Arthur H. Gilles World War I collection

Identity elements

Reference code

US US kmk U2007.12

Level of description

Collection

Title

Arthur H. Gilles World War I collection

Date(s)

  • 1917-1918 (Creation)

Extent

5.00 Boxes

Name of creator

Biographical history

Arthur H. Gilles was born on October 10th, 1892 to Lewis J. and Nellie Gilles in Nebraska. Arthur was the oldest of five children. He had three brothers Clifford L., born in 1895, Louis A., born in 1897, and Ronald D., born in 1908. He also had a sister Ruth H., born in 1908. Both Arthur and Clifford were born in Nebraska before the family moved to Kansas where Louis, Ruth and Ronald were later born. Gilles attended Kansas State Agricultural College between 1910 and 1914.

Arthur became engaged to Florence Paul and they were married on September 25th, 1916. They had two son’s Paul W. born in 1921 and Donald A. born in 1924.

Arthur began his duty in the Army on July 25th, 1918, and was stationed at Camp Funston in the 10th Division. Arthur and the 10th division remained at Camp Funston until September 29th when they moved to Ft. Riley to assist in emergency service at the hospital due to the influenza breakout among soldiers and did not return to Camp Funston until October 21st. On October 31st the 10th division left Camp Funston heading for Detroit, Michigan from which they would travel across the eastern United States transporting trucks for the Army. This continued until his duty in the Army was complete.

World War 1 ended on November 11, 1918, and Arthur returned to Camp Funston on January 11, 1919, and discharged on January 20th. Although there had been many rumors that the 10th Division would be recruited overseas this never happened and neither Arthur nor the 10th Division was ever involved in direct combat.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

After graduating from Kansas State Agricultural College in 1914, Gilles entered World War I in 1918. This collection spans the years 197 to 1919 and consists of five boxes.

System of arrangement

The collection is arranged in three series. Series 1) Correspondence to Florence Paul Gilles (with transcripts) (1918-1919); Series 2) Correspondence to and from relatives & friends (without transcripts) (1918-1919), and Series 3) Documents related to Gilles' military service (1917-1918).

Series one is housed in boxes one through three and includes letters from Arthur Gilles to his wife, Florence Paul Gilles, and includes enclosures he sent with the correspondence. This series includes a transcription of the correspondence prepared by daughter-in-law, Helen Gilles.

Box four is comprised of series two which contain correspondence written to and from Gilles and his relatives.

Series three is contained in Box five. It includes documents pertaining to Gilles' military service from 1917 to 1918.

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

No access restrictions. All materials open for research.

Physical access

Original materials available during open hours of repository and any digitized materials that are online are available with Internet access.

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property and libel laws as they apply.

Languages of the material

  • English

Scripts of the material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

Finding aids

Acquisition and appraisal elements

Custodial history

This collection was donated by Helen Gilles, daughter-in-law of Arthur H. Giles in 2007.

Immediate source of acquisition

Donation by Helen Gilles.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

Accruals

Related materials elements

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related archival materials

Related descriptions

Specialized notes

  • Citation: [Item title], [item date], Arthur H. Gilles World War I collection, Box [number or title], Folder [title or number], Morse Department of Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.

Alternative identifier(s)

Description control element

Rules or conventions

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Sources used

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Accession area

Related people and organizations

Related genres

Related places

Physical storage

  • 5" Flip Top, Letter: Box 1, A83412029642
  • 5" Flip Top, Letter: Box 2, A83412029757
  • Cubic Foot Box: Box 3, A83412030091
  • 5" Flip Top, Letter: Box 4, A83412029927
  • 5" Flip Top, Letter: Box 5, A83412029919