Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Fowler, William H., Captain
- Abstract:
- Collection of correspondence and photographs from William H. Fowler, who worked with the railroad in Russia and Northern China around the time of the Bolshevik Revolution.
- Extent:
- 2 Linear Feet (3 boxes, 1 flat box)
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
[identification of item], Captain William H. Fowler Papers (M2098). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The materials consist of 185 handwritten letters and approximately 150-180 photographs taken by Fowler, as well as a few items of ephemera, including postcards, telegrams, War Department letters, and material related to the railway. The letters are largely sent from Harbin, China and Siberia, as well as a few from the United States. They are mostly to Fowler's wife, with whom he corresponded from 1917 to 1920, detailing for her his life in China and Russia. He describes the local populations, the conditions of the towns, cultural traits, politics, and the American forces in the areas. The Bolshevik revolution is mentioned, as well as a railroad strike in 1919. Most of the photographs are annotated with comments, and subjects include the conditions in Manchuria and Siberia, trains in Manchuria, Russian refugees, Chinese railroad workers, prisoners of war, breadlines, Russian solders marching shortly after the revolution, and American soldiers.
- Biographical / historical:
-
William H. Fowler was a civilian recruited to serve with the American Engineering Corps division of The Russian Railroad Service Corps (RRSC) American Expeditionary Force Siberia (in this case Manchuria). The American Expeditionary Forces were involved in the Russian Civil War in Vladivostok during World War I, and after the October Revolution from 1918 to 1920. The RRSC consisted of former U.S. civilian railway workers who were organized into a military-style unit with appropriate rank to operate railroads in support of Allied forces. This force supported the Russian Provisional Government In northwestern Russia. American Transportation Corps troops maintained the railways, but in Siberia, the RRSC carried out railway operations as well as maintenance. [Information from dealer description.]
- Acquisition information:
- This collection was purchased by Stanford University, Special Collections in 2015.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
- Terms of access:
-
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.
- Preferred citation:
-
[identification of item], Captain William H. Fowler Papers (M2098). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
- Location of this collection:
-
Department of Special Collections, Green Library557 Escondido MallStanford, CA 94305-6004, US
- Contact:
- (650) 725-1022