George Avery Washburn correspondence

Creator: Washburn, George A. (George Avery), 1889-1951

Date: 1886-1919

Level of Description: Coll./Record Group

Material Type: Manuscripts

Call Number: Ms. Coll. 208

Unit ID: 40208

Biographical sketch: World War I U.S. Army soldier in Co. C, 314th Signal Battalion, 89th Division, at Camp Funston (Fort Riley, Kan.); France; Trier, Germany. Of Topeka, Kan.

Abstract: Contains correspondence from George Washburn to his fiancee, Ruth Kingman, while fighting in World War I with the 89th Division. The correspondence contains little information about the movements and battles of the Division but does contain personal information about his daily life in the Army. He describes marching, drills, and life in the trenches. He also describes the country seen while the Division moved and also gives interesting insights about the people whom he met and the Belgian & German families with whom he billeted. He tells about a track meet in which he participated. Another group of correspondence consists of letters to Ruth from her father, Lewis Kingman, and from other friends. There is also correspondence between Lewis and his wife, Alice.

Summary: Folder List:

Folder 1: Correspondence, George Washburn to Ruth Kingman, 1917-1918

Folder 2: Correspondence, George Washburn to Ruth Kingman, 1919

Folder 3: Correspondence, Lewis Kingman to Ruth Kingman, 1893-1911

Folder 4: Correspondence, Lewis Kingman to Alice Kingman, 1886-1911

Folder 5: Correspondence, Miscellaneous, 1912-1913

Space Required/Quantity: 0.2 ft. (1 box)

Title (Main title): George Avery Washburn correspondence

Titles (Other):

Washburn, George Avery
Papers
George A. Washburn papers
George Avery Washburn collection
Correspondence

Biography

Biog. Sketch (Full):

George Avery Washburn was born March 1, 1889, in Topeka, Kansas. His parents were Frank Monroe Washburn and Ella (Townsend) Washburn.

In 1917, Mr. Washburn entered Company C, 314 Signal Battalion, 89th Division, of the U.S. Army, located at Camp Funston (now part of Fort Riley), Kansas. In 1918 the 89th Division was transferred to Europe to fight in World War I. The 89th Division was part of the 32 French Army Corps and held the line from Remenauville, France, to Vargevaux Pond, France. It took part in the St. Mihiel and Meuse Argonne offensives. During the time of occupation, the 89th Division occupied the area around Trier, Germany.

Ruth Carver Kingman was born November 22, 1887, in Topeka. Her parents were Lewis Kingman and Alice (Newman) Kingman. Mr. Kingman was the City Engineer of Topeka. In 1895 the family moved to Mexico City, Mexico, where Mr. Kingman was an engineer for a railroad company.

In 1905 Miss Kingman returned to Topeka to attend Washburn Academy. She graduated from Washburn College (now University) and went on to receive her masters degree from the University of California in Berkeley. In 1912 she began teaching Spanish at Washburn College.

In 1920 Miss Kingman married George Washburn and they moved to Richmond, Virginia. Mr. Washburn was a signal engineer for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company. He died on Sept. 19, 1951. In 1963 Ruth Washburn returned to Topeka. She died on February 28, 1980.

Scope and Content

Scope and content:

The correspondence from George Washburn is contained in two folders and arranged in chronological order. The correspondence consists of letters to Ruth Kingman while Mr. Washburn was fighting in World War I with the 89th Division. The letters provide little information about the movements and battles of the division, due to censorship. The letters do contain personal information on Mr. Washburn’s daily life in the Army. He talks about marching, drilling, and life in the trenches. Mr. Washburn also describes the country he sees during the Division’s movements and give some interesting insights about the people he meets. Specifically he talks about the Belgian and German families with whom he was billeted. Several of the last letters tell of the track and field meet between the United States divisions in Europe in which Mr. Washburn participated. In most of the letters, Mr. Washburn expresses his love and affection for Miss Kingman.

The second group of correspondence consists of letters to Ruth Kingman from her father, Lewis Kingman, and from various friends. Included in this group is correspondence between Lewis Kingman and his wife, Alice Kingman, Ruth’s parents. This section consists of three folders.

Contents: George Washburn to Ruth Kingman, 1917-1919 (folders 1-2) -- Lewis to Ruth Kingman, 1893-1911 (folder 3) -- Lewis to Alice Kingman, 1886-1911 (folder 4) -- correspondence, misc., 1912-1913 (folder 5).

Locators:

Locator	Contents
006-06-08-03	Ms. Coll. 208

Related Records or Collections

Other Finding Aid/Index: Finding aid available in the repository and on its website, http://www.kshs.org/p/george-avery-washburn-collection-1893-1919/14134

Index Terms

Subjects

Creators and Contributors

Additional Information for Researchers

Use and reproduction: Information on copyright available from the Kansas Historical Society (Topeka).

Cite as: George Avery Washburn Collection, Manuscripts Department, Kansas State Historical Society.

Action note: Processed by Richard Barber, intern, 1989.