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Ernest Fred Johnson World War I papers, 1918-1940

Overview of the Collection

Title
Ernest Fred Johnson World War I papers
Dates
1918-1940 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 box, (.25 linear feet)
Collection Number
UUS_COLL MSS 326
Summary
This one-box collection consists primarily of correspondence sent to Ernest Johnson's mother, Sophia, after his death.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Ernest Fred Johnson was born on December 15, 1892 in Randolph, Utah to John August Johnson and Sophia Anderson Johnson. Following the entry of the United States into World War I in 1917, Ernest Johnson was drafted into the army. He trained at Camp Lewis, Washington before being deployed to France in June 1918 where he served in Company I, 363rd Infantry of the 91st Army Division. On September 28, 1918 during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Ernest Johnson was killed in an explosion by an enemy shell casing fragment and buried in an American cemetery in France. Following the request of his mother, his body was returned to Randolph, Utah, where on August 21, 1919, he was given a soldier's burial.

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Content Description

This one-box collection consists primarily of correspondence sent to Ernest Johnson's mother Sophia after Ernest's death, including letters dealing with a life insurance policy set up for soldier's families, correspondence outlining the procedures for recovering a soldier's personal effects, and letters between Mrs. Johnson and the U.S. Army concerning the return of his remains from France to Utah. Folders 2-4 are the only folders that contain correspondence from Ernest Johnson. Folder 6 contains a detailed account from The American Red Cross on soldiers from various companies that served in the Argonne and Belgian offensives from September 26 through November 3, 1918. It provides a day-by-day account of the battles and lists the casualties from each battle. Folders 10, 11 and 14 contain letters that were sent to Mrs. Johnson from people who had known Ernest during his service in the army.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Ernest Fred Johnson World War I papers must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives manuscript curator and/or the Special Collections and Archives department head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: Ernest Fred Johnson World War I papers USU_COLL MSS 326, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations: USU_COLL MSS 326, USUSCA.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged in chronological order.

Processing Note

Processed in February of 2008.

Acquisition Information

The materials in this collection were donated to USU Special Collections and Archives by Harry Johnson, nephew of Ernest F. Johnson, on June 30, 2003.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Description: War Department Local Board correspondence
    Dates: 1918 January 4 - 1918 April 30
    Container: Box 1, Folder 1
  • Description: Correspondence from Ernest to brother
    Dates: 1918 June
    Container: Box 1, Folder 2
  • Description: Card to mother notifying of Ernest's arrival overseas
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 1, Folder 3
  • Description: Mother's Day cards
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 1, Folder 4
  • Description: "The Soldier's Spirit" soldier handbook from the YMCA
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 1, Folder 5
  • Description: The American Red Cross report on death
    Dates: 1918 November 28
    Container: Box 1, Folder 6
  • Description: Brief account of 91st Division in France written by Colin V. Dyment Lt. A.R.C. Dates
    Dates: 1918 July 20 - 1918 November 11
    Container: Box 1, Folder 7
  • Description: Newspaper clipping on Ernest Johnson's funeral service
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 1, Folder 8
  • Description: Letters of condolences to Mrs. Johnson from The American Red Cross and The Secretary of Interior's office
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 1, Folder 9
  • Description: Newspaper clipping of a letter that a fellow soldier wrote concerning Ernest's death
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 1, Folder 10
  • Description: Letter to Mrs. Johnson from Chaplain of 363rd
    Dates: 1919 January 1
    Container: Box 1, Folder 11
  • Description: Correspondence regarding grave in France. Includes photograph of grave
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 1, Folder 12
  • Description: Correspondence regarding Ernest's personal effects
    Dates: 1919 April and July
    Container: Box 1, Folder 13
  • Description: Letter to mother from Rev. A. H. Fish, pastor of Camp Meritt
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 1, Folder 14
  • Description: U.S. Army certificate of death
    Dates: 1919 January 22
    Container: Box 1, Folder 15
  • Description: The American Red Cross death reports for the 91st Division
    Dates: 1918 September 26 - November 3
    Container: Box 1, Folder 16
  • Description: Correspondence to Mrs. Johnson pertaining to funeral expenses
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 1, Folder 17
  • Description: Letter to Mrs. Johnson from The American Legion of Kemmerer, Wyoming in regards to headstone
    Dates: 1928 February 26
    Container: Box 1, Folder 18
  • Description: Insurance and compensation forms and correspondence
    Dates: 1918 May 9 - 1940 March 1
    Container: Box 1, Folder 19
  • Description: Miscellaneous blank World War I post cards
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 1, Folder 20
  • Description: Memorial card order forms
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 1, Folder 21
  • Description: Religious tracts and leaflets
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 1, Folder 22
  • Description: Cross necklace and sash with embroidered star
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 1, Folder 23
  • Description: Newspaper clipping announcing other local boys' drafts
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 1, Folder 24
  • Description: Correspondence pertaining to the return of Ernest's body from France to train station in Wyoming
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 1, Folder 25

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