Descriptive Summary
Youens, Willis G.
Willis G. Youens
Papers
1885-1983
[bulk 1918-1940] Materials are
written in English,
French, and German.
2008-230
2 feet
Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The
University of Texas at Austin
Correspondence,
photographs, military records, clippings, certificates, books, and genealogical
research document the life of Willis G. Youens (1884-1943), a Texan physician
who served in Europe with the U.S. Army Medical Section during World War I and
later spent eight years with the Civilian Conservation Corps in
Arizona.
Biographical NoteWillis George Youens was born on January
17, 1884 in Columbus, Texas. After graduating from Columbus High School, he
entered the University of Texas School of Medicine at Galveston in 1902,
graduating in 1907. He then began practicing as a physician in his hometown.
Youens married Florence Fay Burford of Columbus in 1911, and they had five
children. In 1917, Youens volunteered to serve in the United States military
forces, and he was appointed First Lieutenant in the Medical Section of the
Officers Reserve Corps, Army of the United States. He reported to Kelly Field,
San Antonio in January 1918, and subsequently served as a Captain in France
(July-November 1918) and Germany (December 1918-April 1919). Upon returning
home, Youens continued his medical practice in Columbus. He joined the Civilian
Conservation Corps in Arizona in 1934, remaining there until 1942. In 1934,
Youens and his wife Fay divorced. He married Cynthia Tanner in Arizona in 1935,
and they had four children. In 1942, Youens returned to Columbus, Texas to
begin private practice. He died of a heart of attack in Columbus on April 25,
1943.
Scope and ContentsCorrespondence, photographs, military
records, clippings, certificates, books, and genealogical research document the
life of Willis George Youens, Sr. Correspondence comprises the bulk of the
collection, primarily letters Youens wrote to his wife, Fay, while serving in
World War I, as well as letters he wrote to his children while working for the
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930’s. The letters portray the
day-to-day experiences and trials of a physician serving overseas during World
War I, and provide insight into life in the CCC camps during the Depression.
Additional context for Youens’ World War I service is found in his military
records, books, and newspapers. The biographical and genealogical material
provides information about Youens’ ancestors and descendents, as well as
further personal and family background.
Access RestrictionsUnrestricted access.
Index Terms
Subjects (Persons)
Youens, Willis G. -- Archives.
Subjects (Organizations)
Civilian Conservation Corps
(U.S.)
Subjects
World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal
narratives, American.
World War, 1914-1918 --
Medical care.
Civilian Conservation Corps
(U.S.) -- Arizona -- History.
Preferred CitationWillis G. Youens Papers, 1885-1983 [bulk
1918-1940], Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.
Detailed Description of the Papers
Inventory
2.325/N9a
Correspondence
2.325/N9a
Letters sent
2.325/N9a
To his wife, Fay Youens:
2.325/N9a
[19 letters],
January-March, 1918
2.325/N9a
[18 letters],
April-May 1918
2.325/N9a
[10 letters],
June 1918
2.325/N9a
[14 letters],
July-August 1918
2.325/N9a
[18 letters],
September-October 1918
2.325/N9a
[8 letters],
November 1918
2.325/N9a
[12 letters],
December 1918
2.325/N9a
[18 letters],
January 1919
2.325/N9b
[17 letters],
February 1919
2.325/N9b
[21 letters],
March 1919
2.325/N9b
[8 letters],
April-May 1919
2.325/N9b
[1 letter],
March 3, 1931
2.325/N9b
To his uncle, A. G. Youens,
February 24, 1918
2.325/N9b
To his sister, Ada Tanner [photocopy],
February 8, 1919
2.325/N9b
Postcards to family members,
1918-1919 and undated
2.325/N9b
To his son, Willis G. Youens, Jr.:
2.325/N9b
1935
2.325/N9b
1936
2.325/N9b
1937
2.325/N9b
1938
2.325/N30a
1939
2.325/N30a
To his son, Thomas Youens [14 letters],
1935-1939
2.325/N30a
To his daughter, Mary Elizabeth Youens Brune (Mrs. E.
