World War I Illinois State Normal University Military and Community Service Records, 1917-1919 | Dr. JoAnn Rayfield Archives at Illinois State University

The World War I Illinois State Normal University Military and Community Service Records is arranged into three series by material type. The first series holds student and alumni files created by Milner documenting their military and community service during World War I. The second contains documents created by Milner showing the university's involvement in the war. This series also holds pamphlets published by the wartime government agency Committee on Public Information. The third series includes an unidentified photograph of a soldier and news clippings mounted on board that are about the war.

The World War I Illinois State Normal University Military and Community Service Records hold the files created by the university's first librarian, Angeline Vernon Milner. The files document student and alumni military and community service during the war. Files include correspondence, photographs, news clippings, and postcards. This collection also holds materials documenting both the university's and country's involvement in World War I including publications and pamphlets.

Milner, Angeline Vernon (1856-1928)
Illinois State Normal University. War Service Committee.
Owen, Grace A. (Grace Arlington)

The World War I Illinois State Normal University Military and Community Service Records is a collection that was created by the first university librarian, Angeline Vernon Milner as part of her work with the university's War Service Committee. The committee was comprised of faculty appointed by then president David Felmley to document and provide services to active duty service men and women volunteers who were ISNU students and alumni. Included in that committee were D.C. Ridgley, Clara Penstone, Grace Owen, Annette Cooper, Eunice Blackburn, O.L. Manchester, and Ange Milner. It was Milner's responsibility to document the service of all military and volunteer students and alumni and keep a 'preservation file' for future use. With help from community volunteers, including fourteen year old Kenneth R. Pringle who later became her chief assistant, Milner created a two-page survey and sent it out to students and alumni. The survey asked a number of questions about the individual's wartime and community service. Often, survey participants who were serving overseas would write Milner, telling her about their experiences and asking about life at home. Milner would write back and maintained correspondence with many individuals. Survey participants also included service workers such as members of the YMCA and the Red Cross. Pringle was noted for his meticulous effort in clipping news articles from many local, regional, and national newspapers for the files. Milner continued to collect information on these students and alumni until after the war. When she was finished, Milner had created and maintained a total of 806 records. Until her death, Milner continued to correspond with many the students and alumni from the files. Today, only 685 of those files remain. Author: April Karlene Anderson

Illinois State Normal University - Alumni and alumnae - Correspondence.
Illinois State Normal University - History - 20th century.
Illinois State Normal University - Students - Correspondence.
Milner, Ange V. (Angeline Vernon), 1856-1928
World War, 1914-1918 - Women.
World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, American.