Swope Family Correspondence

Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
Copyright 2005
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
spcoll@ucsd.edu


Descriptive Summary

Languages: English
Contributing Institution: Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: Swope Family Correspondence
Creator: Swope (Family : Swope, Charles Byron))
Creator: Swope, Charles Byron
Creator: Swope, Gretchen
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0510
Physical Description: 0.4 Linear feet (1 archives box)
Date (inclusive): 1917-1918
Abstract: Letters from Charles Byron Swope to his wife, Gretchen, written during his tour of duty during World War I at Fort McDowell on Angel Island in San Francisco Bay.

Scope and Content of Collection

The Swope Family Correspondence contains letters from Charles Byron Swope to his new wife Gretchen, written from Fort McDowell on Angel Island in San Francisco Bay, between December 1917 and November 1918. The letters begin shortly after Swope's induction into the US Army and end the day before the World War I Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918. Swope wrote about personal and financial matters, the loneliness of his separation from his wife, his efforts to increase his income as a musician and photographer, and his dream of owning a farm. His letters also provide insight into everyday life on a stateside military base during World War I.
The collection also contains letters from Gretchen to Charles, although far fewer in number; letters from siblings and parents to Gretchen or Charles; and letters from friends. As a group, these letters relate family news and occasional gossip.
Arranged in three series: 1) CORRESPONDENCE, 2) MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS and 3) MICROFILM.

Publication Rights

Digital copies of this material are intended to support research, teaching, and private study. This work may be used without prior permission. The original manuscripts for this collection are held by Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library.

Preferred Citation

Swope Family Correspondence. MSS 510. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.

Acquisition Information

Acquired 2000.

Digital Content

This collection has been microfilmed and digitized.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

California -- History -- 1850-1950
Angel Island (Calif.)
World War, 1914-1918 -- California -- Personal narratives
Fort McDowell (Calif.) -- History
Swope, Charles Byron -- Correspondence
Swope, Gretchen -- Correspondence
Swope (Family : Swope, Charles Byron)) -- Correspondence

 

CORRESPONDENCE

Box 1, Folder 1

Alice J. (friend) to Gretchen Swope 1918 April 15-August 20

Letters from Alice J. to Gretchen Swope

Box 1, Folder 2

Barth, Elise to Gretchen or Charles Swope 1918 February 6-September 14

Letters from Elise Barth to Gretchen and Charles Swope

Box 1, Folder 3

Katherine (Gretchen's sister) to Gretchen or Charles Swope 1918 January 26-August 3

Letters from Katherine to Gretchen and Charles Swope

Box 1, Folder 4

Sawyer, Eda to Gretchen Swope ca. 1917-1918

Letters from Eda Sawyer to Gretchen Swope

Box 1, Folder 5

Swope, B.F. (father of Charles) to Gretchen and Charles Swope 1918 February 4-August 3

Letters from B. F. Swope to Gretchen and Charles Swope

Box 1, Folder 6

Swope, Charles Byron to B. F. Swope (father) 1918 May 23

Letter from Charles Swope to B. F. Swope

Box 1, Folder 7

Swope, Charles Byron to Gretchen (wife) 1917 December 17-1918 June 16

Letters from Charles Byron Swope to Gretchen Swope

Box 1, Folder 8

Swope, Charles Byron to Gretchen (wife) 1918 July 6-November 10

Letters from Charles Byron Swope to Gretchen Swope

Box 1, Folder 9

Swope, Charles Byron to Gretchen (wife) between 1917 and 1918

Letters from Charles Byron Swope to Gretchen Swope

Box 1, Folder 10

Swope, Gretchen to Charles (husband) 1917 December 27-1918 February 5

Letters from Gretchen Swope to Charles Byron Swope

Box 1, Folder 11

Swope, Marie (sister of Charles) to Gretchen and Charles

Letters from Marie Swope to Gretchen and Charles Swope

Box 1, Folder 12

Swope, Milly (sister of Charles) to Gretchen and Charles 1918 January 17-October 27

Letters from Milly Swope to Gretchen and Charles Swope

Box 1, Folder 13

Swope, Mrs. B.F. (mother of Charles) to Gretchen and Charles 1918 March 28-October 27

Letters from Charles' mother to Gretchen and Charles Swope

Box 1, Folder 14

Miscellaneous Swope family correspondence 1918 January 4-December 10

Miscellaneous Swope family correspondence

 

MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS

Box 1, Folder 15

Newspaper clippings, poems, etc. between 1917 and 1918

Miscellaneous materials from the Swope family papers

 

MICROFILM

Box 1, Folder 16

Microfilm - User copy