George B. Redwood papers

Incoming and outgoing letters (1898-1940) comprise Mrs. Redwoods papers. She received letters (1901-1940) from relatives such as Francis Chilton, discussing a change in the State seal (1929); from George and Mary Coale telling her of their new son, Robert Dorsey (1940); and from Nina Redwood (Mrs. William M. Redwood) relating news of her family and reflecting on the 25th anniversary of her nursing career. Other correspondents of Mrs. Redwood included John W. Tottle, Jr, who sent her copies of material prepared for his current events course entitled The World in Our Time (1938); from S. B. Aunkst about McKean family genealogy; and from Isaac Meekins about the German attack on Poland, and his son's work for the W.P.A. (1939). Letters from Mrs. Redwood to her Aunt Lib (Elizabeth B. Coale) concern family news (1909).

The remainder of Mrs. Redwood's correspondence concerns her son, George B. Redwood. Letters from Bessie Coale and Dr. Cogswell (1908-1909) are about Mrs. Redwood's high expectations of her son regarding scholastic achievement, and his illness while at Harvard.

Mrs. Redwood received numerous letters between 1917 and 1940 concerning her son's military career with the American Expeditionary Force in World War I, and referring to his military training in Plattsburg, N.Y. (1916) and Ft. Myer, Va. (1917), the military actions which won him a Croix de Guerre and a Distinguished Service Medal, and his death in battle (1918). After George's death, Mrs. Redwood collected her son's letters and papers, and anecdotes about him from his civilian and military acquaintances. Most of the letters between 1919-1940, therefore, are from people who knew her son either in school, during his newspaper career with the Baltimore News, or in the Army. These letters also deal with various memorial tributes to George including church services, war memorial dedications, honor rolls for the war dead, the naming of a street and VFW post for him, and a souvenir book about his life. On the anniversaries of George's death from 1919-1940, Mrs. Redwood received letters and telegrams from friends and relatives remembering both her and her son.

Also pertaining to George are official letters to Mrs. Redwood. There are letters concerning his insurance (1918). From the American Red Cross, Mrs. Redwood received information on the location of her son's grave; advice to leave his body in France for permanent burial; acknowledgement of receipt of information about him for their files; and information about George received from other soldiers, as wellas the names of soldiers who knew her son (1918-1919). Letters from the Army (1919-1923) concern the return of George's personal effects, medals, and the permanent location of his grave.

Mrs. Redwood's papers also include letters from her son (1898-1917), mostly written during his school years and concerning news and packages from home, studies, sporting activities, and friends. George's letters are frequently cleverly illustrated. Some of his letters and pictures post cards are from the Army training camp at Plattsburg, New York (1916).

George Buchanan Redwood's papers include incoming and outgoing letters, army and school papers, documents, essays, stories, drawings, printed material, and notes about him by his mother.

George's outgoing letters include ones to aunts and cousins (1901-1913) about summer camp (1901, 1903) and European travel (1913); and to two school teachers apologizing for pranks (1901). Letters to Rogers Galt (1913-1915) describe a trip to Ashville, N.C. (1913); mention that Mrs. Redwood went to Washington, D.C. to protest against the suffragettes (Dec. 5, 1913); and that she helped the American Red Cross collect for Belgian refugees (1914); describe the wedding of his friend, Floyd Tomkins (1914); mention military training at Plattsburg (1916); and try to persuade Galt to support the National Security League. Redwood wrote, in letters to Stephen Luce, about travel in France (1910); the death of Minna Coale (1911); his mother's involvement in an organization opposed to women's suffrage, and his opinion that local suffragettes were obnoxious; his police reporting duties (1911); and about books he was reading on religion and missionaries to China (1912).

From France, George wrote to his cousin Nina (Mrs. William M. Redwood) that soldiering was interesting because there was so much to learn (1917); and to Elizabeth Lee and Virginia Page he sent special New Year's cards and remembered his friends at home (1917-1918).

Incoming letters to George include ones from his mother (1903-1917) written to him at camp or school and sending news of home and messages from his younger brother, Francis. A letter dated July 15, 1903 described damage in Baltimore caused by a tornado. George also received letters from Francis and his Aunt Elizabeth Coale (1907-1910). Miscellaneous letters sent to George from 1906-1917 are from Charles Cobb notifying him of his election to the Harvard Southern Club (1906); from girls congratulating him on his Army commission (1917); and from Floyd Tomkins about reimbursing him for some work.

While serving in France (1917-1918), George received letters from his godmother, N. L. Hutton, about religion; from Catherine Taylor congratulating him on his deeds and informing him that she and some friends planned to take a Civil Service examination to work for the Ordnance Department; from Mary Gould, noting news of Baltimore, and informing him that cotillons were no longer called Germans; from Elizabeth Lee of Ashville, N.C. who was working in a hospital, had taken a business course, and wanted to go to France; and from Warren Brown of the Baltimore News about Baltimore, the liberty loan drive, and the building of Ft. Meade. Warren reported that there were so many soldiers in town that the YMCA put beds for them in the Mt. Vernon Place M. E. Church.

Among Redwood's army papers (1917-1918) are passes, receipts, and copies of orders calling him to active duty and commending him for capturing German prisoners.

George's school papers (1907-1910) are from his student days at Harvard and include copies of examinations; report cards and grade notices; printed class rank lists (1907-1910); and a copy of the Official Register of Harvard University (1909). Also, a copy of George's undergraduate history thesis: Scanderbeg; the National Hero of Albania.

Other writings of George's among his papers are essays (1907-1913) written for English courses, and stories and poems (n.d.)

A collection of George's documents (1915-1920) include membership certificates for school clubs and defense societies, and certificates and citations for his services in France. Bound volumes of George's papers (1900-1913) include travel diaries (1910, 1913); a diary kept when he was a police reporter on the Baltimore News (1911); a Harvard diary (1908-1909); class and military training notes (1909, n.d.), and a list of films (1900-1908).

The remainder of George's papers include sketches and drawings (n.d.); notes about him by Mrs. Redwood based on interviews with and letters from people who knew George; and printed material (1919-1939) including programs for memorial services held in his memory, a newsletter of the First U.S. Division, Ft. Myer, Va. (1930); War News of Harvard Men; a printed brochure on Redwood Street and other items.

Non Redwood material in this collection include papers of George and Evan M. Buchanan (1798-1871). Items include an indenture for land (1798); a letter to George Buchanan about the bank account of Thomas McKean Buchanan (d. 1863); and letters to George Buchanan about the back pay of his son, Evan, deceased (1871).

A letter to George B. Coale (1880) is from Mr. Mickle about bank credit, and a document of Thomas McKean's is about the sale of some land (1767).

Dorsey papers (1796-1838) concern land transactions (plats, indentures) for properties in Montgomery County, Md. and Prince William County, Virginia, and involve William H., Richard B., Joshua, Maria, and Robert E. Dorsey.

Other items reflect the literary efforts of the Proud and Coale families. At their home (Morven) in Anne Arundel County, the Prouds kept a literary box to which most of the family members made contributions. Essays (c. 1826-1830) from the literary box include one entitled A Dream, which considers the possibility of extraterrestial beings (1828); also, essays on duelling, curiosity, consistency, character studies, travel, virtue, silk worms, and civilization. For the same period there are also numerous poems.

The Proud's and Coale's also published their literary efforts in a hand-printed literary magazine, The Amethyst, which was edited by John Greene Proud, Jr. The magazine contained essays, poems, and extracts from John Greene Proud, Sr.'s letters from Russia (1812, 1813). Volume I, Nos. 1-8, 1928 of the Amethyst are in this collection.