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

This diary contains Dominick Miele's recollections of and information about his service in the United States Army from January 28, 1941-October 11, 1945. Miele, a member of the 47th Infantry Regiment and the 383rd Military Police Battalion, trained at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He participated in active combat in North Africa, Sicily, and mainland Italy, and served behind the lines in England and France.

This diary (1 volume) contains Dominick Miele's recollections of and information about his service in the United States Army from January 28, 1941-October 11, 1945. Miele, a member of the 47th Infantry Regiment and the 383rd Military Police Battalion, trained at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He participated in active combat in North Africa, Sicily, and mainland Italy, and served behind the lines in England and France.

Miele recorded details about his military experiences in a pre-printed diary entitled "My Life in the Service." The volume's inside covers bear printed illustrations of army and navy insignia, and each diary page includes a printed quotation, often pertaining to military service, democracy, or patriotism. The diary contains several labeled sections, as well as printed illustrations of soldiers. The first 3 sections list men and women whom Miele encountered while in the military: "My Buddies in the Service" (pp. 1-31), "Officers I Have Met" (pp. 33-41), and "Civilians I Have Met" (pp. 43-47). Miele and his friends recorded their names and notes about their relationships.

The main portion of the volume consists of Miele's recollections, including both retrospective narration and daily diary entries (pp. 53-118). Miele opened his account with a history of his life prior to his army induction, and commented on his distaste for Fort Dix, New Jersey, where he spent the first three days of his military career. After moving to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in February 1941, where he joined Company M of the 47th Infantry Regiment, Miele described daily life and training maneuvers, particularly after the United States's declaration of war against Japan, Germany, and Italy. Miele kept daily diary entries in early December 1941; on December 6, 1941, he wrote about Hitler's alliance with Mussolini (pp. 79-81). In October 1942, the 47th Infantry traveled to North Africa, where Miele discussed his experiences in the foxholes. He also participated in active combat in Sicily and mainland Italy until the Italian surrender in September 1943. Miele recounted his service in western Europe, beginning with his work with the 10th Replacement Depot in Litchfield, England, from May-October 1944. He then recorded his experiences with Company A of the 383rd Military Police Battalion in Cherbourg, France, and in Belgium, which included time guarding prisoners of war in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. Miele traveled around France during and after the final months of the war, and served with the 794th Military Police Battalion in Dijon, France, until September 1945, when he returned to the United States. He was discharged on October 11, 1945, and worked in a post office.

The final sections of the diary include a "Recipe for Happiness" (p. 208), a list of Miele's Italian military friends (pp. 210-211), a note from a friend (p. 212), addresses of family members and acquaintances (pp. 213-217), notable dates from Miele's military service (pp. 218-219), a list of gifts that Miele received in 1941 and 1942 (p. 220), a record of his travels during his early military service (pp. 224-227), and autographs (pp.228-229). The final pages contain printed instructions for giving first aid medical treatment.

This collection is comprised largely of the World War II letters of United States Army Air Forces Lieutenant Donald R. Caird (of Southeast Michigan) to Margaret I. MacDonell (of Phoenix, Arizona). Lieut. Caird's correspondence spans his Army Air Forces flight and instrument training at bases in Texas, Arizona, and California, 1943-1944; and his services as a pilot instructor at Merced, California, and Lincoln, Nebraska, from 1944 to 1945. His letters include information about work and everyday life on base, but primarily focus on his courtship with Margaret MacDonell, their marriage on December 7, 1943, the birth of their first son, and other aspects of their relationship, household, and newly forming family.

This collection is comprised largely of the World War II letters of United States Army Air Forces Lieutenant Donald R. Caird (of Southeast Michigan) to Margaret MacDonell (of Phoenix, Arizona). Lieut. Caird's correspondence spans his Army Air Forces flight and instrument training at bases in Texas, Arizona, and California, 1943-1944; and his services as a pilot instructor at Merced, California, and Lincoln, Nebraska, from 1944 to 1945.

