Administrative Information

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Preferred Citation

Papers of Louis   I. Jaffé  , 1917-1919, Accession #9924-m , Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was given to the Library by Mrs. Louis   I. Jaffé   of Norfolk, Virginia on May 19, 1988.

Scope and Content Information

There are forty-five items, 1917-1919, pertaining to Louis   Isaac Jaffé   while serving in the U. S. Army during World War I, and as a member of the staff of the American Red Cross commission to the Balkans. Included are electrostatic copies of his handwritten diaries kept during this period, and fifteen photographs of Jaffé   and others taken at Fort Myer, Virginia; Leon Springs, Texas; and Is-sur-Tille, Vichy, and Paris, France. There are also papers, February 1919, concerning his discharge from the Army in Europe in order to work for the Red Cross; travel certificates, orders, and a special pass, 1919, for travel between France and Germany, for service with the Red Cross; and, authorization, October 1, 1919, to leave Paris for South Boston, Virginia. Miscellaneous items include programs and tickets for several plays in Paris and a brochure for the American Officers' Hotel (Hotel du Louvre).

When the United States entered World War I in 1917, Jaffé   was a political writer and assistant city editor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. He resigned from the paper and joined the Army. He was sent to Officers' Training Camp at Fort Myer, Virginia, where he was commissioned 2d lieutenant of field artillery, and he later received further training at Leon Springs, Texas. He was transferred to the aviation section of the U. S. Signal Corps in December 1917, and after training at Kelly Field, Texas, went overseas with the 649th Aero Supply Squadron, arriving in France in April 1918. The first diary begins just prior to his arrival in France. During the remainder of the war he was on duty with the Services of Supply, American Expeditionary Forces. On being mustered out of the service in March 1919, he became a member of the staff of the American Red Cross commission to the Balkans, and in July returned to Paris as director of the American Red Cross news service. The diaries record Jaffé's   experiences in the U. S. Army during World War I, and with the American Red Cross from March-June 1919.

Arrangement

The diaries are arranged chronologically.

