University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Dahmer, Harry.

Letters, 1918-1919.

UWM Manuscript Collection 148

.2 cubic ft. (1 small archives box)

ABSTRACT: The collection consists of a series of love letters written by Harry Dahmer, a private in Company A, 10^th Infantry Replacement Company, to Sylvia Steffen of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The letters give brief accounts of basic training, the climate in Texas, and reminiscences of Milwaukee and Wisconsin. Dahmer also provides short descriptions of leisure activities in camp at Le Mons, France, such as baseball and music, and of visiting Paris and St. Malo, France.

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).

ARRANGEMENT: The letters are organized chronologically.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Private Dahmer wrote the letters from the time he entered the army in 1918 through his time served in France from December 1918 through June 1919. Dahmer was stationed in several areas during his correspondence. For a brief time he was in Jefferson, Missouri; beginning August 15, 1918, he underwent basic training as a member of Company A, 10th Battalion Infantry Replacement at Camp McArthur in Waco, Texas, and in September 1918, he traveled to Camp Merritt, New Jersey, en route to France. By December 1918, Dahmer was stationed in Le Mons, France with the Ordnance Depot, 83rd Division; he remained there until his return home in June of 1919.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Dahmer, Harry. Letters, 1918-1919. UWM Manuscript Collection 148. University Manuscript Collections. Golda Meir Library. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

RELATED COLLECTION:

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

ACQUISITION: The collection was purchased by the Archives in July 1999.

PROCESSING: Jeannine Strunk processed the collection at the Archives in August 1999.

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

Basic training (Military education)--Texas--Waco.
Love-letters.
Military camps--France.
Military camps--Texas.
Milwaukee (Wis.)--History--Sources.
United States. Army. Infantry, 10th.
World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, American.

UWM MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 148	BOX	FOLDER
Correspondence, 1918	1	1-2
Correspondence, 1919	1	3