Correspondence Series: In his letters, Donald Caird commented on his training, on the flying students, his own instructional methods, his administrators ("the brass"), weather conditions that had an effect on flying, his quarters, clothing and laundry, frustration with changing instructional requirements, vehicles and transportation, the GI Bill (March 22, [1945]), playing golf, bowling, and watching basketball and football games.

The most prevalent content in the Caird's correspondence pertains to his courtship with Margaret I. MacDonell, their marriage, the birth of their first son, and other aspects of their relationship, household, and newly forming family. He wrote about attending mass and confessional; planning before their December 1943 wedding; anticipating the birth of "shack rat"/"Roscoe" (i.e. Donald Caird) in November 1944; discussing Margaret's pregnancy, health, and medical treatments; working with real estate agents to find a house for Margaret and Roscoe near his Air Forces bases; wondering and reflecting on Roscoe's growth; trying to help manage finances; and planning for furloughs. He frequently discussed the next times he would be able to connect with Margaret. A small number of other correspondents contributed to the collection, including, for example, a couple of letters from Donald R. Caird's mother Ella Caird, enclosed in his letters of January 1944, and a letter from Dr. D. H. Moulton of Chico, California, on Margaret Caird's physical condition and pregnancy (June 13, [1944]).

A selection of Lieut. Caird's letters bear illustrated, printed letterheads, including those of the Hotel Tioga, Merced, California, "The Gateway to Yosemite"; "GARDNER FIELD", California (June 13, [1944]); and "New HOTEL OAKS", Chico, California (summer 1944).

Documents Series: The six partially printed documents contain records of Donald R. Caird's training at Thunderbird Field II, near Phoenix, Arizona, with aircraft types (all Stearman Aircraft Company PT-17s), flight times, and instructor names, December 8, 1942-January 19, 1943.

Printed Items Series: The printed items include five invitations/announcements/memorials, three newspaper clippings, and one printed pamphlet. The announcements include an invitation to the ordination of Rev. Alfred P. Caird (1915-1980) at Saint Basil's Church, Toronto, Ontario, September 29, 1941, along with a smaller announcement card for Rev. Caird's "First Solemn Mass" at Detroit, Michigan, October 5, 1941. The announcements/memorials include three variant printings memorializing Ella C. Caird following her death on July 5, 1962 (William Sullivan & Son Funeral Home, Royal Oak, Michigan). The three undated (World War II era) newspaper clippings regard the marriage of Dorothy Rohrbacher to Ted Levandowski, the birth of Donald Caird on November 21, [1944], and a pictorial announcement about the newly organized Ria Club Alumnae (including Margaret McDonell in a group portrait). The collection's single pamphlet is: Steve Caird, et al.The Greatest Generation: Caird Stories Volume 2 . Artifact Uprising, [21st Century].

The Antonio de Vea journal documents a sea voyage from Peru to the Strait of Magellan in southern Chile in 1675-1676.

The Antonio de Vea journal contains 106 pages (53 folios) of Spanish-language entries, covering September 21, 1675-April 19, 1676. Between folios 34 and 35, the volume contains an inlaid map of the coast of Chile from Isla de Chiloe to Golfo de Trinidad. Also included with the journal is a printed version of the Spanish text.

The journal comprises entries of varying length, describing sailing conditions and major events that occurred during the journey. In late-October and early-November 1675, de Vea recounted a stop at the island of Doña Sebastiana, and a near-shipwreck on rocks. He also noted receiving supplies, the collapse of a church on the island, and the worsening health of several Native Americans on the ship. In December 1675, he described the abandoned island of Santa Barbara, which was overrun with wild dogs that the Chono Indians had left behind (December 4), fishing with nets in the port of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (December 7), and a hurricane (December 11). Entries on December 27, 1675, and January 2, 1676, document the questioning of several Indians onboard concerning European pirates. On January 30, de Vea described a shipwreck that killed 16 men, 11 of whom were Chono Indians, near the western entrance to the Strait of Magellan.

