Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

Papers of a soldier in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition."

The album contains ca. 350 photographs, including scenes of ports, camps in England and France, the countryside of Russia, Murmansk, men on patrol and in camp, battle casualties, battle damage and construction on the railroad, Russian people, village scenes, fortifications, allied soldiers, airplanes, repair of railroad cars, and the voyage home. These photographs are described in a printed list distributed by John E. Wilson.

[See North Russia pictures/taken by John E. Wilson for Wilson list]

Corporal in Company B, 310th. Engineer Regiment during the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes photographs of Schultz and Schultz's family.

The collection consists of three photographs. One is a photographic postcard of Frank Henry Schultz, taken in Archangel Russia during the expedition. One is a photocopy of a Schultz family photo, which includes Frank's mother, Frank's sister Minnie Schultz Chromasta and neice Hazel Chromasta, and Frank's father. The third is a photocopy of another family photo, including Frank's mother, Frank's neices Grace Vierheilig and Hazel Chromasta, and nephew William Vierheilig.

Papers of a soldier with the 339th Infantry 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 for digitized images, includes one TXT file with a commentary of the photographs.

Digitized files include letters and photographs relating to Lauer's service in Russia. including street scenes in Archangel and Murmansk, warships, Russian people, American and other soldiers, and some scenes of France, 1918-1919; also contains digitized magazine articles relating to the expedition, and reunion pamphlets.

Engineer with the Fargo Engineering Company of Jackson, Mich. Collection includes correspondence relating to his professional activities with the U.S. Nitrate Plant in Muscle Shoals, Alabama; include copy of letter, Nov.1918, from W. C. Giffels, discussing construction work in Russia as part of the Polar Bear expedition.

The papers contain a typescript of a letter, Nov. 23, 1918, from W. C. Giffels, lieutenant with Co. A, 310th Engineers, describing the Russian railroad system and building practice, railroad repairs, and construction equipment used in the Archangel campaign.

Soldier from Port Huron, 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 letters describing primarily food and the weather.

Letters describing daily activities; also diaries containing brief descriptions of his activities in Russia and of his passage home. Most of the collection has not been digitized.

Soldier from Petoskey, Mich. who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes a letter describing his experiences as sergeant in Co. A, 1st Battalion, 310th Engineers.

This is a photocopy of a newspaper clipping containing a letter from Billeau describing living conditions and weather in Russia.

Papers of a soldier who served as a cook in the 310th Engineer Regiment, Company B during the American intervention in North Russia, 1918-1920.

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.

In this finding aid, the files have been arranged into one series, Postcards. Within this 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.

Files include three digitized postcards sent by Cogswell while he was serving in Russia. All three postcards feature maritime scenes of Archangel. The messages on the postcard are dated October 3, October 7, and November 22, 1918.

Soldier from Ann Arbor, Mich., member of 337th Field Hospital who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes photographs taken during training at Camp Custer, Michigan and while in Russia; also photos of Michigan National Guard troops at Camp Grayling, Michigan; and photographs of the Nordman family in Ann Arbor, and of the Merchants Delivery Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The album contains ca. 80 photographs, including scenes of men at Camp Custer, on board ship, and on patrol in Russia, an ice-covered river, barracks scenes, pictures of Russian people and scenery, prisoners, warships on a river, and scenes of men in Brest, France. Also included is a large group portrait of the 337th Field Hospital taken at Camp Custer, a snapshot of a 1968 Polar Bear Association ceremony, photos of the Michigan National Guard at Camp Grayling in the 1920s, photos of the Merchants Delivery Company Ann Arbor, and family scenes in Ann Arbor.

Papers of a soldier with the 339th Infantry in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition."

This collection is divided into three series, Papers, Visual Materials, and Memorabilia.

The Papers Series includes five letters Andrews wrote to family with detailed descriptions of northern Russia and of his thoughts and activities; a notebook containing dates of arrivals and departures, briefly noting place and activity; a postcard written by Andrews dated June 20, 1919 and memorabilia.

The Visual Materials series includes a portrait of Andrews in uniform and at veterans activities. Of the ten photographs in this series, the only dated photograph is the portrait of Andrews in uniform which is dated 1919-1920.

The Memorabilia series includes Andrew's military identification tag, an undated Military Patch, Speak French: A Book for the Soldiers, 1917, and a wallet which includes Andrews' American Legion membership card, 1930-1932; Boy Scouts of America adult member certification, 1933; Knights of Pythias membership dues official receipt, 1928, 1930; and La Société des Quarante Hommes at Huit Chevaux membership card, 1931.

