Personal Experiences in World War I, 1974-1980
A Guide to the Collection of Oral History Interviews at Indiana University
Bloomington
Finding aid prepared by the staff of the Center for
the Study of History and Memory with a grant from the National Endowment for the
Humanities Division of Preservation and Access, 2000-2002
Overview of the Collection
Repository
Indiana University Center for Documentary Research and Practice
Indiana University
Franklin Hall 0030B
601 E. Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405
Phone: 812/855-2856
Fax: 812/855-0002
E-mail: ohrc@indiana.edu
http://mediaschool.indiana.edu/cdrp/oral-history/
Creator
Indiana University Center for the
Study of History and Memory
TitlePersonal Experiences in World War
I, 1974-1980
Project No.
ohrc085
Interviews
9 interviews. Audiotapes, transcripts, and collateral
materials.
Physical Location
Interviews are housed in Franklin Hall, Room 0030B. Copies of interview transcripts are also held by the IU Libraries University
Archives.
Contact archives@indiana.edu for more information. For other locations housing the interviews
from this project, please contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice office.
Language
Materials are in English
Abstract
This collection of interviews contains experiences remembered by World War I veterans
nearly sixty years after the war. Topics range from transportation to Europe,
training, and the quiet after the armistice to weapon description, recreational
activities, and opinions about the French. In general, little detail is given about
specific battles, but there are descriptions of being gassed, fired on, and seeing
dead and wounded soldiers.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains nine interviews conducted over seven years. The interviews range from 35 to 140 minutes. All interviews
consist of audio tapes and typed transcripts.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Oral history interviews conducted by the Indiana University Center for the
Study of History and Memory from 1968 to the present, with particular focus on the
history of twentieth-century America and the Midwest.
Usage Restrictions
The archive of the Center for Documentary Research and Practice at Indiana University is open
to the use of researchers. Copies of transcript pages are available only when such copies
are permitted by the deed of gift. Scholars must honor any
restrictions the interviewee placed on the use of the interview. Since some of our earlier
(pre-computer) transcripts do not exist in final form, any editing marks in a transcript
(deletions, additions, corrections) are to be quoted as marked. Audio files may not be copied for
patrons unless the deed of gift permits it, and a transcript is unavailable for that
interview. The same rules of use that apply to a transcript apply to the audio interview.
Interviews may not be reproduced in full for any public use, but excerpted quotes may be
used as long as researchers fully cite the data in their research, including accession
number, interview date, interviewee's and interviewer's name, and page(s).
Preferred Citation
[interviewee first name last name] interview, by [interviewer first name last
name], [interview date(s)], [call number], [project name], Center for Documentary Research and Practice, Indiana University,
Bloomington, [page number(s) or tape
number and side if no transcript; if digital audio and no transcript, cite time when quote occurs].
Interview List
Interviewee
Axsom, John V. December 1, 1975
Call Number
76-014
Physical Description
14 pages; 1 tape, 3 3/4 ips, 35 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Martin, Charles E.
Access Status
Restricted: Interviewer wishes to be contacted prior to publishing and
requests appropriate credit in citation.
Scope and Content Note
John Axsom, born in 1896, discusses his experiences during World War I. In
general, he does not seem to remember much, and most memories about his
experiences are told by his wife. They mention the draft allotment, the ship
ride overseas, the food, and the few places he was stationed.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- United States Army
-
-
-
Place Names
- Argonne Forest, France
- France
- Liverpool, England
-
-
Subjects
- military draft
- military food
- military training
- ship transportation
- trench foot
- trenches
Interviewee
Blackwell, Frank, Sr. December 17, 1975
Call Number
76-013
Physical Description
28 pages; 1 tape, 3 3/4 ips, 60 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Martin, Charles E.
Access Status
Restricted: Interviewer wishes to be contacted prior to publishing and
requests appropriate credit in citation.
Scope and Content Note
Frank Blackwell, born in 1886, was a blacksmith in an artillery unit during
World War I. He was in charge of horseshoeing over 200 horses that were used
by the battery. He speaks about the wages, the ship ride to Europe,
blacksmithing, the occupation of Germany, and the armistice. Although he was
rarely in the trenches or front lines, he does mention flying shells and a
visit to the front lines to look around.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- United States Army
-
-
Occupation Names
- blacksmith
-
-
Place Names
- Bloomington, Indiana
- Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana
- New York, New York
-
-
Subjects
- 1918 Armistice
- artillery
- German occupation
- horseshoeing
- military food
- military training
- recreational activities
-
USS President Lincoln
- wages
Interviewee
Crider, Alva February 12, 1976
Call Number
76-016
Physical Description
34 pages; 1 tape, 3 3/4 ips, 80 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Martin, Charles E.
Access Status
Restricted: Interviewer wishes to be contacted prior to publishing and
requests appropriate credit in citation.
Scope and Content Note
Alva Crider, born in 1893, was drafted into the army in the fall of 1917, and
sent by rail to the East Coast to board ships bound for France. He describes
life in the trenches, standing guard, sleeping, and eating. He also
discusses an instance of friendly fire when a guard shot a returning
soldier. After the armistice was signed, they spent a few months closer to
Paris marching and training before being discharged and sent home.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- United States Army
-
-
-
Place Names
- Chillicothe, Ohio
-
-
Subjects
- 1918 Armistice
- friendly fire
- marching
- military draft
- military equipment
- military food
- military training
- pensions
- ship transportation
- soldier disputes
- trenches
- uniforms
Interviewee
Hampshire, Robert S. March 22, 1980
Call Number
80-028
Physical Description
38 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 80 minutes; no index; photocopy of
enlistment
Interviewer
Howey, Timothy
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Robert Hampshire, born in 1903, was in the 8th Field Artillery at the tail
end of World War I. He talks about being ready to leave for the Philippines,
but instead being stationed in Hawaii. After the war, he worked odd jobs in
Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois including the carnival and the building of
the International Harvester plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He discusses the
mislabeling of the nineteen twenties as "wild", and gives his opinions on
presidents Hoover and Roosevelt.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- 8th Field Artillery
- International Harvester Company
- United States Army
-
-
Personal Names
- Hoover, Herbert C.