After the entry of January 30, he did not write again until mid-March. The entries from March and April 1676 are generally very brief and describe the sailing conditions on the return to Peru, some repercussions of the shipwreck (March 30), and their arrival in Callao (April 17).

This collection is made up of letters addressed to Doris M. Fletcher of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, during World War II. Her most frequent correspondent was her boyfriend, Harold R. Bertholf of the merchant marine; she also received letters from "Wayne," a soldier serving in Italy, and Marie Babilis, a resident of Detroit, Michigan, who mourned Wayne's death in 1944.

This collection is made up of 40 letters addressed to Doris M. Fletcher of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, during World War II. Harold R. Bertholf wrote 35 letters to Doris, his girlfriend, from July 5, 1944-January 7, 1946. He discussed aspects of his service in the merchant marine, including travels between unnamed ports, leisure activities, and his anticipation of being assigned to a new ship. In several letters, he reassured Doris of his dedication to her and mentioned the possibility of marriage. After spending time at sea in 1944, Bertholf went to New London, Connecticut, where he took classes at the United States Maritime Service Officers' School at Fort Trumbull. He was stationed in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Houston, Texas, before receiving future assignments. From December 1945-January 1946, he worked for Christopher Gadsden and Street Brothers of Charleston, South Carolina.

Doris M. Fletcher's other wartime correspondents included "Wayne," a member of the United States Army who wrote 3 letters to Doris in June and July 1944. He briefly described Rome and mentioned his growing boredom with army life. After his death on July 19, 1944, Doris received 2 letters from Marie Babilis of Detroit, Michigan, who had been close to Wayne. She reflected on Wayne's death and requested that Doris ask a mutual friend to share details about the accident that killed him.

This collection is made up of four letters from mental health reformer and nurse Dorothea Dix to her friend Frances Bowen between 1886 and 1887. At the time, Dix was an octogenarian living in a private apartment in the New Jersey State Lunatic Asylum at Trenton, which she had founded in 1848. Her correspondence relates to the purchase, shipment, and gifting of copies of Helps by the Way by Sara Wilson and Martha Hussey, as well as Events and Epochs in Religious History by James Clarke. Dix reflected on the comfort she received from "Helps...", her illness, and her "disabling pain." Two of the letters are indicated "confidential."

This collection is made up of four letters from mental health reformer and nurse Dorothea Dix to her friend Frances Bowen between 1886 and 1887. At the time, Dix was an octogenarian living in a private apartment in the New Jersey State Lunatic Asylum at Trenton, which she had founded in 1848. Her correspondence relates to the purchase, shipment, and gifting of copies of Helps by the Way by Sara Wilson and Martha Hussey, as well as Events and Epochs in Religious History by James Clarke. Dix reflected on the comfort she received from "Helps...", her illness, and her "disabling pain." Two of the letters are marked "confidential."

Please see the Box and Folder Listing for detailed descriptions of each letter in the collection.

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 collection is primarily made up of photographs, periodicals and clippings, and ephemera related to World War I. The materials pertain to the occupation of France and Belgium, peace efforts, and the American-British-French-Belgian Permanent Blind Relief War Fund, among other subjects.

This collection is primarily made up of photographs, periodicals and clippings, and ephemera related to World War I. The Photographs consist of 422 prints and 240 negatives; a few of the prints are duplicates, and some images are represented by both prints and negatives. Most of the personal photographs were taken in numerous locales in France between 1916 and 1919, often showing rubble and destruction, camouflaged outposts, healthy and wounded Allied soldiers, nurses, medical automobiles and other scenes directly related to the war. Some items feature artillery pieces, dugouts or bunkers, warships, and the front lines; one shows an artillery explosion. German-language signage is visible in a few photographs, as are German and Allied cemeteries and grave markers. One group of images relates to the victory parade held after Woodrow Wilson's arrival in Paris in 1918. Views of French churches, chateaux, and towns are also present. Some of the personal photographs from the war period are informal portraits of French men and women, including a group of girls with large Alsatian hair bows.

