Title: Albert W. Fritz Papers and Still Images
Inclusive Dates: 1917-1971

Creator:

• Fritz, Albert W.

Call Number: WVM Mss 1379

Quantity: 0.2 linear ft. (1 archives box and 1 oversized folder) of papers, 0.1 linear ft. (4 folders and 2 oversized folders) of photographs, 0.1 linear ft. (1 folder) of paper prints, 0.2 linear ft. (1 flat box) of scrapbooks, 0.1 linear ft. (1 folder) of slides.

Repository:

Wisconsin Veterans Museum
Have questions? Contact the Reference Archivist

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Veterans Museum (Map)

See the catalog entry for current shelf locations and additions.

Abstract:

Papers, loose photographs, photographic scrapbook, and a slide pertaining to Albert W. Fritz, a Berlin, Wisconsin resident who served with Company I, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division during World War I and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during the Second Battle of the Marne (France, 1918). The papers are primarily an assortment of manuscripts covering his service and acceptance of the Distinguished Service Cross. Included are biographical materials, newspaper articles pertaining to Fritz's service and the war in general, a book charting his payments, and a poem about the service of the 1st Division during the war. Correspondence include a very interesting letter written by Fritz to his friend and fellow soldier, Albert Herbert, that discusses the wounds he received at the Battle of the Marne, names friends who were killed during the battle, and briefly describes his actions against German forces. Herbert was a friend from Berlin, Wisconsin who was killed in action before the letter was delivered. Other correspondence include a letter he wrote to his mother after returning to the United States and the telegram his parents received notifying them that Fritz had been severely wounded. There are also training notes Fritz wrote about uniform insignias and unit organization, oversized certificates, a military order giving him permission to wear a chevron indicating he had been wounded, and postwar papers pertaining to his request for an engraved Purple Heart and a new ribbon. The scrapbook contains images of Fritz and fellow soldiers taken during basic training and while stationed in France. There are also images taken at the family farm showing Fritz posing with his sister, Ellen, and his future wife, Lenora Kroll. The scrapbook also includes postcards depicting the U.S.S. George Washington transporting President Wilson to Europe after the war, along with additional images of U.S. Navy vessels. Loose photographs include a portrait of Fritz in uniform while wearing his Distinguished Service Cross medal, several images of him wearing his uniform and medal at the family farm, and a photograph of Fritz during basic training. Of interest are a series of images of Fritz taken in Germany that show him wearing the Distinguished Service Cross, with one image showing him cradling his rifle. Additional images include souvenir photographs and postcards collected by Fritz while he was in Europe, and an oversized lithographic print of a portrait of Fritz in uniform.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.wvm-mss01379

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Acquisition Information

Presented by Vivian Stone, Berlin, WI, 2010. Accession Number: Mss 2010.29 and Mss 2010.47.

Processing Information

Processed by Andrew J. Baraniak in 2010

	Series: Papers
Box   1 Folder   1	Biographical information, undated
Ov   27 Folder   17	Certificates, 1918-1919
	Subseries: Correspondence	⇧
Box   1 Folder   2	To Herbert Albrect, 1918
Box   1 Folder   3	To Mother, 1919
Box   1 Folder   4	Postcard, 1919
Box   1 Folder   5	Telegram to parents about wounding, 1918
Box   1 Folder   6	Distinguished Service Cross recipients lists, photocopies, 1919; 1927
	Subseries: Ephemera	⇧
Box   1 Folder   7	Meal ticket, 1918
Box   1 Folder   8	Note from Pershing, 1919
Box   1 Folder   9	Programs, 1919
Box   1 Folder   10	Poem, undated
	Subseries: Military Records	⇧
Box   1 Folder   11	Order to wear Wounded Chevron, 1918
Box   1 Folder   12	Pay Record Book, 1919
Box   1 Folder   13	Postwar, 1919-1971
Box   1 Folder   14	World War I newspaper articles, 1918-1919
Box   1 Folder   15	Pertaining to Fritz, 1918
Box   1 Folder   16	Notes on military insignias and units, circa 1918
	Series: Still Images	⇧
	Subseries: Photographs
Ph   23 Folder   33	Albert W. Fritz [2] , 1918-1919
Ph   23 Folder   34	Bannbusched, Germany [3] 1919
Ph   23 Folder   35	Berlin, Wisconsin [3] 1919
PhOv   23 Folder   11	Oversized lithographic print [1] , 1919
Ph   23 Folder   36	Postcards [11] , 1918-1919
PhOv   4 Folder   5	Oversized [5]
Box   2	Scrapbook, circa 1919
Color Slide   1 Folder   1	Portrait [1]
Paper Print   1 Folder   18	Color paper print, portrait [1]