Walter and Betty Boadway First World War correspondence
Scope and Contents
This collection contains 103 correspondence between Betty and Lt. Walter ("Buddy") Boadway, AEF during the First World War. Of the correspondence, 45 were written by Betty to Walter from Pasadena and Avalon (Catalina Island), CA, and 58 were written by Walter to Betty from Foggia, Italy and Paris, France. Also included are two reproductions of photographs; one of Walter in uniform and one of Betty.
Of note is mentions of the famous author Ernest Hemingway. Boadway wrote in 1918 of a 19-year-old soldier in the hospital:
“I went out with a Red Cross lieut. named Hemingway, who comes from Oak Park...He has been here in the hospital 4 months and has some time to go yet. He was out in the trenches one night when a trench mortar shell blew their cover away and left them exposed to machine gun fire. He got 247 wounds from the mortar shell and machine guns. He has a couple of pounds of metal they have carved out of him. Luckily he got most of it in his legs and not in a vital spot.”
Dates
- Creation: 1917 October 22 - 1919 April 11
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.
Biographical / Historical
Lieutenant Walter Boadway, American Expeditionary Force and his wife Betty Boadway were residents of Pasadena, California. During Walter's tour abroad, Betty spends a long time in Avalon on Catalina Island, CA. Lieutenant Walter M. Boadway served abroad during WWI in Italy, stationed for a time at the 8th Aviation Instruction Center, before relocating in 1919 to Paris, France. Betty refers to Walter as "Buddy" and many of the letters express their love for each other and their unhappiness that the war keeps them apart.
Extent
0.2 Linear Feet (6 folders)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Letters written by both Betty and Walter Boadway while Lt. Walter Boadway, AEF was stationed abroad at the 8th Aviation Instruction Center in Italy, and later in Paris, France during the First World War One.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by author and chronology.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Patricia Boadway Cox
General
One letter from Walter to Betty, dated October 20, 1918, (folder 5) on loan to Andy Carroll, 7/12/2018.
- Title
- Finding Aid for Walter and Betty Boadway First World War correspondence
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Daniel Levy
- Date
- 9/29/2014
- 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 Center for American War Letters Archives, Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives Repository
