Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

Papers of a soldier with the 339th Infantry in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1919, the "Polar Bear Expedition."

The John Peterson papers consists of photocopies of military discharge papers and other official documents and a 1960 invitation to Polar Bear reunion and also a photograph of Peterson in uniform.

Maps created for the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1919, the "Polar Bear Expedition."

The collection contains maps (Scale 1:420,000 and [1:1,050,000] not "1/105,000") of the district of Archangel, Russia created in 1918 by engineers of the Allied intervention in North Russia. Individual sheets are by the Elope Mapping Section or the N.R.E.F. Mapping Section.

Member of Co. G, 339th U.S. Infantry who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes partial transcript of interview recounting his experiences with the Polar Bear Expedition; and miscellanea collected at the time of the expedition.

The tapes contain two interviews conducted in Dec. 1971 by Sheldon Annis, in which Salchow describes his general memories of the campaign, the Russian people, Archangel, relations with British and French troops, his experiences at Camp Custer, machine gun training, army food, the mutiny of Co. I, and the morale of the troops. A partial transcript of one of the interviews is included in the papers, along with issues of The Trident, published aboard the U.S.S. Von Steuben while returning from Russia, six post cards of Archangel scenes, and some Russian money.

Soldier from Holland, Mich., member of Co. I, 339th U.S. Infantry who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes diary, 1918-1919; and papers, 1940-1945, of the Howard H. Pellegram Post No. 3734 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars concerning the men and activities of the Polar Bear Expedition.

The papers include Albers' safe conduct from the Bolsheviks and his passport to the United States as well as a typescript diary, May 1918-July 1919, apparently that of Fred Kooyers, of Co. E, 339th Infantry, which includes descriptions of fighting at Kodish, Dec. 1918-Jan. 1919, and at Malie Ozerki, March 1919. Also included are newspaper clippings and papers relating to the Captain Howard H. Pellegrom Post No. 3734, Veterans of Foreign Wars, dated 1938-1945.

Papers of a soldier with the 339th Infantry in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1919, the "Polar Bear Expedition."

Teh Primm Papers include a typed reminiscence (titled "Polar Bear Tales") with transcribed copies of letters written from Russia describing Primm's experiences. Also contains a digitized copy of the reminiscence and letters supplemented by photos and maps.

This collection contains digital reproductions; 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.

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.

Soldier from Bay City, Mich., member of Co. B, 339th U.S. Infantry who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes diaries which give an account of his service in Russia with the Polar Bear expedition, including sympathetic references to the Bolsheviks.

The diary, Sept. 1918-April 1919, a photocopy, describes his sympathy for the Russian people and the Bolshevik cause, his impressions of Russian life, housing, crops, food, and marriage, as well as fighting at Seltso, Sept. and Oct. 1918, and Toulgas, Oct. 1918. He also describes the difficulties in which he found himself in March 1919, when he drew up a petition protesting the presence of American troops in Russia after the end of the war. A transcript of the petition is included. The original of the diary is owned by Parrish.

Maps created for the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1919, the "Polar Bear Expedition."

The collection contains maps (Scale 1:420,000) of the district of Archangel, Russia created in 1918 by engineers of the Allied intervention in North Russia, the 1st Battalion, 310th U.S. Engineers. The maps were published by the Allied Mapping Section. This copy contains only five of the six sheets published. Another copy of this map is found in the Frederick C. O'Dell papers.

Papers of a soldier with the 339th Infantry in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1919, the "Polar Bear Expedition."

Collected transcript of Ballard's diary and a letter to his family, copies of photos and of published materials relating to his service.

Soldier from Copemish, Mich., member of Co. E, 339th U.S. Infantry who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes correspondence, certificates of recognition, and obituary concerning work of the Polar Bear Expedition; and photographs.

The papers consist mainly of obituaries and miscellaneous clippings. Photographs include portraits of Bigelow.