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Marcellus, Edward R. (First World War correspondence)
2014.040.w.r
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Edward R. Marcellus First World War correspondence
source:
Leggee, R.E.
Identifier/Call Number: 2014.040.w.r
Identifier/Call Number: 763
Physical Description:
0.5 Linear Feet
(1 document box)
Date (inclusive): 1918 April 21 - 1919 June 2
Abstract: This collection contains the correspondence, records, and ephemera of Pvt. Edward R. Marcellus, AEF during the First World
Warfrom his time in France and Germany during WWI.
Language of Material: The materials in this collection are primarily in English. One series contains materials in German.
Container: WWI 12
Container: 1-10
Container: 1-10
Container: Oversize 1
Container: 6
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of R.E. Leggee. This is a legacy collection from Andrew Carroll.
This collection is arranged by material type, author, and date. Series 1: Correspondence from Edward Marcellus -- Series 2:
Correspondence from Goldie Marcellus -- Series 3: Correspondence from Peter "Papa" Marcellus -- Series 4: Other correspondence
with Edward Marcellus -- Series 5: Military correspondence and documents -- Series 6: Personal records -- Series 7: Ephemera
-- Series 8: German language materials.
Private Edward Richardson Marcellus, American Expeditionary Force registered for the draft at the age of 22 in 1917, listing
his occupation as an accountant. He claimed that he fully supported his parents, but did not claim exemption from the draft.
He married Goldie L. Brown and shared an apartment with her and her twin sister Gladys. In 1918 he began his service with
the 5th Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun Battalion in the American Expeditionary Force. He served in both France and Germany. In
the summer of 1919 he returned home. Goldie gave birth to a stillborn child in December of 1921. Shortly thereafter they divorced
and Edward remarried Bertha "Birdie" Elizabeth Hundley. They had one daughter, Virginia, in 1924. In 1925 they moved to Decatur,
Illinois and lived there for the duration of his life. For the rest of his career he worked as a salesman for Check Protector
Machines. Edward died on March 20, 1970 and is buried at the Fairlawn Cemetery with Birdie, who died in 1980.
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Edward R. Marcellus First World War correspondence (2014.040.w.r), Center
for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
This collection contains 130 letters between Pvt. Edward Marcellus and his wife Goldie, father, siblings, friends, and business
contacts while serving with the American Expeditionary Force in France and Germany during the First World War. Marcellus was
part of a small contingent of American soldiers tasked with overseeing the administration of an ex-German prisoner of war
camp of Russian prisoners. The collection also contains military documents, personal records, and ephemera.
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War (1914-1918)
World War (1914-1918) -- France
World War (1914-1918) -- Homefront
Prisoners of war
Prohibition -- United States.
World War (1914-1918) -- Germany
World War (1914-1918) -- Prisoners and prisons.
United States -- Army -- American Expeditionary Force.
Influenza Epidemic (1918-1919)
United States -- American Red Cross
Military training camps
Basic training (Military education)
United States. -- Army. -- Field Artillery
Leggee, R.E.
Marcellus, Edward