Pattrick, John H. (1888-1970), Papers, 1885-1962 (C1291)
4 linear feet, 6 oversize volumes
INTRODUCTION
The John H. Pattrick Papers include photographs and miscellaneous material of First Lieutenant Pattrick related to his experiences while stationed in France during World War I, as well as material documenting his life before and after the war.
DONOR INFORMATION
The John H. Pattrick Papers were donated to the University of Missouri by John Pattrick’s daughter, Elizabeth Pattrick Mackenzie, on 21 October 1996 (Accession No. 5664). An addition to the collection was made on 15 January 1999. Material from the University of Missouri Museum of Anthropology was transferred to the manuscript collection on 5 June 2001.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
John H. Pattrick was born on 24 December 1888, and raised on a farm near Higbee, Missouri. His parents were Melissa Whitmore and William Robert Pattrick. He graduated from Columbia Normal School Academy and Columbia Business College in 1907. During the summer of that same year, John Pattrick became a traveling stereoscope and Fuller Brush salesman. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1912 with a B.S. in Education and an A.B. in Arts and Sciences.
During the summers of 1908 and 1909 he “hobo’d” throughout the U.S. exploring various scenic wonders and expositions and later became secretary to the dean of the Academic School at the University of Missouri.
From July 1912 to April 1913 John H. Pattrick was an agent for the claims department of the Missouri Pacific Railroad and from May 1913 to July 1914 he was an agent for a large and substantial Hawaiian business concern. Also during this time Pattrick taught English/Bible studies to Chinese boys at YMCA evening classes.
He attended law school at the University of Chicago from September 1914 to September 1915, and then attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Pattrick also taught high school English and cared for an invalid.
When the U.S. entered World War I he became the third man in the country to volunteer and sailed with the first detachment of American troops to France on the Baltic with General John Pershing on 28 May 1917. Initially he went as a civilian clerk and “confidential secretary” to the Medical Corps of the Quartermaster Department. On 14 May 1918 he enlisted in the U.S. Army Engineer Corps and was commissioned Second Lieutenant. Pattrick was assigned to the military aerial photography school, which was the first of its kind, and subsequently taught in this school. He was a “pioneer” in this school, which evolved into the Army Intelligence School. He was serving “at the front,” (Headquarters Second American Army) mapping battlefields when the war ended. He taught law in the A.E.F. School in France, which was established for American soldiers awaiting space on ships to return to the U.S. John Pattrick was discharged in Washington, D.C., on 29 July 1919. During that same year John H. Pattrick was admitted to the Washington, D.C., Bar.
During the early 1920s Pattrick served as an attorney for the U.S. Income Tax Department. He also graduated from George Washington University Law School and the Washington School of Accountancy. Pattrick became secretary to Theodore Gary, chairman of the State Highway Commission at Kansas City, Missouri. In addition he taught evening classes at the Kansas City School of Law from 1922 to1927. Harry S. Truman was one of his students.
On 3 June 1924 John H. Pattrick married Edna Elizabeth Riley. The couple honeymooned in Europe and the Middle East. They had two children, Robert Riley Pattrick, born 21 November 1926 and Elizabeth Pattrick Mackenzie, born 26 July 1928.
From the late 1920s into the 1930s John H. Pattrick worked in the banking business, was superintendent of Concordia, Missouri, public schools, and was business manager for Culver Stockton College in Canton, Missouri. He was an agent for the Estate Tax Department, Internal Revenue Service of the U.S. in Michigan from 1937 to 1941 and in California from 1941 to 1958.
Pattrick became an independent tax consultant from 1958 until his death in 1970. He was active in church work his entire life.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The John H. Pattrick Papers consist of correspondence, photographs, postcards, and miscellaneous material primarily illustrating Pattrick’s experiences and observations while stationed in France during World War I. The papers are arranged into three series:
The Correspondence series comprises correspondence written by Pattrick to his parents, mainly from France during World War I. This series is arranged chronologically. The series emphasizes Pattrick’s impressions and observations of not only his fellow officers, but also of the people and places he visited while stationed in Europe. The letters also indicate Pattrick’s devotion to his parents and his efforts to answer in his letters the many questions his parents have asked in their letters to him.
