Finding Aid for the Chester McKay First World War correspondence 2017.150.w.r
Center for American War Letters Archives
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Chester McKay First World War correspondence
Creator:
McKay, Chester M., 1888-1947
source:
McKay, Hilda, 1891-1920
source:
Conner, LA
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.150.w.r
Physical Description:
.22 Linear feet
(6 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1918 - 1922
Abstract: This collection contains 27 letters to Private Chester McKay, who served overseas with the American Expeditionary Forces in
Europe at the end of World War I. Most of the letters were written by his wife, Hilda McKay. The collection also includes
letters written to Chester McKay by other family members. In addition to the letters, there are nine photographs, several
blank postcards, and other documents.
Physical Description: Two of the pictures in the Graphic Materials series arrived torn in half and were placed in plastic sleeves.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWI 5
Container: 5-10
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of LA Conner.
This collection is arranged chronologically by material type:
- Series 1, Correspondence from Hilda McKay to Chester McKay
- Series 2, Correspondence from Family Members to Chester McKay
- Series 3, Other correspondence
- Series 4, Graphic materials
- Series 5, Ephemera
Chester Miles McKay was born on August 8, 1888 in Harrison County, Texas. He was inducted into the Army on June 27, 1918
and sailed overseas on the Leviathan in late October of 1918, just before the war ended. Private McKay was assigned to the
Tank Corps of the American Expeditionary Forces. He served with Casual Company A.
He served overseas in France from November 1918 to May 1919 and was honorably discharged on June 9, 1919.
McKay died on June 26, 1947.
[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Chester McKay First World War correspondence (2017.150.w.r), Center for American
War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
This collection contains 27 letters written to Private Chester M. McKay, American Expeditionary Force at the end of the First
World War. He served with the Tank Corps in the US Expeditionary Forces. The collection was donated by LA Conner, who says
they were in his mother's possession and he found them after she died. He writes that his mother, Verdie Conner, was a friend
of the McKay family.
Most of the letters are written by McKay's wife, Hilda. In the letters she discusses her loneliness and writes about activities
on the homefront at the end of World War I. She also writes frequently about news of soldiers returning home.
There are also letters from other family members, including Chester McKay's sister, Nettie, and his brother-in-law, Harry,
who also served in World War I. Additionally, there is a letter from a man named George, who may have been McKay's brother-in-law.
Another letter is from a woman named Louise, whose relationship to Chester and Hilda McKay is unknown. The letter is addressed
to Chester and she also mentions Hilda in the correspondence.
The collection also contains nine photographs, although there are no captions and the subjects are not identified. In one
photograph, a soldier is standing next to a product sign written in French. Additionally, there are several blank postcards
and a clipping of a magazine series called "Training Camp Tales" that ran in a publication titled "People's Favorite Magazine."
There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the
responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions. For further copyright information, please contact the archivist.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Correspondence -- World War, 1914-1918
World War (1914-1918)
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
World War (1914-1918) -- Homefront
McKay, Hilda, 1891-1920
Conner, LA
box WWI 5, folder 1-2 of 6
Series 1, Correspondence from Hilda McKay to Chester McKay 1918 October 26 - 1919 May 31
Creator: McKay, Hilda, 1891-1920
Physical Description: .075 Linear Feet(2 folders)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains 14 letters written to Army Private Chester McKay from his wife, Hilda, who lived in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania.
The correspondence was written at the end of World War I while Chester was serving overseas. He was sent over at the very
end of the war.
The correspondence describes activities on the homefront to mark the end of the war and Hilda frequently relays news reports
of soldiers returning home.
A November 23, 1918 letter mentions a parade in Wilkinsburg.
A December 23, 1918 letter mentions a celebration in honor of President Wilson in Brest, France.
In a January 11, 1919 letter, she writes about the 80th Division coming home and the process of delousing before the soldiers
came home.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Correspondence -- World War, 1914-1918
World War (1914-1918)
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
World War (1914-1918) -- Homefront
box WWI 5, folder 3 of 6
Series 2, Correspondence from family members to Chester McKay 1918 October 22 - 1919 February 17
Physical Description: .07 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains 11 letters written by various family members to Chester McKay, while he was serving overseas at the end
of World War I. Many of the letters were written by McKay's sister, Nettie. There are also letters from his brother-in-law,
Harry, who was also serving in World War I, and a man named George, who may have been McKay's brother-in-law.
In a Nov 18, 1918 letter, Nettie writes about how soldiers are allowed to wear uniforms for three months "after they are mustered
out." It also mentions censorship rules being raised.
One letter from George dated February 17, 1919 indicates that Chester McKay is in the hospital although the reason is unclear.
A November 23rd letter from George also mentions a parade for servicemembers and discusses casualty lists and how Wilkinsburg,
PA has been "somewhat prominent" in them.
Other letters discuss activities on the homefront and sports events.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Correspondence -- World War, 1914-1918
World War (1914-1918)
World War (1914-1918) -- Homefront
box WWI 5, folder 4 of 6
Series 3, Other correspondence 1918 December 14 - 1918 December 30
Physical Description: .025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains two letters. One was written by a woman name Louise to Chester McKay. The letter also mentions Hilda
although her connection to the McKays is unclear.
The other letter is from George to Harry, who was serving in World War I. The letters suggest that George and Harry are Chester
McKay's brothers-in-law. The letter discusses soldiers returning home and the events of the holidays. It also makes mention
of censorship restrictions being lifted.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War (1914-1918)
Correspondence -- World War, 1914-1918
World War (1914-1918) -- Homefront
box WWI 5, folder 5 of 6
Series 4, Graphic materials
Physical Description: .035 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Physical Description: Two of the pictures arrived torn in half and were placed in plastic sleeves.
Language of Material: English.
This series contains nine photographs and several postcards with no writing. The photographs do not have captions and the
subjects are not identified.
In one photograph, a soldier is standing next to a product sign written in French. There are also pictures of what appears
to be a family and other pictures show an unidentified woman posing for pictures. Additionally, there are several pictures
of children. A couple of the pictures appear to be class pictures.
box WWI 5, folder 6 of 6
Series 5, Ephemera 1918 - 1922
Physical Description: .025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains two documents: a page from the publication "People's Favorite Magazine" and a June 1922 document to Chester
McKay from the Home Owners Loan Association in Houston, Texas. The page from "People's Favorite Magazine" is of a series
titled "Training Camp Tales." A search of the title indicates that a series of that name was published in "People's Favorite
Magazine" in 1918.