Clyde Brothers WWI Letters
Scope and Contents
Collection consists of nine letters written by the Clyde brothers, Leslie and Robert A., to their mother, their father, their sister Margaret, and their younger brother Sander (Alexander). Most of the letters were composed during the brother's deployments in France, except for the first and second letters which were written before the brothers were commissions as 2nd Lieutenants in the Coastal Artillery on August 15, 1917. The first letter is dated a day after the Clyde brothers enlisted in the military as Sergeants in the Coast Artillery Massachusetts National Guard. The second letter in the collection is dated August 4th, 1917, and sent from the Coast Artillery Officers Training Camp in Fort Monroe, Virginia where Leslie was stationed and shortly thereafter, Robert as well.
The letters are witty, erudite, and observant, and include a striking letter by Leslie written from a Red Cross Canteen after leaving the war front regarding the nature of the canteens and the stupendous and gallant American women working there. The brothers comment on their experiences in France. Most of the letters are written by Leslie Clyde, with the last two letters of the collection written by Robert Clyde.
Dates
- Creation: May 13, 1917 - October 24, 1918
Creator
- Leslie Clyde (Person)
- Robert A. Clyde (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Archives and Special Collections of Ganser Library will reproduce Special Collections material to the extent that physical condition and copyright or other legal restrictions permit. Reproduction is available in the form of photocopies and digital images. All reproduction requests must be approved by a member of the professional staff. Decisions will take into account the type and condition of the binding, the brittleness of the paper, the size and the general size and fragility of the item.
Conditions Governing Use
Archives and Special Collections adheres to the provisions of the 1976 Copyright Act and amendments, and follows the minimum standards of educational fair use established under Section 107. In applying these standards, Archives and Special Collections will copy up to 10% of a copyrighted work if the copy is to be used for the purpose of private study, scholarship or research. The department will not copy for the purpose of public performance. Physical condition permitting, the department will copy more than 10% of a copyrighted work only with the written permission of the copyright holder. Multiple copies are not permitted under fair use. For authored works created since 1978, copyright lasts from the creation of the work until 70 years after the author's death. The expiration term for corporate, anonymous, or pseudonymous works is 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever occurs first. For works published before 1978, with a copyright notice, the maximum duration of copyright protection is 75 years. Works published before 1978 without a copyright notice are assumed to be in the public domain. Since March 1, 1989, a copyright notice is no longer necessary. Archives and Special Collections reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.
Biographical / Historical
Leslie M. Clyde was the oldest of the six children born to Robert A. and Jennie Clyde. Leslie attended Harvard University from 1910-1914, earning his Engineering Sciences Bachelor of Science in 1914. Robert A. Clyde was the second oldest of the six children and attended Harvard University, enrolling from 1911-1913 and 1914-1915. Unlike his brother, Robert did not receive a degree.
The Clyde brothers remained in Cambridge after finishing at Harvard University and jointly enlisted as 1st Sergeants with the 6th Company Massachusetts Coastal Artillery on May 12, 1917. Both attended officers training in Plattsburg, New York until Leslie was transferred to the Coast Artillery Officers Training Camp in Fort Monroe, Virginia sometime in June of 1917. Robert would be transferred to the same camp shortly thereafter. On August 15, 1917, the brothers were commissioned as 2nd Lieutenants in the Coastal Artillery, sailing to France on September 12, 1917.
Once in France, Leslie attended French and British trench mortar schools before being promoted to 1st Lieutenant in October 1917, and assigned to the 2nd Trench Mortar Batter, 2nd Division on January 1, 1918. Robert was commissioned as a provisional 2nd Lieutenant CAC, Regular Army on October 26, 1917 before later being promoted to 1st Lieutenant and assigned to the 2nd Trench Mortar Battery, 2nd Division on January 7, 1918. Despite the difference in their wartime trajectories, the brothers spent much of their training and service with each other until Leslie was reassigned as an instructor in June 1918.
In June 1918, Leslie was reassigned as an instructor and sent home to the United States. During his return, his ship, the President Lincoln, was torpedoed and sank by a German submarine. He and many of his shipmates made it to lifeboats. After working as an instructor in Fort Monroe, Leslie was promoted to Captain on July 23, 1918, and reassigned to Battery C, 6th Trench Mortar Battery. Leslie’s last letter in the collection is sent shortly before he returns to France in September 1918.
While Leslie returned to the United States, Robert remained in France and saw combat at the Troyan sector, Chateau-Thierry, and the Second Battle of the Marne. Robert returned to the United States on September 7, 1918, to serve as an instructor at Camp Abraham Eustis, Virginia. Robert’s last letter in the collection is sent shortly before his resignation as commander in October 1919.
Extent
1.25 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
System of Arrangement
Series I - Correspondence
Technical Access Requirements
The processing fee for photocopying or scanning requests is $10.00/request. There is no charge for Millersville University students, faculty, or staff.
Method of Acquisition
Purchased
Source of Acquisition
Purchased from DogStar Books.
Name and Location of Repository
Archives & Special Collections, Millersville University, Millersville, PA 17551
- Title
- Clyde Brothers WWI Manuscript Letters
- Status
- Completed
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Millersville University Special Collections Repository
9 North George Street
McNairy Library, PO Box 1002
Millersville University
Millersville 17551-302 US
717-871-7134
Special.Collections@millersville.edu