The scope and tone of these letters reflects an older, more mature nature. Pattrick at this time was already in his late twenties to early thirties and had already traveled alone throughout the U. S. He also had experienced the responsibilities of teaching school and caring for others. This collection therefore does not represent the typical letters from a young, inexperienced adolescent soldier who finds himself in a new country for the first time. For example, in his letters Pattrick frequently writes about just how quickly he has adapted to living in France. He particularly speaks of his
ever-increasing mastery of the French language, so much so that he remarks on how easy it is for him to travel anywhere in France because he can speak the language. At one point in his letters he even remarks that many fellow soldiers are coming to him to act as an interpreter. This mastery of the French language also allows Pattrick to acquire many French friends and acquaintances. One family he befriended wrote to him years later after World War II, and their letters are contained in this collection.
The Photographs And Postcards series comprises numerous photographs and postcards arranged alphabetically by location and dating from 1892 through1948, although the majority of the images are from World War I. These are pictorial images of military establishments, cities, towns and people, primarily in France. This material will provide the researcher with strong visual impressions of World War I France.
The Miscellaneous Material series comprises various printed and pictorial material from personal, educational, journalistic, and military sources. The educational material largely reflects student life in higher education during the early twentieth century. The certificates, licenses, and diplomas cover roughly the period 1911-1971 and reflect both educational and professional milestones in Pattrick’s life. The sheet music comprises various popular musical pieces, which include songs from musicals, as well as romantic and patriotic pieces, and is arranged chronologically. The scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings, photographs, postcards and various other material visually documenting the Pattrick family both before and after the World War I, as well as Pattrick’s experiences in Europe during World War I. In addition there are some three-dimensional objects collected by Pattrick while in France along with one taped interview with Elizabeth Riley Pattrick, wife of John H. Pattrick, on audiocassette. As much as possible, this series has been arranged alphabetically by subject.
FOLDER LIST
| f. 1-3 | Correspondence, 1917 |
| f. 4-12 | Correspondence, 1918 |
| f. 13-15 | Correspondence, 1919
|
| f. 16 | Aerial Reconnaissance Photographs, France |
| f. 17-17c | Aerial Reconnaissance Photographs and Maps, France |
| f. 18 | Alsace/Beaune, France |
| f. 19 | Besancon/Bordeaux, France |
| f. 20 | Bordeaux/Cannes/Chaumont, France |
| f. 21 | Clamecy/Commercy/Dijon, France/England |
| f. 22 | Flirey, France/French-Spanish Border/Germany/Higbee, Missouri (Lt. John H. Pattrick/Higbee) U.S./Ireland |
| f. 23 | 446 Engineer Reserve Officers Photographs, Ft. Logan, Colorado |
| f. 24 | Langres, France/U.S.S. Leviathan, U.S./Lorraine, France |
| f. 25 | Lourdes/Lyon/Metz/Mont-Blanc/Nancy, France |
| f .26 | Nancy/Nice/Paris/Pau, France |
| f. 27 | Pattrick family |
| f. 28 | Pattrick and Riley family |
| f. 29-31 | Pattrick/University of Missouri |
| f. 32 | Pattrick/Concordia High School Seniors, 1933 |
| f. 33 | Pennsylvania, U.S./Pyrenees Mountains, France |
| f. 34 | Pyrenees Mountains/Reims, France |
| f. 35 | S.S. Baltic Nineteenth Anniversary Dinner |
| f. 36 | Saumur/Toul, France |
| f. 37 | Toul, France |
| f. 38 | Toulouse/Tours/Trier, France/U.S./Verdun, France |
| f. 39-41 | Western Front, France |
| f. 42 | Western Front/Miscellaneous People, France |
| f. 43-45 | Miscellaneous Photographs, France |
| f. 46 | Miscellaneous Pattrick photographs |
| f.47 | Miscellaneous Pattrick family photographs
|
