Colonel Ralph E. Forsyth Collection MS-0470
Amanda Lanthorne
Special Collections & University Archives
03/07/2011
5500 Campanile Dr. MC 8050
San Diego, CA 92182-8050
askscua@sdsu.edu
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & University Archives
Title: Colonel Ralph E. Forsyth Collection
Creator:
Forsyth, Colonel Ralph E.
Identifier/Call Number: MS-0470
Physical Description:
1.00 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1925-1976
Date (bulk): c. 1930-1933
Language of Material:
English
.
The
Colonel Ralph E. Forsyth Collection primarily consists of loose album pages, which document Forsyth's military service in Nicaragua. Although the collection
dates from 1924 to 1976, the vast majority of photographs seem to date from the early 1930s and include scenes of the Nicaraguan
jungle and coast, photographs of Ruth Forsyth, military camp life, Marines, wedding photographs of unidentified couples, a
few family photographs, and more. The collection also has several loose photographs of the same subject matter. A few of
these photographs have brief captions, but in general both the album and loose photographs have little to no description.
Of particular interest is a page with partially burned photographs, apparently salvaged from some sort of wreck (the caption
is unclear). Also included are photocopies of a letter from one of Forsyth's comrades to Ruth telling her of how the 10th
Marines named a training camp in Forsyth's memory, and several other Marine Corps documents, such as a certificate, and an
application for Second World War compensation dating from 1944 and 1945.
The collection is open for research.
The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with
the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections
is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. Requests for permission to publish must be
submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission
is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission
of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available
for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including
but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.
Probably donated by Ruth Forsyth.
John and Jane Adams Photograph Collection
San Diego Scrapbook Collection
San Diego Photograph Collection
Francis M. Wulbern Papers
Identification of item, folder title, box number, Colonel Ralph E. Forsyth Collection, Special Collections and University
Archives, San Diego State University Library.
Ralph E. Forsyth was a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps. He was born on January 31, 1901 in Sayre, Pennsylvania.
Upon graduation from the Naval Academy, he joined the Marine Corps on June 3, 1922. He then served in the Philippine Islands
from March 23, 1924 to August 16, 1926; in China from February 3, 1927 to October 31, 1928; Nicaragua from February 21, 1930
to January 15, 1933; and finally in the Asia Pacific from November 3, 1942 to June 24, 1944. He died on June 28, 1944 in Saipan
while in combat. In 1945, members from his artillery regiment, the 10th Marines, named a training camp in his honor. During
his long service he was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation with ribbon bar and
one star, the Nicaraguan Medal of Merit with diploma, Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal, the American Defense Service Medal,
the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, and the Victory Medal. He was married to Ruth Forsyth.
2011-012
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Photograph albums
Photographs
Nicaragua--Military relations--United States--Sources
United States. Marine Corps--History--20th century--Sources
box 1, folder 1
Colonel Ralph E. Forsyth Collection 1930-1933