Center for Archival Collections

Introduction | Biographical Sketch | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory

Introduction

The Henry U. Ellsworth collection was donated to the Center for Archival Collections on October 11, 1990. The collection consists of personal correspondence, membership lists for the Ladies and Men's Red Circle Class, a diary, poems, philosophical and historical writings dating from 1915-1923. The collection also includes two unidentified, nondated photographs.

Biographical Sketch

Henry U. Ellsworth was born on January 18, 1897, in Grand Rapids to Mr. and Mrs. George B. Ellsworth (Alice Eyler). Ellsworth was a retired clerk for the former B & O Railroad, an Army veteran of World War I and a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church, Bowling Green. He died September 25, 1989.

Scope and Content

The Henry U. Ellsworth collection consists mainly of religious and philosophical writings during the period of 1915-1923. Primarily this is discussing the proper way to lead a Christian life. There are also a few poems on these subjects in the collection as well.

The correspondence in the collection deals with the daily life in Northwest Ohio and the time Ellsworth spent at Camp Sherman during World War I. In those letters and his diary he discusses daily life (both at home and Camp Sherman) as well as the influenza epidemic of the early Twentieth Century.

There are two unidentified and nondated pictures in the collection, possibly a glimpse into the family life of Henry Ellsworth. Also contained in the papers are membership lists of the Red Circle Ladies and Men's Club.

Series Description

CORRESPONDENCE

CORRESPONDENCE
1918-1923
Arranged chronologically
Predominately letters from Ellsworth but there are a few incoming letters.

CORRESPONDENCE - CAMP SHERMAN
1918-?
Ellsworth's correspondence from his time spent at Camp Sherman during World War I. Mostly outgoing correspondence with a duty roster also included.

SUBJECT FILES

CLIPPINGS
n.d.
Newsclippings from Ladies and Men's Red Circle Class.

LITERARY DOCUMENTS

DIARIES
February - June 1917
Arranged chronologically
A journal reflecting life in Northwest, Ohio.

POEMS
1916-1922, n.d.
Arranged, when possible, chronologically
Christian ideals expressed through poetry.

PHILOSOPHICAL WRITINGS
1916-1919, n.d.
Arranged, when possible, chronologically
Ellsworth's beliefs on how to live a good, moral life, mostly through Christian ideals.

RELIGIOUS WRITINGS
1915-1923, n.d.
Writings and speeches (possibly sermons) concerning the Christian faith.

HISTORICAL WRITINGS, DATA
1918, n.d.
Writings about the U.S. as a world power and the first World War. A timetable of accomplishments for ancient civilizations.

PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS
n.d.
Two pictures with no descriptions or dates. (Possibly family photos?)

Inventory

Box 1

Folder

1. Henry Ellsworth correspondence, 1918-1923
2. Ellsworth correspondence from Camp Sherman, 1918
3. Membership lists of Ladies and Men's Red Circle Class, n.d.
4. Ellsworth diary, February - June 1917
5. Poems by Ellsworth, 1916-1922
6. Poems by Ellsworth, n.d.
7. Philosophical writings, 1916-1919
8. Philosophical writings, n.d.
9. Religious writings, 1915-1923
10. Religious writings, n.d.
11. Historical writings, 1918, n.d.
12. Photographs, n.d.

Manuscripts by Subject | Family Collections | U. S. in Wartime