US-RUn-msg247 Rowland Sever Dodge World War I Letters 1917-1929 (bulk 1917-1919) Finding aid prepared by Mark Dionne University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections 2017
15 Lippitt RoadKingston, RI 02881-2011Tel: 401-874-4632email: archives@etal.uri.eduWebsite: https://web.uri.edu/specialcollections/
 Finding aid encoded by Mark Dionne, 2017. English Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) English University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 email: archives@etal.uri.edu
 Dodge, Rowland Sever, 1895-1918 Rowland Sever Dodge World War I Letters 1917-1929 (bulk 1917-1919) Rowland Sever Dodge World War I Letters 2 box(es) (2 linear feet) The WWI letters of Rowland Sever Dodge contains correspondence, photographs, certificates and realia regarding Dodge’s deployment to France in 1918. Ms. 247 Biographical Note

Rowland Sever Dodge was born February 6, 1895 and raised in the city of Pawtucket, RI. He entered Rhode Island State College on September 15, 1914 and left the school after completing his junior year in May, 1917. Dodge entered the United States Army in June, 1917 and was deployed to Europe later that year after graduating from the Second Plattsburg Officers’ Training Camp.

Dodge served as a Lieutenant in the 101st Infantry, 26th Division. In October of the following year, while recovering from illness he learned that his Division would be part of a major advance into enemy territory. He released himself from the hospital and joined his Company to lead reconnoitering missions behind enemy lines. He was killed by rifle fire on October 28, 1918, fourteen days before the end of the war.

 Collection Information

Any qualified person doing scholarly research is permitted to use material housed in the Special Collections Unit.

Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.

 Preferred Citation

Research Collection of the Rowland Sever Dodge World War I Letters, Mss. Gr. 247, University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections.

 Scope and Content Note

The WWI letters of Rowland Sever Dodge contains correspondence, photographs, certificates and realia regarding Dodge’s deployment to France in 1918. Records also include correspondence from time he was enrolled at the Rhode Island State College (RISC).

 Arrangement

The records are arranged into the following series: 1. Subject File 2. Realia

Administrative Information

The records were kept by Dodge’s niece Ruth Nancy (Rankine) Regan before being transferred to the University of Rhode Island in 2017.

 Custodial History

The records were transferred to the University of Rhode Island in October 2017 as a donation by family members.

 Alternative Form

All original hand written letters were typed out and edited (as needed) by Dodge’s nephew, Rowland Kimball Chase. The printed copies are in folder 25.

 Processing Information

The collection was processed by Mark Dionne in 2017.

 Names Dodge, Rowland Sever, 1895-1918 Subjects World War I, 1914-1918,--Military service members. Military History -- 20th Century. Soldiers -- Correspondence. RIAMCO Browsing Terms Military History Rhode Island/Local Interest Inventory Series 1 Subject File 1917-1929

The World War I letters of Rowland Sever Dodge contains correspondence, photographs, certificates and realia regarding Dodge’s deployment to France in 1918. Records also include correspondence from the time he was enrolled at the Rhode Island State College (RISC).

1 1 1918 Dec 31 Bishop, Josephine (teacher) 1 2 1919 May 12 Crosse, Cecilia (nurse) 1 3 1918 Dec 8 Dodge, Ellen (mother) 1 4 [1917] Dodge, Rowland at Rhode Island State College (RISC) 1 5 1918 Dec 30 Edwards, Howard (President of Rhode Island State College (RISC) 1 6 1918 Grist: Rhode Island State College (RISC) Yearbook 1 7 1917 Dec 31 Letters 1 8 1918 Jan 14 Letters 1 9 1918 Jan 28 Letters 1 10 1918 Feb 17 Letters 1 11 1918 Mar 11 Letters 1 12 1918 Apr 8 Letters 1 13 1918 May 19 Letters 1 14 1918 May 16 Letters 1 15 1918 may 24 Letters 1 16 1918 May 26 Letters 1 17 1918 Jun 2, 1923 Letters and Will 1 18 1918 Jun 16 Letters 1 19 1918 Aug 2 Letters 1 20 1918 Aug 16, 23 Letters 1 21 1918 Sep 5, 6, 8 Letters 1 22 1919 Sep 18, 23, 26 Letters 1 23 1918 Oct 10 Letters 1 24 1918 Oct 20 Letters 1 25 1917-1919, 1923, 1987 Letters: Printed Copies 1 26 1917 Miscellaneous: Post Card, Note, "Baby's Letter", Report 1 27 1919-1929 News Clippings 1 28 1915-1918 Photographs 1 29 undated Unknown Sender to Ellen Dodge 1 30 1919 Mar 11 War Department: General Orders No.37 Publication 1 31 1918-1923 War Department: Letters, Certificates Series 2 Realia 1918, 1925

The series contains certificates, honors, maps and other items that were part of Dodge's belongings or related to his military service.

2 32 undated Badges 2 32A 1925 Mar 28 Distinguished Service Cross for Extraordinary Heroism 2 33 undated Flag Pins (2) 2 33A undated French Memorial Print 2 34 undated Gold Star Black Bands (2) 2 35 undated Good Luck Charm from France 2 36 [1918] Map of the Western Theater 2 37 undated New Testament 2 38 undated Pocket Knife 2 39 undated Stick Flags (2) 2 40 [1918] United States Army Certificate from Commander John Pershing