Additional Descriptive Data

Chronology of Diaries
	1918 March 29	Embarkation from Newport News, Virginia by steamer DeKalb , camouflaged in green, buff, and yellow patches, formally German Prinz Eitel Fredrick , three aero squadrans (648th, 649th, 650th) aboard
	1918 April 3	At sea, organize life-boat crews and assign soldiers to stations
	1918 April 10	Death and sea burial of Sgt. Mulligan
	1918 April 14-19	Landed in St. Nazaire-Laire, France; describes barracks, parts of city, discusses army and personal activities
	1918 April 20- 28	Orders to move to Romorantin; prepare for travel and garrison rations; train ride; setting up new camp; describes barracks and camp as well as Is-sur-Tille
	1918 May 2	On way to Base Hospital in Dijon, describes countryside and hospital setting
	1918 June 6-23	Convalescing in Vichy; discusses his activities
	1918 June 19	Trip to Cusset-sur-Allier by trainway (street railway)
	1918 June 26-July 2	On duty again in Is-sur-Tille; appointed commander of service personnel; anxious to organize a new squadron out of the 649th detail and three other detachments
	1918 July 3-9	Change in duty; transfer to shipping; describes life there
	1918 July 12	Describes the convoy of two trucks to Colombes-les-Belles
	1918 July 14	Discusses a morning trip to Is-sur-Tille and and afternoon trip to Dijon, and describes the cities during a holiday celebration
	1918 July 20	Expresses a desire to have a chance to do something more exciting, to get into real danger
	1918 July 23	News of Germans being driven back; death of Quentin Roosevelt and his German burial with honors; heavy shipping
	1918 July 26	Brief discourse on being Jewish and his theory of the proper definition of 'Jew'
	1918 July 28-29	Paris out of danger; shipments to Paris
	1918 August 4	Great interest in bulletins with French communique
	1918 August 6	Feeling effect of removal of tool department; Francis B. Sayre, President Woodrow Wilson's son-in- law, at mess table
	1918 November 8	Travels to front with convoy, where he makes a statement about the horrors: "War reads heroic in the newspaper and in the list of citations, but a 'close-up' of it is infinitely disgusting and repulsive. Mangled men, human filth, stench, vermin, disease--all these things meet the eye and the mind loses sight for the moment at the principles for which these things must be"
	1918 November 11	Awaiting Armistice to be signed; feelings about the war being over--being disconnected and now feeling relief; celebrations--Allies flags flying in the streets, crowds singing "Marseillaise," "Star Spangled Banner" and other favorites
	1918 November 20	Third American Army formed and will compose Army of Occupation; American officers hosted dinner for French officers, using the Foyer du Soldat Camp President Wilsons-- description
	1918 November 23	Paris, statue of Strasbourg freed from its "dolorous funeral wreath and aflame with tricolor"; statute of Lille gay with colors and floral wreaths; discussion of Army and promotions; visit to University of Virginia room at University Union and sees Lewis D. Crenshaw of Richmond in charge; description of celebrations, mentions Fete of St. Catherine
	1918 November 25	Paris celebrations on Thanksgiving holiday; describes Rue Royale--the royal cortege passing by with the King of England George V
	1918 December 1	Word from United States about Armistice Day, November 11
	1918 December 4	View on President Woodrow Wilson's trip to Europe, his presence at the peace conference
	1918 December 7	Received promotion papers with regret
	1918 December 14	City celebrating President Wilson's arrival at Paris
	1918 December 15	Several hundred repatriated French and Belgian prisoners arrive at the station in Dijon
	1919 January 6	Wrote to John Stewart Bryan of News Leader asking for a job at Peace Conference in Paris
	1919 January 12	Depot clean, winding up records of shipping, in Dijon now
	1919 February 3	Description of countryside during train ride to Rome, Italy; overnight in Turin
	1919 February 5	Arrives in Rome, and is directed to Hotel Milano; visits the Coliseum, Catacombs of St. Collestus, the Baths of Caracalla, and the Appian Way, relating these scenes to historical event
	1919 February 6	Calls on Col. H. W. Anderson, director of Red Cross Balkan Mission, and is offered a job; tour to St. Paul's and Broken Bridge
	1919 February 7	Tour of St. Peter's Church, Sistine Chapel, galleries of the Vatican, Corso Emmanulo I memorial
	1919 February 8	Arrives in Naples, Italy; tour the Old Tower, Museum rich on relics of Pompeii, Castle, Vesuvius, Opera and Madam Butterfly
	1919 February 11	Visits Borghese Gallery and sees Bernini marbles
	1919 February 12	Arrives in Florence, Italy, describes as picturesque; visits Ponte Vecchio and Theatre Verdi
	1919 February 13	Visits Royal Palace and Pitti Gallery
	1919 February 14	Walks across "1,000 bridges to St. Mark's"--many officers from France in Venice, Italy; visits Cathedral, Doge's Palace, "Bridges of Sighs," rides gondola through Grand Canal, sees Olympia, Admiral Dewey's flagship and American destroyer
	1919 February 15	Arrives in Milan, Italy; visits Cathedral (Gothic church)
	1919 February 16	Visits Royal Armory in Turin, Italy
	1919 February 17	Arrives in Dijon, France and leaves for Is-sur-Tille
	1919 February 20	Visits Red Cross headquarters in Paris, France and turns over Col. H. W. Anderson's letter of recommendation to Major Pierce, who writes a letter to GHQ requesting Jaffé's   release
	1919 February 23	Orders to go to St. Nazaire, set up camp (C-2)
	1919 February 26	Reports at Effects Depot, Quarter Master Corps (re casualities' effects, etc.), and describes tasks
	1919 March 23	Summary of last four weeks, still awaiting release, discouraged by beauracracy red tape, thinking of asking to be put a sailing list for the United States, dislikes idea of returning to newpaper work; self-evaluation; Balkan mission a chance to do some writing
