Keepsakes of War | The Great War: A Centennial Remembrance | HBLL

Keepsakes of War

A Connection to People and Places

Bringing home souvenirs from the war was not unique to World War I. Clinton Larson and Leland Selvey are examples of soldiers that kept items they had acquired during the war. Souvenirs ranged from clothing to official papers to printed materials to photographs. Important to the men that collected them, they are often interesting to and preserved by their descendants.

U.S. Army souvenir postcards circa World War I — Souvenir postcards of the U.S. Army

U.S. Army souvenir postcards circa World War I — Souvenir postcards of the U.S. Army

Frank Harmon's postcards to his sister Emily Harmon — MSS 3201 Frank N. Harmon papers — Frank Harmon mailed these postcards done in ink to his sister Emily Harmon in St. George, Utah. Harmon was stationed in Newport News, Virginia, at the time.

Frank Harmon's postcards to his sister Emily Harmon — MSS 3201 Frank N. Harmon papers — Frank Harmon mailed these postcards done in ink to his sister Emily Harmon in St. George, Utah. Harmon was stationed in Newport News, Virginia, at the time.

World War I signal whistle — Signal whistle — Whistles much like this one were used in battles to warn troops of incoming enemy attacks, mortar rounds, and gas attacks. If the enemy was using gas, it would provide troops with time to put on a gas mask. But the principal purpose of these whistles was to signal a call “over the top” to battle or retreat. In some settings general signals would indicate to move the fight to the right (one blast) or to the left (two blasts).

Items courtesy of Heather Seferovich:

Samples from the book Practical Hints on Paris — Practical Hints on Paris — This small book was “offered by the American People through the American Red Cross.” The inscription reads “Present of American Library Association, July 25, 1919. Sgt. Leland J. Selvey, Am. Com. To Negotiate Peace, Hotel Crillon, Paris”. Pull out maps show theaters, restaurants, artistic sites, and shops. The book gives further details of the sites.

Samples from the book Practical Hints on Paris — Practical Hints on Paris — This small book was “offered by the American People through the American Red Cross.” The inscription reads “Present of American Library Association, July 25, 1919. Sgt. Leland J. Selvey, Am. Com. To Negotiate Peace, Hotel Crillon, Paris”. Pull out maps show theaters, restaurants, artistic sites, and shops. The book gives further details of the sites.

Excerpts from the book Paris Album Artistique — Paris Album Artistique — Souvenir book of photographs of Paris. Photo shown is image from the Arch of Triumph.

Excerpts from the book Paris Album Artistique — Paris Album Artistique — Souvenir book of photographs of Paris. Photo shown is image from the Arch of Triumph.

Image from the book Fountainebleau — Fountainebleau — Souvenir book of colored ink photographs post cards of Fountainebleau. Photo shown is the bedroom of Marie Antoinette.

Page from the French agenda journal — French agenda for 1919 — Published in French, this agenda belonged to Leland Selvey. Displayed pages are an account of some of his time on a troop ship from Paris to New York City. The following is a transcription of the pages:
Decembre, Lundi 15: Sea is more calm today. It is getting warmer as we are near the gulf stream. Am wearing my army flannel shirt. Making a little better time today. We are about halfway to New York tonight.

Decembre, Mardi 16: Average speed at noon today for last 24 hours was 12 knots an hour. Travelled 298 miles since yesterday noon. Took cold salt shower this morning.

Decembre, Mercredi 17: Very windy today. Sea a little rough. We spend most of our time playing whist. Have movies in dining room every night. A small storm came up about 11:30. Foghorn was necessary. Wind blew part of wireless away.

Decembre, Jeudi 18: Very nice weather today. We’re making fairly good time. Went to picture show tonight. Expect to get into New York Sunday morning.

Photo of journal — Agenda for 1918 — Entry shown is for Armistice Day. It reads:

We put in a tiresome night in a 3rd class coach along with other American & French soldiers. Arrived in the A.M. at 9:00 o’clock and after an hour’s delay of registering the big bunch of us we were taken to the various hotels. Sutton & I got a nice room in the Grand Hotel de la Plage du Casino at Dinard. We have fine beds and the meals are great.

Germany signed the armistice this morning and firing on the front ceased at 11 a.m. Everybody celebrated tonight here in Dinard.

Sections from the Home Stretch ship newsletter — The Home Stretch — A newsletter documenting crossing of troops from France to the United States on the former U.S.S. Amerika. Information about the voyage is detailed. Clips of current news stories in the United States and Europe are included. Human interest stories are also part of the newsletter.

Sections from the Home Stretch ship newsletter — The Home Stretch — A newsletter documenting crossing of troops from France to the United States on the former U.S.S. Amerika. Information about the voyage is detailed. Clips of current news stories in the United States and Europe are included. Human interest stories are also part of the newsletter.

Pages of transcript of meeting held at Trianon Palace Hotel — Transcript of session held at the Trianon Palace Hotel, Versailles, on May 7, 1919, 3 P.M. — The document gives details of work that was done for the second treaty of Versailles. While the Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, the details of the peace treaty were hammered out in 1919. Speakers of French and German are translated into English for the document.

Pages of transcript of meeting held at Trianon Palace Hotel — Transcript of session held at the Trianon Palace Hotel, Versailles, on May 7, 1919, 3 P.M. — The document gives details of work that was done for the second treaty of Versailles. While the Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, the details of the peace treaty were hammered out in 1919. Speakers of French and German are translated into English for the document.

Articles from Lamar, Missouri, newspaper — Articles from Lamar, Missouri, newspaper — These articles give glimpses of the type of articles in small town newspapers during World War I. Two articles deal with Red Cross Sale. A third article talks about false rumors concerning the sale of flour, the final article details some of the challenges of soldiers writing letters home.

Articles from Lamar, Missouri, newspaper — Articles from Lamar, Missouri, newspaper — These articles give glimpses of the type of articles in small town newspapers during World War I. Two articles deal with Red Cross Sale. A third article talks about false rumors concerning the sale of flour, the final article details some of the challenges of soldiers writing letters home.

Pictures of the packets containing negative of photos from France — Kodak photo packets — The packets contain negatives from photos taken in France. The information on the inside of the packets is written in French.

Pictures of the packets containing negative of photos from France — Kodak photo packets — The packets contain negatives from photos taken in France. The information on the inside of the packets is written in French.

Photo of the Beaumont Barracks picture album — Photo album with images from World War I — The photo shows the Beaumont Barracks Mess Hall in Tours decorated for Christmas 1918.