Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

The Michigan Historical Collections Polar Bear Expedition Photograph Collection includes images relating to the American intervention in north Russia, 1918-1919, the "Polar Bear Expedition." The provenance of most of the photographs has been lost and therefore these images have been grouped together by subject into an artificial accumulation.

The photographs in this collection were received from various sources, the provenance of most of the photographs has been lost and therefore these images have been grouped together by subject into an artificial accumulation. The digitized Polar Bear Expedition photograph collection is a part of a larger collection which includes a wide range of subject matter. The 24 images relating to the "Polar Bear Expedition" include photographs and postcards depicting various scenes, events, and individuals. Identified individuals include Private Walter Streit of Company M, 339th Infantry and General Richardson (W. P. Richardson?), as well as various photographs of Russian people. The collection also includes photographs of Company M, 339th Infantry and the 339th Infantry Supply Company and a photograph of a marker for Company H, 339th Infantry soldiers killed in action. Russian places documented in these photographs include Murmansk, Tegra, Archangel, Konetsbor, and the Vologda Railway.

The Michigan Historical Collections Topical Photograph Collection offer a broad and varied glimpse into nearly one hundred years of Michigan history, from the 1860s into the 1950s. The provenance of most of the photographs has been lost and therefore these images have been grouped together by subject into an artificial accumulation. Subjects depicted range from industry and transportation to clothing styles and social customs.

The photographs in this collection were received from various sources. Subjects include carriages, automobiles, Great Lakes shipping, railroads, and mass transit, especially street railroads. There are also images documenting activities within the mining, forestry, and lumber industries, mostly in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Also included are photographs of various ethnic groups and their societies, notably of Native Americans (1870s-1930s) of the Manistee and Ludington, Michigan, areas. Some of the images are street views and private residences in various Michigan towns and cities. Of interest are photographs of Michigan units taking part in the Spanish-American War and the "Polar Bear Expedition" of World War I. There is also a series of bookplates, [acquired from?] William H. Bicknell, many of which relate to the University of Michigan.

Her uncle, Robert Granville served as a sergeant, 337th Field Hospital in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes two papers, 1982, consisting of typescripts of letters of Robert Granville, written while in military training at Camp Custer, 1917-1918, and as a member of the Polar Bear expedition; also scattered clippings, and photograph.

The paper includes biographical information about Frisbie's uncle, Robert Granville, who served as sergeant, 337th Field Hospital, and transcriptions of several of his letters, Nov. 1917-March 1919. The letters include descriptions of army life at Camp Custer, his daily routine at Archangel, and the Russian people and their customs. A photograph of Granville is also included.

Soldier from Detroit, Mich., captain of Co. A, 339th U.S. Infantry who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes letters from Edmund Ironside, commanding officer of the Allied expedition and miscellaneous citations and decorations concerning activities of the Polar Bear expedition; also photographs.

Letters from Edmund Ironside, commanding officer of the Allied expedition and miscellaneous citations and decorations concerning activities of the Polar Bear expedition. Also a photo of Odjard with a group of children.

Born in St. Louis, Mo., member of Company D, U.S. 339th Infantry who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition."

Portrait, group photo of 339th Infantry, and photo of his grave marker.

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.

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

Printout of transcription of Rademacher's wartime diary.

Panoramic group photo of the Polar Bear Association and veterans of the 310th Engineers Regiment.

Photograph shows group portrait of Polar Bear veterans seated at banquet tables.

Photographs of memorial ceremonies at the Polar Bear Memorial in White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery, Troy, Michigan.

The collection contains photographs from unknown sources and includes scenes of the burial of the bodies returned in 1929 and memorial services at the Polar Bear Memorial at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery.

Member of the U.S. Polar Bear Expedition in Archangel, Russia; collection includes digitized photographs from Decoration Day ceremonies at White Chapel Cemetery in Troy, Mich. and notes from Flack's copy of The History of the American Expedition Fighting the Bolsheviki.

The Robert Bruce Flack papers consist of a two series, Photographs and Annotations.

The Photographs series contains digitized images of Robert Bruce Flack with fellow veterans and family members at Decoration Day events at White Chapel Cemetery in Troy, Mich. in the early 1950s. These include several images of Flack and family members in front of the cemetery's Polar Bear Monument, which was sculpted by Leon Hermant.

The Annotations series contains digital images of notes made by Flack in his copy of The History of the American Expedition Fighting the Bolsheviki (1920). These annotations provide details on Flack's service as a machine gunner on the Kodish and Railroad Fronts from December 1918 through April 1919.