The collection contains some commercial photographs, with captions written directly on the negatives. These include views of dead soldiers, artillery pieces, and a picture of a French tank division heading into battle. One captures the explosion of a German mine in Cambria, and one features Ferdinand Foch and John J. Pershing.

Other groups of photographs date from before the war. A group of photographs taken in Albany in 1909 includes a view of the Emma Willard School. One group of prints is comprised of views of Ely Cathedral and the various colleges of the University of Cambridge. Another set concerns a trip to Mexico, particularly Oaxaca and Mitla. These pictures feature natives in local dress (often carrying large loads), an outdoor produce market, and horse- or mule-drawn vehicles.

The Ephemera series includes 5 empty albums once used to house some of the photographic negatives in the collection, including captions. Two empty photograph envelopes are housed with the photographs, as are a Kodak exposure guide, a manual for the No. 0 Graphic Camera, and a number of loose articles laid into the cover of an issue of Kodakery. A group of 19 large broadsides and notices includes items in English, French, and German. Many of these are the German army's posted notices to residents of occupied towns in France and Belgium, which list rules and regulations related to curfews, "voluntary" work, and other aspects of daily life. One lists methods for picking nettles and offers rewards for residents who provide them, one warns against alcohol use, and one contains news about the Germans' progress toward Paris. Also included are three advertisements for French war bonds, a sign encouraging viewers to "Help Re-chickenize Devastated France," and a sign for an Army telephone station.

One group of items pertains to theAmerican-British-French-Belgian Permanent Blind Relief War Fund. This series includes a printed appeals by Helen Keller and the association's leadership, a pamphlet highlighting the organization's work, and reports by numerous organizations seeking to provide relief for blinded soldiers. Items printed in Braille include a list of rules for the Blinded Soldiers' and Sailors' Hostel in London, alphabet cards, a book with raised illustrations of several animals and parts of the human body, and several other items printed only in Braille.

The collection also includes a large number of Periodicals and Printed Items , including complete issues of and extracts from American magazines such as Vogue, the Illustrated London News, Dress & Vanity Fair, and The Red Cross Magazine; French publications such as L'Illustration, La Baionnette, and Les Arts Français; and the Austrian magazine Kikeriki. Many of these include photographs or other illustrations of winter recreational activities and World War I-era soldiers. Newspaper clippings often refer to the progress of World War I and to the peace process; one clipping pertains to the relationship between Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover in 1932. Other printed materials concern Germany's justifications for going to war, the German and Allied delegations' responses to the first draft of the Treaty of Versailles, and the capture of German artillery ("I have captured a boche Machine gun... what can I do with it?"). Other items include a musical score for a Girl Scout song entitled "Onward," French ration tickets, and a hand-colored lithograph by Marcel Jeanjean showing several French soldiers carrying logs across a battle-scarred landscape while smoke rises in the distance.

The Douglas MacArthur collection is made up of military documents related to General Douglas MacArthur and the 42nd (Rainbow) Division during the first World War, and miscellaneous letters, documents, photographs, published works, and one diary illuminating various aspects of the General's public career and personal life.

The MacArthur collection contains 885 letters, documents, photographs, and published works dating from March 23, 1885, to July 5, 1983. The bulk of the material (710 items) consists of military documents and manuscript notes from September 8, 1917 to January 27, 1919.

