A Guide to the Papers of Louis I. Jaffé, 1917-1919
A Collection in
The Special Collections Department
Accession Number 9924-m
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Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Use Restrictions
See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.
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 |
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| 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 | |