	1919 March 27	Receives orders from GHQ signed by General Pershing to report to C.O. discharge camp, St. Aignon
	1919 March 29	Last day as a soldier of the U.S. Army; "Honorably Discharged"
	1919 March 30	Leaves for Paris, France via Tours; describes Chateau country, mentions terraced vineyards
	1919 March 31	Visits Red Cross for orders to go to Balkans
	1919 April 1	Sees Captain Wishard, receives paperwork; [Marie] Queen of Roumania visits
	1919 April 5	Disappointment in Peace Conference progress by countries
	1919 April 8	Travels to Rome, Italy; Headquarters of Balkan Commission moved to Salonica (Thessaloncia)
	1919 April 9	Visits American Consulate to get passport stamped, to Embassy for another stamp, and back to the Consultate for another stamp; visits Greek, Serbian, and Roumanian Embassies
	1919 April 10	Train leaves Rome; "Rome is in the grip of a strike"--inflammatory posters calling upon working class to protest against "the manner in which they are being despoiled of the fruits of victory"; authorities ask Red Cross to refrain from using passenger cars
	1919 April 11	Arrives in Taranto, Italy, boards S.S. Campinas
	1919 April 12	Sails for Itea, Greece; seasickness among men
	1919 April 13	Describes Greek coast and Itea
	1919 April 14	Describes countryside and people during motor truck ride to Bralo, Greece
	1919 April 15	Passes Mt. Olympus, arrives at Salonica, Greece and is taken to Red Cross Headquarters by Lt. Col. Farnum of Serbian Commission
	1919 April 17	Col. H. W. Anderson wants him to go to Serbia and Montenegro; visits Turkish quarters in Salonica and describes area and Turks, mentioning differences in Turks and Jews
	1919 April 21-22	Travels to Lake Doiran--barren countryside with grenades, ammunition, helmets, horses', skeletons, and scrap--"no man's land"; Major Perkins tells of travel in Russia as guest of Kerensky
	1919 April 23	Arrives at Gevgelija, Serbia [Yugoslavia]--a mass of ruins, three years in war zone, German and Bulgar[ian]s carried off everything; mission trying to help victims, much illness
	1919 April 24	Prefect holds Serbian dinner for Red Cross officers; men "farmed out among townspeople"
	1919 April 25	Arrives at Kavadar[ci] , Yugoslavia--overwhelmingly Turkish and white minaret, Red Cross house in old Turkish habitation; tuberculosis is problem; describes trip to Monastir, mentioning roads, tunnels, and railways built by Germans, wrecked German camps; describes Easter celebration at Prilep
	1919 April 26	Visits American Red Cross Hospital operated by Drs. Keyes and Flood, in Monastir, Serbia; describes fire-shelled city; discusses a dance attended by Drs. Keyes and Flood, Col. Hume, Major Perkins, Lt. Vinton, Capt. Adams, Miss Saxton, Miss Mountain, Lt. Austin, and Lt. Pfotzer, with a description of some of the participants
	1919 April 28	Interviews with Prefect of Monastir, getting a good idea of social, economic, industrial, and food conditions in southern Serbia; mentions Mary Heaton Vorse writing for the Balkan Commission; talk of Adriatic crisis
	1919 April 29	Visits market at Monastir--sees women selling Macedonian costumes; visits Jewish [boys] school and finds it clean on inspection; mentions Mary Heaton Vorse
	1919 April 30	Arrives at Gostivar, Yugoslavia and meets Lt. T. B. Reed
	1919 May 1	Describes Red Cross House; hospital treats surgical cases, dispensary treats medical cases, much tuberculosis
	1919 May 2	Visits Vardar, Skoplje, Yugoslavia, an old Turkish school; mentions Edwin A. Schell, former president of Iowa Wesleyan University
	1919 May 4	Leaves Skoplje for Vranja; stays at Scottish Women's Hospital
	1919 May 5	Inspection of hospital reveals many cases of typhus and gangrene of extremities due to the illness, but very clean and efficient hospital; inspection of orphanage operated by Red Cross reveals crowed but clean conditions
	1919 May 6	Arrives at Leskovatz, Serbia [Yugoslavia]; visits hospital for Bulgarian prisoners of war, describes care, conditions, etc.
	1919 May 8- 14	Stays in Pirot, Yugoslavia--visits famous Pirot rug industry; describes a Serbian wedding on the 11th, where the brides' parents were not permitted in church; read story [ Polished Ebony ] by Octavus Roy Cohen
	1919 May 15	Arrives at Cuprija, Yugoslavia where there is a Red Cross Hospital with one doctor, two nurses, and a field worker (Dr. Thomas A. Lowe, Catherine Williams, Inez Gilliland, and Capt. S. W. Nevin)
	1919 May 17	Describes Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and gives impressions
	1919 May 20	Visits "Serbian government propaganda bureau," learns about government's agarian reform projects; visits Skampchina or parliament and describes physical and working aspects
	1919 May 23	Visits Red Cross Headquarters in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia; describes principle mosque, which is attended only by men; describes Sarajevo
	1919 May 26	Describes trip to Cetinje, Montenegro, Yugoslavia up the coastal mountainside; inspects warehouse, food distribution and hospital; describes trip to Podgorica, visits hospital
	1919 May 27	Describes trip to Niksic--sees armed Montenegro bands who are "hunting the bandits who have been robbing people," explains different factions; inspects and describes Niksic's hospital, poor house, and warehouse; arrives at Podgorica again
	1919 May 29	Arrives at Kolachin, Yugoslavia and inspects Red Cross hospital and dispensary
	1919 May 30	Investigating trip in region of Berane where it is proposed to establish a Red Cross stat
	1919 May 30	Describes native funeral between Kolachin and Podgorica
	1919 June 2-3	Arrives at Scutari, Albania and drives to Red Cross headquarters, describes conditions at hospital and dispensary; visits and describes the dispensary, dental clinic, and sewing room on the 3rd
	1919 June 4	Describes food distribution and a bazaar
	1919 June 5	Describes Scutari, Albania
	1919 June 7	Describes travel from Scutari to Tirana, Albania
	1919 June 8	Visits and describes a fakirs' service at a little mosque
	1919 April-June	Expense Account to Serbia