Finding Aid for the William Garren First World War correspondence 2017.682.w.r
Lee Feldman
Center for American War Letters Archives
11/4/2017
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
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
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the Alper A. Garren Trust, donated by Jon B. Eisenberg, Trustee.
This collection is arranged by material type, author, and date.
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.
[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.
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.
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