Somers, Thomas, 1893-1978.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Somers, Thomas, 1893-1978.

Letters, 1917-1918, circa 1970.

UWM Manuscript Collection 197

.8 cubic ft. (1 small archives box, 1 oversize box)

ABSTRACT: Papers of a Milwaukee native drafted into the Army near the close of World War I. The collection contains correspondence Somers wrote to his mother talking about his training at Camp Greenleaf in Georgia as well as his position as a clerk there and daily life in the Army. Also included are Somers' draft notice, a photograph of him in military dress, a Thanksgiving menu from Camp Greenleaf, a Red Cross window flag and a song pamphlet. There is also a small collection of newspaper clippings dating from 1918 to the 1970s talking about Thomas Somers' bowling achievements. This collection contains a few artifacts including a Blue Star Service Banner, a National Army arm band, and a corded shoulder knot.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Thomas Somers was a second generation Irish American, born in 1893, into a middle-class family on Milwaukee's North Side. He attended St. Gall's Parish School on Locust Street and later enrolled in a Milwaukee trade school. His father died in 1912 leaving him with the responsibility of caring for his forty year old mother and siblings: Alice, Katherine, Florence, Madelyn, Gertrude, and Phil. He often refers to "the kids" in his letters. In 1918 the children ranged from ten to twenty-eight years old and lived in their mother's home on North 6th Street, either working or attending school. After the war ended, Somers returned home and worked as a clerk. He eventually married and lived with his wife, Rose, on the South Side of Milwaukee.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Somers, Thomas, 1893-1978. Letters, 1917-1918, circa 1970. UWM Manuscript Collection 197. UWM Manuscript Collection. Archives. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

RELATED COLLECTIONS:

Clark, Elmer F. Correspondence. (Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 187)

Dahmer, Harry. Letters. (UWM Manuscript Collection 148)

Fitzpatrick, Edward A. (Edward Augustus), 1884-1960. Papers. (Milwaukee Manuscript Collection AZ)

Kwasniewski, Roman B. J., 1886-1980. Photographs. (UWM Manuscript Collection 19)

LaPhilliph, Robert Snover. Papers. (Milwaukee Small Collection 201)

Milwaukee Solvay Quarter Century Club. Records. (UWM Manuscript Collection 57)

Sammond, Frederic, 1895-1966. Papers. (Milwaukee Small Collection 3 and Milwaukee Small Collection 79)

ACQUISITION: Presented by Matt Blessing on September 25, 2002.

PROCESSING: Terri Boesel processed the collection at the Archives in July 2003.

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:

Military training camps--United States.
World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, American.

UWM MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 197	BOX	FOLDER
Blue Star Service Banner, 1918	2
Business Card, Missouri Pacific Lines, circa 1920	1	1
Christmas Card, The Army Y.M.C.A., 1918	1	2
Clippings, 1918-circa 1970	1	3
Correspondence, 1918	1	4-6
Draft Notice, 1918	1	7
National Army Arm Band, ca. 1918	2
Negative, 1918	1	8
Photograph, 1918	1	9
Prayer Book for Soldiers, 1917	1	10
Red Cross Window Flag, Second War Fund, 1918	1	11
Shoulder Knot, ca. 1918	2
Soldier Address Tag, 1918	1	12
Song Pamphlet, ca. 1918	1	13
Thanksgiving Menu, Camp Greenleaf Development Battalion, 1918	1	14