Summary Information
Arthur A. Cantwell Papers and Still Images
1917-1919
WVM Mss 2072
0.8 linear ft. (2 archives boxes, 1 oversized box and 1 folder), 29 still images
Wisconsin Veterans Museum (Map)
Papers and still images pertaining to the service of Arthur A. Cantwell, a Shawano, Wisconsin resident who served in the 107th Supply Train, 32nd Division during World War I, and survived the sinking of troop ship Tuscania in 1918. Papers include official military documents, letters from Cantwell to his parents and brothers, and newspaper clippings about the war and Cantwell's service. Throughout his training and service, Cantwell sent letters home praising the Army and the good influence it had on him, and keeping his family informed of any news he heard. Letters frequently discuss men who waited to be drafted into service or tried to avoid the draft and Cantwell's deep hatred of those unwilling to voluntarily serve. Of interest are materials in the collection pertaining to the Tuscania. In several letters, Cantwell described the event in detail, and also sent home a piece of canvas, his room ticket and billet ticket. Photographs include images from his training and service in Europe.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.wvm-mss02072 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Arthur Allen Cantwell was born in Shawano, Wisconsin, in 1899 to Dr. William and Hattie Cantwell. After completing high school, Cantwell joined Company F, 4th Wisconsin National Guard. In 1917 the 4th Wisconsin National Guard was federalized as the 107th Supply Train and moved to Waco, Texas, for training. Cantwell, as part of the 107th Supply Train for the 127th Infantry Regiment, moved to Hoboken, New Jersey for transportation to Europe. He was deployed to Europe on the Tuscania in 1918 and survived when it was torpedoed and sunk. In his letters, Cantwell references his military training and calm demeanor as the reason for his survival. While in service, he served as a driver and mechanic, first in France, and then as part of the occupational force in Germany. After his service, Cantwell returned to Shawano, later attending college to become a doctor. Later, he married Alice Davis, and had several children. Cantwell died in Florida in 1970.
The S.S. Tuscania was a private ship that ran the route between England and New York. During World War I it served as a troop ship, moving soldiers from Canada and the United States to England. On January 24, 1918, the Tuscania left Hoboken, New Jersey with members of the 32nd Division on board, destined for England. On February 5, the ship was hit with a torpedo, immediately killing some men, damaging lifeboats and destroying part of the ship. 230 soldiers and crewmen were lost, while the rest were rescued by other ships sailing in the convoy.
Scope and Content Note
The Arthur A. Cantwell collection is arranged into three series: Personal Papers (1917-2008), Newspapers (1917-2008) and Still Images (1914-1918).
Papers (1917-2008) are comprised mainly of correspondence, but also include military papers, and newspapers and clippings. Correspondence is almost exclusively to Cantwell's parents and brothers, and focuses on his impressions of the war and the military. Of interest in these letters are frequent comments about Cantwell's disapproval of men who waited to be drafted to serve their country, and an even deeper dislike of those who avoided the draft. Several of Cantwell's letters reference the sinking of the Tuscania and his experiences on board that ship. Letters sent to his brother Bill praise Bill's perseverance in training to be a doctor and his decision to join the Army after completing his education. Letters to his brother Roger exchange news and update Roger on Cantwell's training and movements throughout the war. Miscellaneous correspondence include a telegram sent to Cantwell by his father, and letters from the government requesting his father work for the Draft Board. Military papers include a pay book, orders, service summaries and a letter sent to the families of soldiers on the Tuscania, apologizing to them for postcards sent stating that their sons and husbands had arrived safely. The letter explains that soldiers simply filled out these cards and they were sent to the families without referencing the casualty lists.
Newspapers (1917-2008) include full pages and clippings about important happenings in the war. Several newspapers list the soldiers on the Tuscania from Wisconsin, the lists of the dead and the events of the day. Other newspapers list all the soldiers who joined from Shawano, summarized the 32nd Division's actions during the war and highlighted important days like Memorial Day and Armistice Day. Clippings about Dr. Cantwell refer to Cantwell's father, and summarize his medical practice and impact on Shawano. Articles on the Spanish Flu list ways to avoid the flu and stay healthy. Two articles (B2, F8, F13) were written about Cantwell's service and include comments from his son, John Cantwell.
Still images (1914-1918) include photographs from his time in the National Guard, training, service, and photographs of fellow soldiers. Color photographs are of a memorial to those who served from Shawano. Photographic postcards feature portraits of soldiers and World War I photographs feature Cantwell and other servicemen. Photographs from World War I are small personal images from Cantwell's time in Europe, featuring soldiers, towns and field work.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Sally Basting, 2009. Accession Number: Mss2009.050.
Processed by Brittany Strobel, in 2015
Contents List
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Series: Personal Papers
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Subseries: Correspondence
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Bill Cantwell, 1918-1919
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Miscellaneous, 1917-1921
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Box
1
Folder
3-19
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Parents, 1917-1920
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Box
1
Folder
20-21
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Roger Cantwell, 1918-1919
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Box
1
Folder
22
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Subseries: Military papers, 1917-1919
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Box
2
Folder
14
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War Souvenirs, 1918
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Series: Newspapers
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Subseries: Flu, Shawano news
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Box
2
Folder
1
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Chicago Tribune, Paris Edition, 1919
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Box
2
Folder
3
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Complete Roll of Guardsmen, 1917
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Box
2
Folder
4
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Doctor William Cantwell, 1936
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Box
2
Folder
5
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Flu 1918, circa
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Box
2
Folder
7
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Honor Day paper, 1918
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Subseries: Service
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Box
2
Folder
8
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Letters from the Past, 1998
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Box
2
Folder
13
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Through Some Bad Stuff, 2008
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Subseries: Tuscania
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Box
2
Folder
6
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Green Bay Press-Gazette, 1918
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Box
2
Folder
11
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Rescued Tuscania soldiers, 1918
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Subseries: Veterans
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Box
2
Folder
2
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Company F, 1978
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Box
2
Folder
9
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Milwaukee Journal, 1967
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Subseries: War news
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Box
2
Folder
10
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New York Tribune, 1918
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Box
2
Folder
12
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Shawano Journal May 30, 1918
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Series: Still images
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Color Ph
6
Folder
3
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Memorial [2] , undated
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Box
3
Folder
1
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National Guard [4] , 1914-1918
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Box
3
Folder
2
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Paris postcards [4] , undated
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Box
3
Folder
3
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Photographic postcards [6] , 1914-1918
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Box
3
Folder
4
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Portraits [3] , 1914-1918
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Box
3
Folder
5
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World War I Europe [10] , 1918
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