Soldier from Hart, Mich., member of Co. C, 339th U.S. Infantry who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes shorthand diary with newspaper clippings attached concerning the activities of the Polar Bear Expedition.

The diary consists of a shorthand original, July 1918-July 1919, and a typescript transcription by the author, and describes fighting at Seltso, Sept. 1918, work at battalion headquarters at Shenkursk, a YMCA Christmas program, the evacuation of Shenkursk, Jan. 1919, and fighting at Vistafka, Jan.-Feb. 1919. The scrapbook includes a clipping from a Shelby, Mich., newspaper containing a letter from Arkins describing his journey from the United States to Russia, the food, and the Russian people; poems about the campaign; a flyer defending British war aims in Russia; and three American Legion Weekly magazines, 1922, containing articles about the campaign by Daniel H. Steele.

Soldier from Bay City, Mich., member of Co. A, 339th U.S. Infantry who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes diary, correspondence and newspaper clipping relating to his military life with the Polar Bear Expedition.

The papers include a diary, July 1918-Jan. 1919, describing patrolling, foraging for food, and fighting at Shenkursk, Oct. 1918, and Nijni Gora, Jan. 1919. Also included is a letter, Feb. 26, 1920, from T. B. Kernan, expressing his anger at news that the Bolsheviks had taken Archangel, and a roster of the 2d Platoon, Co. A.

Member of Co. H, 339th U.S. Infantry who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes field diary recounting the Polar Bear expedition and photographs of Archangel and members of the expedition.

The collection contains a copy of the field diary of Co. H, Sept. 1918-Apr. 1919, describing the company's service on the Onega front, including fighting at Chekuevo, Sept. 1918; Wazentia[?], Oct. 1918; Turchasovo, Dec. 1918; Chinova, March 1919; and Bolshie Ozerki, March and April 1919. Also included are 34 photos by the American Red Cross, containing group portraits and pictures of base areas, churches, Russian people, soldiers on patrol, and fortifications, all taken in the Onega- Chekuevo area.

Edmund Atkinson was a WWI army veteran who participated in the Polar Bear Expedition in Russia. He later moved to Arizona where he worked in real estate. This collection contains a photograph and letter from Atkinson's time in Russia, as well as two clippings of his obituary.

The Edmund Atkinson papers contain digitial copies of a photograph and letter relating to Atkinson's time in Russia during WWI, and two newspaper clippings of Atkinson's obituary.

Member of Medical Corps, 310th Engineers, U.S. Army who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes letter and songs relating to the Polar Bear expedition to Archangel.

The papers include a short reminiscence and several songs Bruce composed about the campaign.

Papers of a soldier in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, 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 Visual Materials. Within each series, files are listed numerically according to the number they were given by the donor. A short description of the digitized object follows the file number. The files in this collection are in TIF format.

Digitized papers include the 310th Engineers Christmas Greetings, Archangel Russia, the Midnight Sun, a diary of his service, which he called his Army record, two newspaper clippings and an untitled document dated June 30, 1919. Digitized photographs include: Amos by himself in uniform, Amos with three other soldiers, Firchow Mull and Drew in winter uniform, an unidentified photograph and a digital photograph of a uniform button.

Soldier from Sanilac County, Mich., member of Co. H, 339th U.S. Infantry who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes typescript of his statement relating his experience as a prisoner of war and copies of his enlistment and discharge records.

The papers consist of photocopies of a typescript of his statement relating his experience as a prisoner of war and copies of his enlistment and discharge records.

Research papers on topics relating to Michigan history and the history of the University of Michigan written by students in the History Department Undergraduate Honors Program.

Papers of a soldier in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition."

Trammell's collection consists primarily of photocopies of records from the National Archives documenting the search and retrieval of Trammell's body from Russia. Also, photocopies of photographs of Trammell and his grave.

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 Fruitport, 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 a diary, article from The Literary Digest, and newspaper clipping describing his combat experiences in Russia.

The papers, all photocopies, include a typescript of Colburn's diary, Sept. 1918-April 1919, which contains very brief accounts of his experiences, including fighting on several fronts and the alleged mutiny of Co. I. Also included are a short reminiscence, a newspaper clipping containing a letter from Colburn describing fighting along the railroad in Sept. 1918, and an article from The Literary Digest describing the "mutiny" of Co. I. The originals of the papers are owned by Colburn.