15, 1918, he briefly commented on his travels in the United States, and he mentioned an extended training exercise for trench warfare on June 8, 1918 (p. 2). After sailing to France onboard the Leviathan in mid-June 1918, he described his experiences in active service in France and Belgium. As he traveled, Harris consistently recorded the names of towns and villages and noted that his unit continued to train throughout their time abroad.

Harris often fought in the trenches, and wrote about his experiences during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive (September 25-31, 1918, pp. 9-12). The 145th Infantry traveled through France and Belgium after the armistice, and Harris occasionally commented on his accommodations and meals. In early March 1919, he recorded his distaste for camp life near Brest, France (March 5 and March 16, 1919, pp. 27-28). Harris embarked for the United States on the Great Northern on March 26, 1919, and recalled some incidents during the journey, which included a small fire and a strong storm. After his arrival, Harris was stationed near New York City and in Ohio. He wrote his final entry on April 23, 1919, after his discharge and arrival in Akron, Ohio.

• List of battles in with Corporal John H. Harris participated during World War I (1 page)
• Inventory of United States Army soldiers' clothing (1 page)
• List of items that John H. Harris carried in his pack during World War I (3 pages)
• Illustration showing the layout of soldier's pack during an inspection near Le Mans, France, ca. 1919 (1 page)
• List of men in Corporal John H. Harris's first squad (1 page)

This collection primarily consists of letters written by Captain Joseph Carson during his service with the United States Army's Ordnance Department in France from 1918 to 1919. Additional material includes letters written to Carson by his father, Hampton L. Carson, and by several of his friends. Carson wrote about army life in France during the last stages of the war and in the months immediately following the Armistice.

This collection primarily consists of letters written by Captain Joseph Carson during his service with the United States Army's Ordnance Department in France from 1918 to 1919. The first item in the collection is "Excerpts from Dr. Willard's Letter" (three typed pages) dated June 3, 1917, in which the doctor described a visit to London that included tours of several military hospitals. Carson's letters, written between his arrival in France in September 1918 and his departure for the United States in February 1919, are addressed to his mother, father, wife, and daughter, Sarah Whelen Carson (a single letter, dated November 6, 1918). He described the scenery and wrote of his work in the army, far behind the front lines. On November 6, 1918, he drew a small map of his location at a military post, and in a separate letter of the same date enclosed a photograph. In mid-November, he reflected on the armistice and on local celebrations, and looked forward to returning home early the following year. His post-armistice letters are dated from Tours, France, and include discussions of courts martial held in mid-January 1919. In addition to his outgoing correspondence, the collection holds a handful of incoming letters Carson received from his father, Hampton Lawrence Carson, and from other acquaintances, as well as a typed poem entitled "Richard C. Nevil" (November 30, 1918). Also included is a postcard to Carson's wife from Edward P. Hamilton of the 306th Field Artillery Regiment, which depicts the Palace of Fontainebleau (January 3, 1918).

The Julius Bromet papers are made up of letters, postcards, and a diary that Bromet wrote while serving with the 305th Field Hospital (later the 305th Ambulance Company) during World War I. In his letters to his parents and brother, Bromet described his experiences at Camp Upton, New York, and in France; his diary pertains to his time in France during and after the war. The collection has four photographs.

The Julius Bromet papers are contains 145 letters and postcards and a diary that Bromet wrote while serving with the 305th Field Hospital (later the 305th Ambulance Company) at Camp Upton, New York, and in France during and after World War I. The collection also has 4 photographs: 2 photographs attached to the letter of December 7, 1917, and 2 in a separate series.

The Correspondence series consists of 145 letters and from Julius Bromet to his parents, Solomon and Annie Bromet; his brother, Louis Bromet; and "Minnie and Baby;" all letters were sent to his father's home in Brooklyn, New York. From March 7, 1917, to March 14, 1917, and again from December 9, 1917, to April 2, 1918, he wrote from Camp Upton on Long Island, New York, about his training and equipment. He also related rumors of his unit's upcoming transfer to Europe. After a brief period with the 152nd Depot Brigade in December 1917, Bromet returned to the 305th Field Hospital, which traveled to France via England in April 1918. In one 10-page letter from April 1918, he described his transatlantic voyage.

After his arrival in France around April 21, 1918, Bromet wrote about aspects of life near the front, including his account of witnessing a German and French "aeroplane fight" (July 26, 1918), and reported rumors that an armistice was imminent. After the war, he was stationed near Chaumont and Solesmes, France, where he described the scenery and conveyed the pleasures of sleep unhindered by the sounds of airplane raids and machine guns (November 12, 1918), though he admitted having an eerie feeling about the silence (November 14, 1918). He left France in May 1919. Two photographs of a soldier are enclosed in his letter of December 5, 1918. Illustrated postcards of various French scenes; new recruits at Camp Upton, New York (4 items, December 4, 1917); and several uniformed soldiers (3 items, undated). Bromet's co-workers sent him a postcard wishing him a safe return from the war (December 7, 1917).

Julius S. Bromet kept a Diary (53 pages) between April 6, 1918, and May 7, 1919, during his service in France. In daily entries, he noted the weather and interesting occurrences, such as a burial at sea during the voyage to France (April 18, 1918) and a close encounter with falling shrapnel (May 9, 1918). He also witnessed occasional air raids and unfavorably compared U.S. Army quarters to British quarters. He wrote his final entry just after arriving in Hoboken, New Jersey, on May 7, 1919, and expected to be mustered out within the next two days; he wrote down "Thurs May 8" but did not complete the entry. The diary also contains addresses and a list of letters that Bromet mailed home.

The Photographs series includes a portrait of a soldier, which is housed in a frame with the word "Welcome," illustrations of American flags, and the date (May 10, 1919), and a picture of a man and three women in a domestic environment. Two additional photographs are attached to the letter of December 5, 1918.

This collection is made up of eight letters written by Private/Corporal Lauren Bray while in France with the American Expeditionary Forces, to friends and family in Kansas City, Missouri, April 1918-October 1919. The letters regard family business, daily life as a clerk in the office of the Assistant Provost Marshal, and cities in France. The letters bear color, printed "American Y.M.C.A," "American Expeditionary Forces," and "American Red Cross" letterheads.

This collection is made up of eight letters written by Private/Corporal Lauren Bray while in France with the American Expeditionary Forces, to friends and family in Kansas City, Missouri, April 1918-October 1919. The letters regard family business, daily life as a clerk in the office of the Assistant Provost Marshal, and cities in France. Private Bray often emphasized that receiving mail from loved ones was a great morale boost in the daily life of soldiers. The letters bear color, printed "American Y.M.C.A," "American Expeditionary Forces," and "American Red Cross" letterheads.

Sergeant Leo Maher wrote 3 letters to Selina Curry of Brooklyn, New York, while stationed in Saumur and St. Nazaire, France, just after World War I. Maher wrote about his expected return to the United States, gifts for the Curry family, and other topics.

While stationed in Saumur and St. Nazaire, France, just after World War I, Sergeant Leo Maher wrote 3 brief letters to Selina Curry of Brooklyn, New York, whom he addressed as "Mother Curry." Two of Maher's letters focus on his expected return to the United States, and he promised to visit the Curry family upon his arrival; he expected to sail in late January or early February 1919. Maher also mentioned a lengthy horseback ride and a Christmas cake he received from a French woman. In one letter, he mentioned his reunion with members of the "old 69th." See the Detailed Box and Folder Listing for more information about each item.