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West Virginia and Regional History Center
1549 University Ave.P.O. Box 6069
Morgantown, WV 26506-6069
Business Number: 304-293-3536
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URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu
Staff of the West Virginia & Regional History Center
Administrative Information
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Preferred Citation
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Barger Brothers, Soldiers, World War I Letters, A&M 3678, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.
Scope and Contents
World War I letters authored by brothers Joe Douglas Barger (26 items) and Pat Burnley S. Barger (37 items) to their sisters
Lula and Juanita Barger of Princeton, Mercer County, West Virginia, their home town. Joe served on the front lines in France
with Battery A, 315th Field Artillery, American Expeditionary Force (AEF), while his brother worked in a railway shop for
Company B, 49th Engineers, AEF. Topics of letters include descriptions of everyday life in camp, entertainment, health, sending
and receiving letters from home, and family life.
Joe Douglas "Mick" Barger's letters home are short and direct, containing minimal information, while the letters of his brother,
Pat Burnley S. "Nick" Barger, are very detailed, including information about camp life and his work at a railway shop.
Series include:
Series 1. Letters by Joe Douglas Barger, 1917 December 12-1919 April 30
Series 2. Letters by Pat Burnley S. Barger, 1918 June 10-1919 May 8
Series 3. Letters and Other Material, 1918–1919
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- American Expeditionary Forces in France.
- Barger, Joe Douglas
- Barger, Pat Burnley S.
- France
- Soldiers' letters -- World War, 1914-1918
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Barger, Joe Douglas
- Barger, Joe and Pat Barger
- Barger, Pat Burnley S.
Container List
This series consists of Joe Douglas Barger's letters written to his sister Juanita Barger, a school teacher. In every letter, he lets her know that he is okay and in good health. In his letter of 1918 September 15, he expresses concern about his insurance and asks his sister to keep up the payments. In other letters (1919 February 15, 1919 February 19, 1919 February 21, and 1919 February 23), he mentions being in the hospital but doesn't say where he is or why he is in the hospital.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1
Letters by Joe Douglas Barger1917 December 12-1918 July 9
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2
Letters by Joe Douglas Barger1918 July 18-1918 September 15
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3
Letters by Joe Douglas Barger1918 December 29-1919 February 19
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4
Letters by Joe Douglas Barger1919 February 21-1919 April 17
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5
Letters by Joe Douglas Barger1919 April 23-1919 April 30
This series consists of Pat Burnley S. Barger's letters, a majority of which were written to his sister Juanita (Nita), a school teacher, as well as his sister Lula, who worked for the Post Office. Only one letter is addressed to Miss Kate M. Barger, and two others are addressed to Miss Minnye Sue Barger. Topics of his letters include daily camp life (1918 July 20 and 1918 July 25), cost of cigarettes (1918 August 15), local French people (1918 September 23), complaints about the longevity of his stay (1919 March 4, 1919 March 11, and 1919 April 30), and access to newspapers on the front (1918 August 5), among other topics.
In letters describing work, he mentions how many soldiers are employed at the railway shop (1919 January 30), his salary (1919 March 30), duties (1919 January 30, 1919 April 22), and daily activities (???? March 20). His letters also briefly describe his recreational and entertainment activities, including dances (1919 January 1), baseball games (1918 September 29 and 1919 April 22), musical events (1918 October 11), movies (1918 September 13), and visiting parks and museums (1918 September 23). He also asks about friends and family at home (1918 July 31, 1918 August 17, and 1918 November 19), mentions his brother Dug who was in France at the time (1918 September 23, 1919 March 4, 1919 May 8, 1919 January 11, and 1919 February 9), and expresses his concerns about the flu (influenza) epidemic back home (1918 November 24 and 1919 January 25).
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6
Letters by Pat Burnley S. Barger1918 June 10-1918 July 31
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7
Letters by Pat Burnley S. Barger1918 August 5-1918 September 13
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 8
Letters by Pat Burnley S. Barger1918 September 20-1918 October 24
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9
Letters by Pat Burnley S. Barger1918 November 19-1919 January 11
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10
Letters by Pat Burnley S. Barger1919 January 25-1919 February 27
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 11
Letters by Pat Burnley S. Barger1919 March 4-1919 March 29
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 12
Letters by Pat Burnley S. Barger1919 March 30-1919 May 8
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 13
Letters by Pat Burnley S. Bargerca. 1917-1919
This series includes assorted letters and other material, including several postcards, several letter fragments, and 6 empty envelopes. There also is a letter from Harry, a friend of the Barger family, who writes to share his experience of life in Camp Greene, North Carolina (1918 September 4); and another letter from S. J. Cowell to Miss Kate Barger, sharing his experiences in Camp Sheridan, Alabama (January 1918).
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5
Postcards1919 April 7-1919 April 9
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 14
Letter by Harry1918 September 4
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 15
Letter by S.J. Cowell1918 January 22
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 16
Letter Fragments (2 items)ca. 1918-1919
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 17
Empty Envelopes (6 items)1918–1919