Conditions Governing Use:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Conditions Governing Access:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation:

E.R. McElligott Collection, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.

Acquisition Information:

purchase. Accession 2023.164 donanted by Sheila Hathaway.

Biographical Information:

E.R. McElligott was born and raised in Boston Massachusetts prior to World War I by John and Elizabeth McElligott. He enlisted in the military as a draftsman and became part of the 152nd Aero Squadron assigned to Fort Slocum, New York. In late 1917, McElligott's squadron was transferred to San Antonio and then Chanute Field in Illinois. In 1918, McElligott was sent to England and then France as part of the war effort to recover and repair damaged planes. He returned to the United States in 1919. His letters cover the duration of his enlistment

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of correspondence and personal papers documenting the life of E.R. McElligott, a draftsman in the 152nd Aero Squadron of the United States Army. The correspondence series contains 102 letters and several postcards written primarily by E.R. McElligott. Letters are written to various family members, particularly McElligott's sisters and parents, and describe his life in the military from enlistment to discharge. McElligott describes his travels from New York to San Antonio and finally to Illinois, England, and France. His letters give insight into the daily details, entertainments, and worries of an enlisted man as well as personal observations of various American and European cities. McElligott's letters also briefly touch on his job of salvaging and repairing damaged airplanes, although specific details regarding sensitive military information were censored. Personal papers include a special emergency card belonging to Pvt. E.R. McElligott.

Arrangement of Materials:

This collection is arranged at the file level by series: Series I. Correspondence and Series II. Personal papers.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Airplanes
• Correspondence
• England--Description and travel--20th century
• France--Description and travel--20th century
• Postcards
• United States-Military History
• United States. Air Force. Aero Squadron, 152nd
• World War, 1914-1918--England--Personal narratives
• World War, 1914-1918--France--Personal narratives