World War I Miscellany Collection
Scope and Contents
Training manuals and lectures, military administrative forms, transportation documents, propaganda, pamphlets, and more. This collection contains information pertaining to the training of American soldiers, battle plans and reports, activities of Americans fighting in Europe and organizing on behalf of the war effort in the United States, and the world disarmament movement of the interwar period.
Dates
- 1916-1934
- bulk 1917-1920
- 1930-1934
Note on Use of Collections
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Copyright
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Board of Governors for Truman State University, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.
Researchers further agree to indemnify and hold harmless Truman State University, Pickler Memorial Library, and their officers, employees, and agents from and against all suits, claims, actions, and expenses arising out of use of collections held by the library.
Historical Note
Although European imperial powers had been fighting World War I since 1914, America did not enter the war until 1917 after years of providing large loans to Britain and France under the guise of neutrality. Americans at home established organizations such as the Council of National Defense while many American men enlisted and were sent to serve with the American Expeditionary Forces, headquartered in France, after receiving training at military camps and forts throughout the United States. The invention of poison gas, one of the many technological advancements of World War I, required specialized training in chemical warfare which the soldiers received in gas schools in both the United States and France. The horrors of trench warfare and the decimation of much of Western Europe gave rise to a large world disarmament movement in the 1920s with the aim of abolishing war. The movement culminated in the League of Nation's World Disarmament Conference of 1932-1934; however, it quickly fell apart with the rise of fascist aggressions in Europe during the mid- and late 1930s and proved to be the last intergovernmental attempt at world disarmament.
Extent
0.4 linear feet
Language of Materials
English
French
German
Arrangement
This collection is organized into four series.
- Administration and Training, approximately 1917-1925
- American Experiences in Europe, approximately 1916-1925
- World War I in America, approximately 1917-1919
- World Disarmament, 1925-1930s
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These documents were acquired by the E.M. Violette Museum from various donors and then transferred to the Special Collections Department of Pickler Memorial Library. If known, the donors and original museum registration numbers are documented in the finding aid. Donors include Mrs. J.T. Angus, Bracey Cornett, the Darrs, Glen H. Green, the Harrington Estate, Tolbert Holliday, Edward Howell, James Rieger, P.O. Selby, Charles G. Singley, and Frank Ward.
Processing Information
Arrangement by processing archivists.
- Title
- World War I Miscellany Collection, 1916-1934, bulk 1917-1920 and 1930-1934
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Cheryl Musch and Adriana Gambach.
- Date
- [date unknown, before 2019] and 2023
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Truman State University, Pickler Memorial Library, Special Collections Manuscripts Repository