John A. Peterson papers, 1918-1960
1 folder
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.
1 folder
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.
1 folder
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.
1 folder
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.
1 folder
The papers include a diary, July 1918-July 1919, describing the voyage to Archangel, his movements in Russia, his longing for home, and the voyage back to the United States. Also found in the diary are a transcript of an address by Americans to the Bolshevik soldiers and a statement describing an explosion at Shenkursk in January 1919. A separate journal, dated January-February 1919, describes fighting at Ust Padenga, Nizhnyaya Gora, and Vysokaya Gora, and includes a sketch map of the area. Also included are a letter describing army food and his longing for home, and a chronology of his military service, July 1918-April 1919.
0.3 linear feet
The 1916 diary describes his civilian life. The diaries, July 1918-March 1919 and June-July 1919, describe the ocean voyage to Russia, life in Archangel and on patrol, his dislike of British officers and strategy, fighting at Seletskoe, Sept. 1918; Kodish, Sept.-Oct. 1918; Verst 455 (on the railroad), Oct. 1918; and Kodish, Dec. 1918-Jan. 1919; a mutiny of Russian troops, Dec. 1918, his visit to France and Bolshevik agitation in the army there, and the voyage home. The correspondence, May 1917-June 1919, describes his experiences at Fort Sheridan, Ill., at Camp Custer, and in England, the Russian people, Archangel, and his daily routine. Also included is a letter from Charles E. Lewis, March 14, 1919, recounting Private Charlie Price's description of fighting by Co. K at Kodish, Oct. 13, 1918.
5 items
The papers include a short reminiscence and several songs Bruce composed about the campaign.
1 volume — 15 digital files (108 MB)
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.
15 items — 3 audiocassettes — 1.52 GB
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.
11 items
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.
1 folder
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.