Earl Elmer Stewart Letters

Collection

Identifier: MSS-1989

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of forty-three letters and post cards written by Private Earl Elmer Stewart, serving in the Headquarter Company, 70th Artillery, Coast Artillery Command of the American Expeditionary Forces in France from April 5, 1918, to March 4, 1919. The letters are written to Stewart’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Elmer Stewart (Ella) of English, Crawford County, Indiana. The early letters, written while stationed in Fort Hamilton and Fort Wadsworth in New York, describe Stewart’s sight-seeing trips into New York City and his anticipation of embarking for France. He also describes 15 and 20 mile hikes as “taking a walk.” At one point, after landing in France, he expects to train as a chauffeur or motorcycle driver, but he never says whether or not the training was ever begun. In each letter Stewart assures his parents that he is “fine and dandy” and that the “Crawford County Boys” as he calls them, are all well too. There are also forty photographs, several of Earl Stewart, but most unidentified, and there is also a newspaper clipping (newspaper unknown – presumed to be a Fort Meyers paper) describing his parents' frequent fishing trips to Fort Meyers, Florida. Some of the photographs depict their prowess as anglers. The collection also contains three lists, one postcard, and one other letter. One of the lists appears to contain the names of the soldiers in the Headquarter Company of the 70th Artillery. The post card (postmarked May 27, 1887?) is to Miss Florence Stewart of Marengo, Crawford County, Indiana concerning a lawsuit. The letter is addressed to “My Dear Nephew and Niece” from Laura, dated July 14, 1918.

Dates

1918 - 1919

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers are responsible for using the materials in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright claimants in collection materials. Copyright for official University records is held by The University of Alabama. The library claims only physical ownership of many manuscript collections. Anyone wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of literary property rights or copyrights. Please contact Special Collections (archives@ua.edu) with questions regarding specific manuscript collections. For more information about copyright policy, please visit: https://www.ua.edu/copyright/. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals without the consent of those individuals may have legal implications, for which the University of Alabama assumes no responsibility.

Biographical / Historical

Earl Elmer Stewart was born in Marengo, Crawford County, Indiana, on May 23, 1896, the only son of Elmer and Ella Stewart. By 1918, they were living in English, Crawford County, Indiana, when Earl registered for the draft. He was called up with a number of Crawford County young men and served in the Headquarter Company, 70th Artillery, Coast Artillery Command, trained in Fort Hamilton and Fort Wadsworth in New York. Stewart’s unit sailed in July of 1918 for France and were finishing up their training in the village of Feneu, France, when the Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918. The 70th Artillery C.A.C., American Expeditionary Forces embarked for the United States on February 11, 1919 and reached Camp Merritt in Hoboken, New Jersey on February 23rd. The Regiment was demobilized at Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ohio on March 19, 1919.

Extent

0.15 Linear Feet (41 letters, 154 pages, 40 photos, 1 clipping, 3 lists)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Letters written by Private Earl Elmer Stewart of the Headquarter Company, 70th Artillery, Coast Artillery Command from April 5, 1918 to March 4, 1919 to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Elmer Stewart of English, Crawford County, Indiana.