Merwin F. Ashley
World War I Scrapbook

1904 – 1921

(bulk dates 1918 - 1919)

 

Manuscript Collection Number:  XXX

Accessioned:  Gift of Heidi Pierce, 2004

Extent:  .4 ft. (1 volume)

Content:  News clippings, military papers and forms, correspondence, programs, announcements, calling cards, travel ephemera, and miscellaneous.

Access:  The collection is open for research.

Processed:  October 2004 by Theresa Hessey

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Table of Contents

• Biographical Note
  
• Scope and Contents Note
  
• Contents List
  

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Biographical Note

Merwin Franklin Ashley was born in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, on July 13, 1899 to Frank and Angelina Ashley.  On June 17, 1918, he joined the army as a first lieutenant, army field clerk with the property division of the American Expeditionary Forces.  Ashley sailed for Europe on July 15, 1918 on the R.M.S. Saxonia of the Cunard line.  After arriving in Liverpool on July 31, Ashley was stationed in Chaumont, Haute-Marne, France, with the American Expeditionary Forces.  Prior to serving in the military, Ashley was a student at New York University’s School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance.  It is unknown when Ashley returned from Europe but probably after June 1919.  He died in South Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, on March 15, 1974.

 

Sources:

Biographical information derived from the collection. 

Social Security Death Index.  Retrieved October 26, 2004.  http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi

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Scope and Content Note

            The Merwin Franklin Ashley World War I Scrapbook briefly chronicles the military service of a young army field clerk who served with the American Expeditionary Forces during the closing year of World War I.  As much a record of official enlistment documents and military transport, the volume also contains souvenirs and ephemera reflecting an American soldier’s leave from duty for recreation and entertainment.  A native of Brooklyn, New York, Ashley was stationed in Chaumont, Haute-Marne, France, immediately following his arrival in Europe.  The collection consists of one scrapbook, spanning the dates 1904 until 1921, however, the majority of material dates from 1918 and 1919.  The scrapbook contains news clippings, calling cards, YMCA programs, military forms, military telegrams, correspondence, programs, announcements, travel ephemera, and other miscellaneous items.  Of particular significance are a military certificate of identity with accompanying photograph, an application and insurance certificate dated the day following Ashley’s enlistment, and confidential information related to his transportation to Europe and port of embarkation. 

Contents List

Box -- Contents

1          Scrapbook, 1904-1921

Consists of military materials such as telegrams, confidential information, insurance forms, payroll information, certificate of identity, and general information distributed to all members of the American Expeditionary Forces.  Also included are materials related to Ashley’s leisure activities while in Europe, especially programs and announcements for plays and dances, and materials from his furlough in England and Ireland.  The scrapbook also contains a letter to Ashley from his mother and news clippings from Brooklyn newspapers dated 1904 and 1912.