- Roosevelt, Franklin Delano
-
-
Place Names
- Hawaii
- Philippines
- Waterloo, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- anti-German sentiment
- Great Depression
- motorized artillery
- nineteen twenties
- postwar employment
Interviewee
Jones, Floyd November 20, 1975
Call Number
76-015
Physical Description
37 pages; 2 tapes, 3 3/4 ips, 80 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Martin, Charles E.
Access Status
Restricted: Interviewer wishes to be contacted prior to publishing and
requests appropriate credit in citation.
Scope and Content Note
Floyd Jones, born in 1891, was a member of the 27th Engineers during World
War I. He speaks about building railroads and working on other construction
projects while being subjected to enemy fire. He also describes his feelings
of seeing wounded comrades, being in battle, and dead Germans. Finally, he
discusses free time activities such as visiting other cities or gambling,
and also mentions bringing home war souvenirs.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- 27th Engineers
- United States Army
-
-
Place Names
- Argonne Forest, France
- Brest, France
- Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana
- Rhine River
- St. Mihiel, France
-
-
Subjects
- 1918 Armistice
- marching
- military food
- military training
- railroad construction
- recreational activities
- trenches
- war souvenirs
- wages
- World War I battles
- wounded
Interviewee
Nikirk, Homer February 26, 1976;
November 7, 1974
Call Number
76-012
Physical Description
43 pages; 2 tapes, 3 3/4 ips, 75 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Martin, Charles E.
Access Status
Restricted: Interviewer wishes to be contacted prior to publishing and
requests appropriate credit in citation.
Scope and Content Note
Homer Nikirk, born in 1896, was in the 18th Infantry during World War I. He
was wounded several times in battle and speaks about those experiences. He
describes the trenches, mustard gas, German prisoners, and the various aid
groups, such as the Salvation Army.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- 18th Infantry
- United States Army
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Pershing, John J. "Blackjack"
-
-
Place Names
- Belleau Woods, France
- Brest, France
- St. Mihiel, France
- Vichy, France
-
-
Subjects
-
USS Findlay
- 1918 Armistice
- aid groups
- battle casualties
- Battle of Chateau-Thierry
- Battle of Verdun
- death premonitions
- French people
- gas warfare
- German prisoners
- military food
- military hospitals
- military training
- torpedoes
- trenches
Interviewee
Romine, Robert April 6, 1976
Call Number
76-032
Physical Description
21 pages; 1 tape, 3 3/4 ips, 50 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Martin, Charles E.
Access Status
Restricted: Interviewer wishes to be contacted prior to publishing and
requests appropriate credit in citation.
Scope and Content Note
Robert Romine, born in 1896, was a machine gunner in Company B, 123rd Machine
Gun Battalion. He describes the gun, and how they would shoot and advance
out of the trenches each night. He also talks about the German gas shells,
weather, dead soldiers, battles, and the armistice.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- 123rd Machine Gun Battalion
- United States Army
-
-
Occupation Names
- machine gunner
-
-
Place Names
- Argonne Forest, France
- Hoboken, New Jersey
-
-
Subjects
- 1918 Armistice
- battle casualties
- gas warfare
- Hill 304
- machine guns
- trenches
- weather
- World War I battles
Interviewee
Smith, Hobart November 20, 1975
Call Number
76-017
Physical Description
58 pages; 3 tapes, 3 3/4 ips, 140 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Martin, Charles E.
Access Status
Restricted: Interviewer wishes to be contacted prior to publishing and
requests appropriate credit in citation.
Scope and Content Note
Hobart Smith, born in 1897, was a member of the 67th Artillery Brigade, 42nd
Rainbow Division. He enlisted in August of 1917, and talks about his
enlistment, the ship ride to France, battles, gun operation, the armistice,
and his pension. He tells many stories about his experiences ranging from
the French girls to being gassed, and seeing wounded and dead soldiers.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- 42nd Rainbow Division
- 67th Artillery Brigade
- United States Army
-
-
-
Place Names
- Argonne Forest, France
- Bloomington, Indiana
- Brest, France
- Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- 1918 Armistice
- artillery
- battle casualties
- Battle of Chateau-Thierry
- Battle of the Marne
- French women
- gas warfare
- German occupation
- gun description
- military enlistment
- military equipment
- military guardhouse
- military pension
- military training
- physical examinations
- ship transportation
Interviewee
Utt, Robert April 15, 1976
Call Number
76-033
Physical Description
19 pages; 1 tape, 3 3/4 ips, 50 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Martin, Charles E.
Access Status
Restricted: Interviewer wishes to be contacted prior to publishing and
requests appropriate credit in citation.
Robert Utt, born in 1909, was in the 136th Heavy Field Artillery. The unit
spent most their service guarding German prisoners in France. He talks about
training on the artillery, riding the boat overseas, and his time at the
prison camp. He describes the cold weather, lice and fleas, and the theft of
supplies by the German prisoners.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- 136th Field Artillery
- United States Army
-
-
Occupation Names
- prison guard
- soldier
-
-
Personal Names
- Pershing, John J. "Blackjack"
-
-
Place Names
- Bordeaux, France
- France
- Jefferson Barracks, Missouri
- Liverpool, England
- Spain
- Terre Haute, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- military training
- prison camp conditions
- ship transportation
- supply theft