K. Brune),
1934-1940
2.325/N30a
To his son, Harry Thomas Youens,
1934-1935
2.325/N30a
Telegrams and cables,
1918-1919 and undated
2.325/N30a
Photographs
2.325/N30a
World War I era: Youens in uniform; Germany; Youens
family,
1918 and undated
2.325/N30a
Youens and family members,
circa 1905-circa 1940
2.325/N30a
Biographical and genealogical material
2.325/N30a
Timeline, life of Willis Youens; descendants of Willis
Youens; descendents of Alfred Youens
2.325/N30a
Letter re. Youens’ degree from the UT Galveston Medical
Department,
1983
2.325/N30a
Transcriptions of newspaper articles about Youens,
1918-1919, 1929, 1943
2.325/N30a
World War I service: Military records and related
material
2.325/N30a
Address roster and brief history, 163rd Ambulance
Company, American Expeditionary Forces; Officer’s Record Book; clipping,
circa 1918-1919
2.325/N30a
Appointment letters, Captain in Medical Corps, United
States Army,
1919
2.325/N30a
Post-war festivities: Programs, letter received,
1918-1919 and undated
2.325/N30a
Postcards: Köln; Hospital of Brotherly Mercy,
circa 1918-1919
2.325/N30a
Artifacts: Dog tags, piece of uniform [?],
circa 1918
2.325/W19b
Military orders,
1918-1919
2.325/N30a
Medical practice: Assorted material
2.325/N30a
Medical records for Youens children,
1921-1923
2.325/N30a
Medical journals: Texas State
Journal of Medicine, July 1943; The Journal of
American Medicine,
September 11, 1943
2.325/N30a
Prescription notepad,
1927
2.325/N30a
Nursing records for unidentified patients, Fay Youens,
circa 1920’s
2.325/W19b
Order form books for opium, Columbus Drug Store,
1944-1946
2.325/W19b
Books
2.325/W19b
French-English English-French
Dictionary, E. F. G. Pocket Series, Paris: T. Nelson & Sons,
undated
2.325/W19b
United States Army Infantry
Tactics, by Major General Emory Upton. New York: D. Appleton and
Company, revised edition,
1885
2.325/W19b
Plan Commode de Paris avec
l’Itinéraire des Autobus et Tramways. Paris: L. Joly, Editeur. With
fold-out map of Paris,
undated
2.325/W19b
Drill Regulations and Service
Manual for Sanitary Troops, United States Army, 1914, Corrected to April
15, 1917. Washington: Government Printing Office,
1917
2.325/AA13d
Newspapers and periodicals
2.325/AA13d
San Antonio Express,
November 11, 1918
2.325/AA13d
The Stars and Stripes,
official newspaper of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), France,
December 27, 1918
2.325/D36g
The Visitor, weekly
illustrated paper for young people, Methodist Episcopal Church, Nashville,
Tennessee,
January 8, 1911
2.325/D36g
Oversized documents
2.325/D36g
Texas Board of Pharmacy license, color reproduction,
January 18, 1910
2.325/D36g
Certificate, Commission as First Lieutenant, Medical
Section, Officers’ Reserve Corps of the Army of the United States,
September 28, 1917
2.325/D36g
Program, Washington’s Birthday Anniversary Celebration
on the Rhine, American Expeditionary Forces, Coblenz, Germany,
February 22, 1919
2.325/D36g
UT memorabilia and assorted material, circa
1931-1932
2.325/D36g
Final schedule of classes and rooms, Long Session of
1931-1932
2.325/W19b
Student elections propaganda,
undated
2.325/W19b
Handbook for the Guidance of
Students in the Main University,
1931-1932
2.325/W19b
Co-Op advertising for textbook repurchases,
undated
2.325/W19b
Programs: College Night, Glee Clubs concert,
undated
2.325/W19b
Manual, “Nos. 2 and 2A Folding Cartridge Hawk-Eye
Cameras (Model B),”
undated