Finding aid for the Arthur Mansback papers
0040
Finding aid prepared by Sue Luftschein
USC Libraries Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
2011 November
Title: Arthur Mansback papers
Collection number: 0040
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.79 Linear feet
2 boxes
Date: 1918, 1940s (bulk 1918)
Abstract: The Arthur Mansback papers consists of letters, postcards, telegrams, photographs, training materials, and printed ephemera
created and collected by Private Arthur Mansback during his tour of duty in the United States Army Expeditionary Forces in
France during the second half of 1918. The letters, in conjunction with Mansback's training materials and the postcards he
collected, provide a broad overview of the daily life of an American foot soldier during the last months of World War I.
creator:
Mansback, Arthur E.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], Arthur Mansback papers, Collection no. 0040, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of
Southern California
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Acquisition
Donated by Eleanor Mansback, January 6, 1971.
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
Scope and Content
The Arthur Mansback papers consists of letters, postcards, telegrams, photographs, training materials, and printed ephemera
created and collected by Private Arthur E. Mansback during his tour with Battery A, 143rd Field Artillery of the American
Expeditionary Forces in France during the second half of 1918. The letters begin aboard the transport ship in August of 1918,
and end with Mansback's return to the United States (San Francisco) in January of 1919. In these letters, all addressed to
his mother, Mrs. Eleanor Mansback, Private Mansback discusses news of friends and relatives, financial matters (Mansback was
a stockbroker in Los Angeles), weather and conditions on board the transport ship and in France, censorship of letters by
Army censors, the cost of food in France, impressions of the French and their impressions of Americans, visits to local towns
and meals eaten, camouflage training school, life in the camp, Spanish flu, visits to the Amex Club and YMCA, occasional commentaries
on the progress of the war, and gifts purchased. Some letters are censored. Others contain letters from cousins living or
serving in France that Mansback forwarded to his mother. In addition to the letters are 59 postcards depicting scenes of the
war, Mansback's notebook from camouflage training and his two examinations (which are referred to in the letters), and a pamphlet
containing graphic images of dead soldiers. There are also 2 clippings and 2 pamphlets (World War II-era). Although Mansback
never saw combat, his letters provide a broad overview of the daily life of an American foot soldier during the last months
of World War I.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Mansback, Arthur E. -- Archives
Correspondence
Photographs
Postcards
Printed ephemera
Soldiers--United States--20th century--Archival resources
Telegrams
United States--Armed Forces--History--20th century--Archival resources
United States--Armed Forces--Military life--20th century--Archival resources
World War, 1914-1918--Archival resources
Box 1, Folder 1
Letter to American troops from King George
1918 April
Box 1, Folder 2
[On board ship]
circa 1918 August
Box 1, Folder 3
[On board ship]
circa 1918 August
Box 1, Folder 4
[On board ship]
circa 1918 August
Box 1, Folder 5
[On board ship]
circa 1918 August
Box 1, Folder 6
Camp de Souge
1918 August 28
Box 1, Folder 7
"Somewhere in France"
1918 September 2
Box 1, Folder 8
"Somewhere in France"
1918 September [11]
Box 1, Folder 9
"Somewhere in France"
1918 September [11]
Box 1, Folder 10
"Somewhere in France"
1918 September [13]
Box 1, Folder 11
"Somewhere in France"
1918 September [19]
Box 1, Folder 12
"Somewhere in France"
1918 September [19]
Box 1, Folder 13
"Somewhere in France"
1918 September [18]
Box 1, Folder 14
[Bordeaux]
1918 September 25
Box 1, Folder 15
Camp de Souge
1918 October 1
Box 1, Folder 16
Camp de Souge
1918 October 3
Box 1, Folder 17
Camp de Souge
1918 October 5
Box 1, Folder 18
Camp de Souge
1918 October 6
Box 1, Folder 19
Camp de Souge
1918 October 10
Box 1, Folder 20
Camp de Souge
1918 October 10
Box 1, Folder 21
Camp de Souge
1918 October 11
Box 1, Folder 22
Camp de Souge
1918 October 12
Box 1, Folder 23
Camp de Souge
1918 October 18
Box 1, Folder 24
Camp de Souge
1918 October 20
Box 1, Folder 25
Camp de Souge
1918 October 22
Box 1, Folder 26
Camp de Souge
1918 October 24
Box 1, Folder 27
Camp de Souge
1918 October 26
Box 1, Folder 28
Camp de Souge
1918 October 27
Box 1, Folder 29
Camp de Souge
1918 October 29
Box 1, Folder 30
Camp de Souge
1918 October 31
Box 1, Folder 31
Camp de Souge
1918 November 4
Box 1, Folder 32
Camp de Souge
1918 November 7
Box 1, Folder 33
Camp de Souge
1918 November 8
Box 1, Folder 34
Camp de Souge
1918 November 11
Box 1, Folder 35
Camp de Souge
1918 November 12
Box 1, Folder 36
Camp de Souge
1918 November 15
Box 1, Folder 37
Camp de Souge
1918 November 18
Box 1, Folder 38
Camp de Souge
1918 November 21
Box 1, Folder 39
[Bordeaux]
1918 November [23]
Box 1, Folder 40
Camp de Souge
1918 November 25
Box 1, Folder 41
[Bordeaux]
1918 November [28?]
Box 1, Folder 42
Camp Genicart
1918 November 29
Box 1, Folder 43
Camp Genicart
1918 December 2
Box 1, Folder 44
Camp Genicart
1918 December 6
Box 1, Folder 45
"On Board the Good Ship Mallory"
1918 December 18
Box 1, Folder 46
San Francisco
[1919] January 8
Box 1, Folder 47
Safe arrival postcards
1918
Box 1, Folder 48
Telegrams
1918 September, November
Box 1, Folder 49
Mansback's camouflage notebook
1918
Box 1, Folder 50
Camouflage training exams
1918
Box 1, Folder 51
"The Absolute Truth"
circa 1918
Box 1, Folder 52
Troop photographs
1918, 1943
Box 1, Folder 53
Printed ephemera
1918, 1940s
Box 2
World War I postcards
circa 1918
