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Herbert J. Gilkey World War I Memorabilia collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MS-0221

Scope and Content

This collection (1913-1919, undated) contains guidebooks, maps, brochures, postcards and photographs related to World War I which Gilkey collected. The bulk of the collection consists of postcards, primarily of France and Belgium. There are individual cards as well as items which are called "Postcard Souvenir Albums" in the collection. These are groups of postcards picturing views of a specific location, bound together in booklet form. These items were predominantly collected by Gilkey, but there are a few items which he received from Madge McGlade, who was for many years Director of Residence at Iowa State. Mrs. McGlade’s husband, James, had also served in the American Expeditionary Force. These are marked as having belonged to Mrs. McGlade.



One section contains Gilkey’s photographs of German fortifications in the Apremont (France) area. The location of these German fortifications is most likely not the Apremont area which was the scene of the advance of American troops in September and October 1918 in the Battle of the Argonne, but rather an area just southeast of St. Mihiel.



The Department of Special Collections received a large amount of material from Professor Gilkey. His files relating to the Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics can be found in the University Archives, Record Series 11/7/11. However, many of Gilkey’s files had no relationship to the University aside from his ownership. These items have been organized into the following manuscript collections: Highway Map Collection (MS 187); Gilkey Postcard Collection (MS 215); Gilkey Travel Brochure Collection (MS 216) and Gilkey Airline, Busline and Railroad Schedule Collection (MS 217).

Dates

  • 1913-1919, undated

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

Open for research.

Use/Re-use Restrictions

Consult Special Collections and University Archives

Biography/Profile

Herbert J. Gilkey was a long-time faculty member at Iowa State University, serving forty-five years until his death in 1976. Educated at MIT, Harvard, and the University of Illinois, he was brought to Iowa State College (University) in 1931 to organize and direct the Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (later a part of the Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics Department). He headed the Department until 1955, when he gave up his administrative duties but continued teaching and doing research. During World War I, Gilkey served as a First Lieutenant with the Army Corps of Engineers and later was with the American Relief Administration in Paris.

Extent

4.83 Linear Feet (11 document boxes and 1 half-document box)

Arrangement

The collection is organized into four series:

Series 1, Guidebooks

Series 2, Maps, Brochures and Notebook

Series 3, Photographs

Series 4, Postcard Souvenir Albums

Processing Information

Released on 2018-11-01.

Title
MS-0221. Herbert J. Gilkey World War I Memorabilia collection, 1913-1919, undated
Date
December 12, 2018
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives Repository

Contact:
403 Parks Library
701 Morrill Road
Iowa State University
Ames Iowa 50011-2102 United States
(515) 294-6672