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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition
  • Arrangement
  • Biographical / Historical
  • Preferred Citation
  • Content Description
  • Conditions Governing Use

  • Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives
    Title: William Garren First World War correspondence
    Creator: Garren, William I., Master Engineer, 1893 - ?
    source: Eisenberg, Jon
    Identifier/Call Number: 2017.682.w.r
    Physical Description: .24 Linear feet (3 folders)
    Date (bulk): 1917 February 25 - 1920 May 5
    Abstract: This collection contains written correspondences from and books based on Master Engineer William Garren, 21st Engineers U.S Army Corps of Engineers, during the First World War.
    Language of Material: English .
    Container: WWI 3
    Container: 24-26
    Container: 1-3

    Conditions Governing Access

    This collection is open for research.

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    Gift of the Alper A. Garren Trust, donated by Jon B. Eisenberg, Trustee.

    Arrangement

    This collection is arranged by material type, author, and date.

    Biographical / Historical

    Master Engineer William I. Garren, United States Army (b. 1893) was born in San Francisco, California. He became an architect and eventually volunteered with the 21st Engineers to serve overseas with the American Expeditionary Force. He served in France between 1917 and 1920, constructing light rail trains and railroads.

    Preferred Citation

    [Item title, Box number, Folder number], William Garren First World War correspondence (2017.682.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

    Content Description

    This collection contains written correspondences from and books based on M. Eng. William I. "Will" Garren, USA during the First World War. In the letters, he describes the work he is doing building light rail trains, life in France, updates about the war, asks about news from home, checks in with family, requests for supply boxes, and discusses the eventual end of the war. There are two books, one titled "The Leatherman-Cronk Story of Two Innocents Abroad in the 21st Engineers, Light Railway, World War One" and the second titled "The Education of Alfred Chandler, or Innocents Abroad". The Leatherman-Cronk book details the experiences of engineers Les Leatherman and Earle T. Cronk during the First World War. The book contains stories about their enlistment and training, embarking to France, their experiences building railroads in a warzone, and the eventual armistice. The book was gifted to William Garren on December 30, 1963. The Alfred Chandler book contains a narrative based on letters sent by engineer Alfred Chandler to his wife. In it, Chandler recalls his trip across the Atlantic, his arrival in France, and stories about his experiences during the war.

    Conditions Governing Use

    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

    World War (1914-1918)
    Correspondence -- World War, 1914-1918
    World War (1914-1918) -- France
    United States -- Army -- Corps of Engineers
    Christmas
    Garren, David
    Eisenberg, Jon