Finding Aid for the Edward R. Marcellus First World War correspondence 2014.040.w.r
Lauren Menges
Center for American War Letters Archives
7/7/2016
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
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
box WWI 12, folder 1-3
Series 1. Correspondence from Edward Marcellus 1918-09-03-1919-07-02
Physical Description: .2 Linear Feet(3 folders)
Language of Material: English.
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."
box WWI 12, folder 4
Series 2. Correspondence from Goldie Marcellus 1918-09-01-1919-05-21
Physical Description: .1 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains 35 letters written by Goldie Marcellus to her husband Edward dating between September 1, 1918 and May
21, 1919. Goldie consistently writes of missing her husband and never knowing if he receives her letters. In one letter dated
February 2, 1919 she indicates she has written over 50 letters and doesn't know if he has received any of them. Throughout
the course of her letters she maintains a positive attitude, but the later letters indicate she is rapidly running out of
money and needs Ed to come home. She writes that she is trying to get him discharged. Other interesting letters include one
dated October 23, 1918 where she describes an outbreak of influenza in camps at home where over 5,000 enlisted men have died,
and she considers Ed lucky to be "over there." In another letter dated November 27, 1918 she expresses her opinion that she
believes the Germans will lose because they lack God. Letters beginning in May of 1919 have typed responses from Edward in
between the lines of Goldie's letters.
box WWI 12, folder 5
Series 3. Correspondence from Peter "Papa" Marcellus 1918-09-30-1919-05-17
Physical Description: .02 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains six correspondence written by Edward's father, Peter Marcellus, from Pittsburgh, PA to Edward and Goldie.
He signs his letters "Papa." One letter dated September 30, 1918 was written to his son Edward and describes his poor health
and struggle to meet his monthly expenses. Despite his troubles, he mentions that he always remembers there are thousands
of people worse off than he is. He writes four letters to his daughter-in-law Goldie, also describing his deteriorating health
and the family's efforts to secure Edward a discharge.
box WWI 12, folder 6
Series 4. Other correspondence with Edward Marcellus 1918-04-19-1919-05-25
Physical Description: .04 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains 14 correspondence written to or from Edward Marcellus. Correspondents include a colleague, Edward's manager
Mr. H.S. Austrian of the Henry H. Shufeldt & Co., a friend named Margaretta Lett, his brother Randolph Marcellus, a friend
named Clarence. F. Spindler, his sisters Hazel and Stella, a friend named A.W. Bennett, a friend named Kenneth Creble, his
father Peter, and a Mr. N.D. Chapin, Director of the Interstate Commerce Department at La Salle Extension University in Chicago,
IL. The letters describe life back home in Peoria, IL, and business Edward conducted while serving overseas.
box WWI 12, folder 7
Series 5. Military correspondence and documents 1919-02-06-1919-06-02
Physical Description: .08 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains various military correspondence and documents. Included is a four page instruction document entitled
"Instructions for Representatives of Inter-Allied Commission Appointed to Russian Prisoner Camps." Also included are two copies
of a special orders document dated February 13, 1919 listing the officers and enlisted men who were to report to duty at Russian
Prisoners of War Camps in Gustrow, Germany. There is also a report dated February 22, 1919 on the number of prisoners, the
conditions of the camp, and health conditions of prisoners.
Correspondence includes several memos written by Edward in April of 1919 requesting he be discharged on account of his father
being ill and his wife being unable to support herself. One responding memo indicated the request was disapproved; however,
two subsequent telegrams from the end of May and early June show his request for discharge was eventually granted.
box WWI 12, folder 8
Series 6. Personal records 1916-1919
Physical Description: .08 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains the personal records and documents of Edward Marcellus. Included is correspondence, documents, and lessons
from the Ransomerian School of Penmanship dated 1916. Also included is a personal account written by Edward entitled "Seeing
Germany," a handwritten English-German vocabulary list, and two maps of Berlin.
box WWI 12, folder 9
Series 7. Ephemera
Physical Description: .08 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains ephermeral items saved by Edward Marcellus. Included are blank souvenir postcards, a notebook, a commencement
ceremony invitation, ration stamps, a business card from the Hotel du Pavillon, a leather billfold, and a program for "Cinderella"
dated May 3, 1919. Also included is a newspaper clipping entitled "Peoria Boy is Ready to Sail: Edward Marcellus is Provided
with Overseas Helmet and Other Provisions in Preparation for Embarkation."
box WWI 12, folder 10