Descriptive Summary and Abstract
Cushing Memorial Library
College Station, TX 77843-5000
Munshower, Raymond, 1892-1964
Inventory of the Raymond Munshower
Diary
1918-1919
1 item
Raymond Munshower was born 8 June 1892 and died April 1964. Probably from Chester County, Pa., Munshower seems to have served with the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I, from 25 July 1918, when he left for Camp Lee, Va., to be transferred from there on 29 Aug. 1918 to Camp Johnston, Fla. He was subsequently sent to Camp Merritt, N.J., arriving there on 4 October 1918. A nearly fatal bout of influenza sidelined Munshower with many of his fellow soldiers in New Jersey for a time, but by late October he was declared fit, and sailed for France on a troop ship, departing New York harbor 4 Nov. 1918. On 12 Nov. 1918, while enroute to France, Munshower and his fellow soldiers heard of the signing of the Armistice, ending the war. Munshower arrived in France at St. Nazaire 19 Nov. 1918. The last entry mentions the date of 30 March 1919, when Munshower was still in France before his demobilization. The diary is bound in brown cloth with Fortin & Cie stamped in blue ink on the inside front cover. The text is handwritten in ink on lined paper numbered by hand from 1 to 291, and contains Munshower's comments on French city and country life and scenery, on the French, English, and German people, paticularly disparaging what Munshower perceives as English arrogance and German immorality. He gives a vivid picture of a common American soldier's daily life and the hazards of travel by ship and rail, both in the United States and in Europe.
Ragan MSS 00107
English.
Biographical Note
Raymond Munshower was born 8 June 1892 and died April 1964. Probably from Chester Co., Pa., Munshower seems to have served with the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I, from 25 July 1918, when he left for Camp Lee, Va., to be transferred from there on 29 Aug. 1918 to Camp Johnston, Fla. He was subsequently sent to Camp Merritt, N.J., arriving there on 4 October 1918. A nearly fatal bout of influenza sidelined Munshower with many of his fellow soldiers in New Jersey for a time, but by late October he was declared fit, and sailed for France on a troop ship, departing New York harbor 4 Nov. 1918. On 12 Nov. 1918, while enroute to France, Munshower and his fellow soldiers heard of the signing of the Armistice, ending the war. Munshower arrived in France at St. Nazaire 19 Nov. 1918. The last entry mentions the date of 30 March 1919, when Munshower was still in France before his demobilization.
Scope and Content Note
The diary is bound in brown cloth with Fortin & Cie stamped in blue ink on the inside front cover. The text is handwritten in ink on lined paper numbered by hand from 1 to 291. Inscribed Raymond Munshower on the inside front cover in ink, the diary contains Munshower's comments on French city and country life and scenery, on the French, English, and German people, paticularly disparaging what Munshower perceives as English arrogance and German immorality. He gives a vivid picture of a common American soldier's daily life and the hazards of travel by ship and rail, both in the United States and in Europe.
Scarcely full of entries, the diary is divided into sections of daily diary entries, interspersed with hymns, prayers, and labeled commentaries, almost like personal essays, on various subjects. These commentary subjects include social or philosophical issues, points of intrest to visit in France, as well as an entire section labeled Sermons and Address[es]. It is not clear whether Munshower was merely deeply religious or actually serving as a chaplain, since some of the entries are arranged as in an order of service.
The front flyleaf of the diary is also inscribed in pencil by the purchaser of the diary, Ms. diary, 1918-1919, by Raymond Munshower, possibly from Texas. Two folded and torn pages of notepaper handwritten in pencil, apparently also by Munshower, are included.
Access
No restrictions.
Usage Restrictions
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as
stipulated by United States copyright law.
Online Index Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online
catalog of Cushing Memorial Library. Researchers wishing to find related materials
should search the catalog under these index terms.
Organizations
United States--Army--American Expeditionary Forces.
United States--Army--Military life.
Subjects
Influenza--United States--History.
World War, 1914-1918--Campaigns--France.
World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, American.
Military training camps.
Soldiers--United States--Diaries.
Places
Saint-Nazaire (France)--History--20th century.
Camp Merritt (N.J.).
Camp Lee (Va.).
Camp Johnston (Jacksonville, Fla.).
Provenance
Purchased
from Carmen Valentino, Rare Books and Manuscripts dealer,
of Philadelphia, Pa.
in January 2001.
Processing Information
Processed by Aletha Andrew
in February 2001.
Detailed Description of the Collection
1. Raymond Munshower Diary, 15 Dec. 1918-20 Mar. 1919.
1 item.