Summary Information
Harry Trippe Papers
1861-1936
Whitewater Mss BG
0.6 c.f. (1 archives box and 1 card box)
UW-Whitewater Library / Whitewater Area Research Ctr. (Map)
Papers of a civil engineer from Whitewater, Wisconsin who served as a lieutenant colonel with the 308th Engineer Regiment during World War I before reenlisting in the regular army (1920-1936). Included are letters written to his wife and family concerning his training at Fort Leavenworth and Camp Sherman and his duty overseas both during and after the war; official documents concerning the regiment and his duty, a draft regimental history, and 20 pocket diaries covering (with gaps) the period 1903 to 1934.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-whit00bg ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Harry Montague Trippe was born in Whitewater, Wisconsin, on September 14, 1872, the son of Cornelia Montague Trippe and William James Trippe. He attended local schools and graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1896 with a degree in civil engineering.
Between 1896 and 1917 Trippe was employed as an engineer by the U.S. Geological Survey; the Chicago and Northwestern Railway; the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway; the Badger Railway; the Interstate Commerce Commission (where he ultimately reached the rank of engineer, senior grade); and the city of Whitewater.
In March, 1917 Trippe was commissioned as captain in the Engineer Officers Reserve Corps. In August, following completion of training at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Trippe was promoted to major and assigned to the 308th Engineer Regiment just being formed at Camp Sherman, Ohio. In June, 1918 the 308th went overseas as part of the American Expeditionary Force. Shortly thereafter Trippe, newly promoted to lieutenant colonel, assumed command of the regiment.
During Trippe's tenure as commanding officer the regiment participated in two major offenses: the Oise-Aisne and the Meuse-Argonne. During the latter offensive the regiment distinguished itself with the rapidity of its bridge construction over the Meuse. In 1920 Trippe was awarded a distinguished service medal for this accomplishment. Following the armistice, the 308th served as part of the Occupation forces in Germany, before being mustered out in June of 1919.
In 1920 Trippe reentered the army as a major. His duty stations during the 1920's included the Canal Zone and Columbus, Ohio. In 1930 Trippe was appointed district engineer of the port of Milwaukee. He continued in this post until his retirement due to ill health in 1936.
Trippe married Culla Anderson of Whitewater on June 29, 1905. They had three daughters. Trippe died in Whitewater on August 1, 1939.
Scope and Content Note
The Harry Trippe Papers consist of family correspondence and official documents pertaining to his World War I service, and a set of pocket diaries covering the majority of his adult life. The family correspondence covers the period 1917 to 1919. These letters describe his experiences at Fort Leavenworth and Camp Sherman, the transit of the 308th from Ohio to Europe; his experiences overseas before and after assuming command, and the regiment's return to the United States. Trippe's correspondence, especially during the pre-armistice period, deals less with his activities than where he went, who and what he saw, living conditions, and family matters. A few letters to and from other family members are included.
The collection also contains a quantity of official army documents concerning Trippe himself and the 308th. Included in the former category are routine documents concerning leave, promotions, etc. The official correspondence relating to the regiment contains a variety of commendatory letters primarily concerning the bridge construction at Dun, copies of monthly reports, summaries and battle orders. Also included is a typewritten regimental history.
The memorabilia contains miscellaneous documents, biographical clippings, and a Civil War letter which is unidentified but was probably written by a member of the Trippe family.
Trippe's pre-military life is documented in 15 pocket diaries, with an additional five items concerning the period of his military service. Unfortunately, the entries are, for the most part, brief and impersonal.
In additions to this collection not yet organized are photographs documenting the service of the regiment and family life in Whitewater. These are available in the Visual and Sound Archives in Madison.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Stephen Ambrose and Rosepha Trippe Ambrose, Whitewater, Wisconsin, October 1, 1965.
Accession Number: M65-345
Processed by C.W. Bowie (FGH student, 1973) and Carolyn J. Mattern, 1987.
Contents List
|
Box
1
Folder
1-3
|
Correspondence, 1917-1919
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
4
|
Trippe's service record, 1916-1920
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
5
|
Regimental orders, 1918-1919
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
6
|
Regimental history, n.d.
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
7
|
Memorabilia, 1861-1919
|
|
|
Diaries
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
8
|
1903-1905
|
|
|
Box
2
|
1906-1917, 1924, 1930-1934
|
|
|
