Manuscript Register

 

THE PAPERS OF THOMAS W. MESSENGER

Collection Dates: 1917 -- 1923

(Bulk Dates:1917 to 1919)

1 linear ft.

 

This document describes a collection of materials held by the
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1420
Phone: 319-335-5921
Fax: 319-335-5900
e-mail: lib-spec@uiowa.edu

 

Posted to Internet: June 2002

 

 

Acquisition Note: This collection was donated to the University of Iowa Libraries by Messenger's niece, Mrs. Thomas R. Smith, in April 1986.

 

Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

 

Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department.

 

Copyright:  Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on "Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials"

 

Use of Collections: The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement.

 

Biographical Note

Thomas William Messenger (1898 -- 1948) of Washington county, Iowa, served as a corporal in various machine gun battalions during World War I. Enlisting in April, 1917, Messenger was shipped from Iowa to Camp Cody, New Mexico. He started with Co. A, 125 Machine Gun Battalion, but was quickly transferred to Co. D, 126 Machine Gun Battalion. Messenger spent over a year in New Mexico before being shipped to France, by way of Fort Dix, New Jersey. In France he served with Co. B, 111 Machine Gun Battalion. He was bitterly disappointed to have missed seeing action by only a few days. His unit arrived just as the armistice was declared.

Scope and Contents

 

The Thomas W. Messenger papers consist of seventy-five letters written by Messenger to his parents and family between 1917 and 1919. There is also a 1923 letter mentioning him. These items are arranged chronologically.

 

Box List

 

Correspondence