The military materials include general orders, field orders, field messages, memoranda, intelligence, and communications, related to the U.S. 42nd Division (The Rainbow Division), A.E.F., founded in 1917. The majority of the collection falls during the period of time from late 1917 to early August 1918, when Douglas MacArthur was Chief of Staff for the 42nd Division. Documents from military units that fought alongside the 42nd Division (both French and American), the U.S. Chemical Warfare, and the Intelligence Divisions -- as well as various German, French, and American communications -- are included. Organizational documents, such as training schedules, and march tables, are also present. A considerable number, if not all, of these materials must have been approved or viewed by MacArthur, and many of the items in this collection bear his initials or the initials of his information assistant, William Hughes, Jr. From early August 1918 until the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, MacArthur acted as the commanding officer for the 84th Infantry Brigade, and several military orders bear his name.

Seventy-six letters in the collection (located in Box 1) are either from Douglas MacArthur or pertain in some way to him. Six of these items, dated 1904, pertain to MacArthur and Florence Adams, whom he met in the Philippines, including a 46-page diary MacArthur wrote to Adams while he was on board a ship from Manila to the United States. Five letters, dated 1921 and 1925, are written by MacArthur to Louise Brooks who became Mrs. Douglas MacArthur in 1922. These letters contain both romantic content as well as personal reflections on the events in MacArthur's life at the time. Also included are nine letters from MacArthur to Hamilton Fish, Jr., dated 1921-1934. The remainder of the correspondence is a miscellaneous collection of letters written by Douglas MacArthur, Jean MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Harry S. Truman, and others.

The Douglas MacArthur collection also contains a notebook kept by Kenneth A. Sutherland, veteran of the 42nd Division, which contains a selection of items related to the Division's post-war activities and reunions; 40 aerial photographs and negatives taken by the 91st Reconnaissance Squadron, October 10, 1918; several photographs of Douglas MacArthur; thirteen published works by or about the General; and other miscellaneous materials.

The Douglas, Wyoming Police court records consist of an alphabetical list of defendants and a chronological record of criminal trials. The trial entries include the defendant(s) name, a description of the charges, and associated fees.

The Police Court Docket from Douglas, Wyo., is divided into two parts, a scantily maintained alphabetical register of defendants and chronological records of each trial, including defendant's name, crime, fees, and a description of the charge. The progression of crime in the Territory of Wyoming's early years is apparent.

From 1887 to 1890, the majority of the cases recorded in the docket involved repeat offenders charged with prostitution and the operation of bawdy houses, intoxication, public disturbance, and the brandishing of pistols in public places. By 1890, prostitution had become so routine, that it was penalized by a mere monthly fee of $4.00, and a court fee of $1.00. Angie La Fontaine operated a particularly successful house of ill repute from 1887 to 1899, where May Arms and Jennie Smith, two of the town's most frequent repeat offenders, worked.

The crimes increased with the population, generally resulting in more drunk and disorderly arrests, and other crimes such as procuring whiskey for minors, selling merchandise without a license, assault, street fighting, and indecent exposure; the fines typically remained at a level between $5.00 and 10.00. Among the most unusual cases recorded is one involving a defendant tried for "willfully and unlawfully lead(ing) a worthless and immoral life in the town of Douglas." On June 8, 1908, he was sentenced to 30 days in jail, unless he left town. He left town. These later entries contain occasional postscripts, listing defendants' inability to pay, desire to work off fine, or flight from the town.

The Dreer family letters document a poor Virginia family's migration to Texas and the hardships they suffered living there. One letter of particular interest describes a gruesome murder committed by a slave, and the slave's speedy trial and execution.

The Dreer family letters contains 5 items that document this large Virginia family's migration to Texas. Three letters are addressed to Frederick and Fredericka Dreer, Frederick's elderly parents living in Philadelphia. They report on the children and explain that they need to leave Virginia, because they are burdened with debt and their current plot of land cannot support such a large family. Land in Texas, in 1851, was cheap and labor was valuable. Later letters describe life in Texas, local agriculture, such as seed quality and terrain, and illnesses in the family. Two letters are addressed to Frederick's brother Henry. One describes a gruesome rape and murder committed by a slave, and the slave's speedy trial and execution.