| f. 48 | American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) Distinctive Cloth Insignia for Armies, Corps and Divisions. Material from German zeppelin; spent bullet casing; German uniform epaulette; bullet jewelry,
letter opener; carrier pigeon message holder; shrapnel; playing cards |
| f. 49 | Army Discharge and Commission Papers |
| f. 50 | Baty-Bamberger family correspondence (In French) |
| f. 51 | Dismissals from Organizations—Masons
Transfer Certificates |
| f. 52 | Exam schedules (29th Engineers)
A.E.F. University schedule of classes
University organizational chart
Menu
Church bulletin for June, 1919
Discharge certificates
Military record for John H. Pattrick
Sentry pass
Army Extension Courses
Certificates of Completion
Letter announcement--“The Sixth Anniversary Sailing
of The Baltic”
Newspaper clippings |
| f. 53 | French war magazines: La Guerre Illustree and
Le Miroir |
| f. 54 | Greetings
Newspaper articles
Paper, “The Duties of a Branch Intelligence Officer” |
| f. 55 | Intelligence reports, Hostile fire, France
Postcard notification
Second Army pass
French train passes
German military trip passes |
| f. 56 | Letters from a French family to John H. Pattrick
Postcard “Happy New Year;” (all in French)
Photograph of French family
French restaurant menu, c.1918
Color Print "Le Café De La Paix Pendant La Guerre" Tableau De L. Sabattier c.1918 |
| f. 57 | Military correspondence, maps, courses, letters, certificates, 1919 |
| f. 58 | 1919 Holiday Greeting Calendar prepared by Company “I” 29th Engineers, 1st Army, American Expeditionary Forces, France
Part 1 The Catalogue of The American Expeditionary Forces University, May 16, 1919 in Beaune, Cote D’Or,
France
Menu, Toul, France, 1918-1919
Photographic book of Base Printing Plant operated by 29th Engineers, U.S. Army, American Expeditionary Forces, Langres, France |
| f. 59 | Pattrick, Elizabeth Riley Audiocassette taped interview
Cook Books
Nutrition Books |
| f. 60 | Pattrick, Elizabeth Riley, Drawing books, Lester Dent autographed biographies to Elizabeth and Robert Pattrick |
| f. 61 | Pattrick, Elizabeth Riley, Nursery rhyme books, Children's stationary |
| f. 62 | Pattrick, Elizabeth Riley, Violin programs and articles |
| f. 63 | Pattrick school papers, "The Home Rule Movement for Ireland" |
| f. 64-70 | Pattrick school papers, "Mathematics of Accounting" |
| f. 71-73 | Pattrick school papers "Outline of World History" |
| f. 74 | Pattrick school papers
Transcripts from various universities attended
YMCA membership card
University of Missouri, Correspondence, commencement, photographs
University of Chicago, Acacia Fraternity, 1911-1915
Legal Fraternity of Phi Delta Phi Membership, November 24, 1919 |
| f. 75 | University of Missouri, Commencement material, 50th anniversary class reunion, copies of the "Missouri Alumnus" |
| f. 76 | Second Lieutenant's Commission certificate |
| f. 76a | State of California Board of Accountancy Certificate, 1946 |
| f. 77 | University of Missouri postcards, stylebook, commencement announcement, 1912 |
| f. 78 | "Wally", His Cartoons of the A.E.F. |
| f. 79-82 | Sheet music, 1893-1900 |
| f. 83-92 | Sheet music, 1901-1910 |
| f. 93-102 | Sheet music, 1911-1920 |
| f. 103-111 | Sheet music, 1921-1930 |
| f. 112-121 | Sheet music, 1931-1940 |
| f. 122-128 | Sheet music, 1941-1947 |
| f. 129 | Sheet music, n.d. |
| f. 130 | Certificates, Licenses, Diplomas |
| v. 1, 2 | Scrapbooks, Hawaii |
| v. 3 | Scrapbooks, Chicago University, Acacia Fraternity |
| v. 4 | New York, Washington D.C. |
| v. 5 | Texas
Family photographs |
| v. 6 | Texas
Arizona
Family photographs |
| v. 7-9 | World War I photographs |
| v. 10 | Bird stamp book |
INDEX TERMS
These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available indexes at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index term, please contact the reference staff.
- Pattrick, John H. (1888-1970)
- Student life
- World War, 1914-1918--A.E.F. University, Beaune, France
- World War, 1914-1918--Correspondence
- World War, 1914-1918--Photographs
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