Physical Description: .2 Linear Feet(3 folders)
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
This series contains 75 letters written by Edward Marcellus to his wife Goldie between September 1918 and June 1919. For the
first several months of their correspondence, neither was receiving letters from the other, although they were both writing
almost daily. Edward received no letters from Goldie between September and December, and in one letter dated December 29,
1918, he admits he does not know whether she is "alive or dead" because he has heard about the influenza outbreak back home.
Edward is eventually assigned to a Prisoner of War camp in Gustrow, Germany where there are 8,000 Russian and Romanian prisoners.
He describes their main objective as "keeping Russian prisoners here...to keep them from going home and starting a revolution
in their own country." (Letter dated March 18, 1919). Other duties include caring for prisoners and distributing supplies
sent by the Red Cross.
In many letters it is evident that Edward's morale is quite low. He and the other men are upset because they feel that the
war is over and that they should be sent home. He especially wants to get home because his father is ill and Goldie cannot
support herself financially. In many letters he mentions his attempts at getting a discharge, and asks if Goldie has had any
success applying for a discharge on his behalf. By April and May the tone of his letters becomes quite urgent as he becomes
more and more desperate to get home.
Another letter of interest is dated April 7, 1919 where he alludes to prohibition when he remarks that Peoria has "stopped
making booze" and that he expects the rest of "the U.S.A. will soon be dry."