HELEN H. TEARSE:
An Inventory of Her Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society
Manuscripts Collection
OVERVIEW
| Creator: | Tearse, Helen H., creator. | |
| Title: | Helen H Tearse papers. | |
| Dates: | 1910-1919. | |
| Language: | Materials in English. | |
| Abstract: | The collection is composed of letters written by Helen H. Tearse, a Winona (Minn.) high school teacher, to her mother, Mrs. William P. Tearse, and other family members in Winona while she was on vacations and study trips (1910, 1912-1913, and 1917) and during her service (1918-1919) with the YMCA in France during World War I. Letters from her brother, William P. Tearse, Jr. (1918-1919) concern his service in the U.S. Army in France. Another group of letters to Helen are from servicemen she met at the YMCA while she was serving in France. | |
| Quantity: | 0.4 cubic feet (1 box). | |
| Location: | P2057 |
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Availability:
The collection is open for research use.
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Helen H. Tearse Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.
Accession Information:
Accession number: 15,091
Processing Information:
Processed by: Bonnie Beatson Palmquist, March 1995.
Catalog ID number: 990017317370104294
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
| Box | |||||||||||
| P2057 | 1 | Letters, 1910. | |||||||||
| Helen was with a group of women from Winona and elsewhere who traveled to England, Scotland, and the continent, then to Italy. She writes of traveling companions, travels, accommodations, and experiences. | |||||||||||
| Letters, August 1912-June 1913. 2 folders. | |||||||||||
| Mainly letters to her family in Winona, while Helen was studying in Germany for a year. The letters describe the places she stayed, her companions (she mentions "Emily" frequently), and her experiences, primarily in Leipzig. | |||||||||||
| Letters, February-June 1917. | |||||||||||
| Letters from Helen to her family while she was on a trip with Emily to the Far East, visiting Japan and China. Again she describes her experiences and sights she has seen. | |||||||||||
| Letters, June 1918-July 1919. 2 folders. | |||||||||||
| Helen joined a Smith College alumni group that went to France to staff a YMCA canteen unit. She writes of her orientation in New York; her fellow workers (again with Emily); the YMCA facilities (including the schedule used in the huts); visitors to the canteen; and her experiences as the person in charge of the officers' hut. Later she describes other facilities; the French family she stayed with; and the epidemic of ""Spanish flu,"" which Emily also contracted. Later she records the end of the war and its effect on the soldiers and the YMCA units, particularly during the holidays. She had volunteered for a year of service, so she continued to work in the canteens. A notice to the women workers of the YMCA (January 13, 1919) details the behavior expected from the women. Later letters record the routine of the canteen; entertainments offered to the soldiers; and inquiries about friends in Winona and elsewhere. A Pyrenees Bulletin (March 20, 1919, Pau-France) published in the interest of American soldiers on leave in the Pyrenees area, relates activities and stories of interest to the soldiers. Helen wrote an article about the Eaux Bonnes area that appears in the issue. Her letters to her brother (who is still in France) contain more information about movements of army and YWCA personnel. By May, 1919 she was on her way home. A form letter (July 29, 1919) to her from the YMCA thanks her for her service in Europe. | |||||||||||
| Tearse, William P., Jr. Letters, 1918-1919. 2 folders. | |||||||||||
| William P. Tearse (who signed his letter, "Junior") joined the army in 1918 and was assigned to Co. E, 3rd Pioneer Regular Infantry. He writes to various members of his family describing his basic training in the South; his landing in France (September 1918); and the conditions under which he worked near Charpenty and Lenunes, France. He writes very descriptively about his life in the army. A letter (January 30, 1919) to Helen details the experiences he and his company had gone through. | |||||||||||
| McCaughey, Elba. Letters, 1919. | |||||||||||
| A series of letters to Helen from E. McCaughney, whom she met at the YMCA canteen at Eaux Bonnes. He wrote to her both in France and after she returned to Winona. | |||||||||||
| Servicemen's letters, 1918-1919. | |||||||||||
| Letters written by various servicemen who had met Helen at the canteen. | |||||||||||
| YMCA printed material, 1918. | |||||||||||
| Several items related to the operation of the canteens. | |||||||||||
| Envelopes and miscellaneous material. | |||||||||||
| Envelopes, some illustrated, were retained for possible display. | |||||||||||
CATALOG HEADINGS
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
- Topics:
- World War, 1914-1918 -- War work -- Young Men's Christian associations.
- World War, 1914-1918 -- Women.
- Persons:
- MaCaughey, Elba., author.
- Tearse, William P., author.
- Places:
- China -- Description and travel.
- France -- Description and travel.
- Germany -- Description and travel.
- Italy -- Description and travel.
- Winona (Minn.)
- Occupations:
- Soldiers -- Minnesota.
- Teachers -- Minnesota.
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