Edward P. Baillie Papers and Photographs
1942-1949
WVM Mss 941
0.8 linear ft. (2 archives boxes and 4 oversized folders) of papers and 0.4 linear ft. (1 archives box) of photographs.
Wisconsin Veterans Museum
(Map)
The papers and photographs of Edward P. Baillie, an officer in the Coastal Artillery who later served at a stateside prisoner of war camp during World War II. His time at the prisoner of war camp in Ruston, Louisiana is documented by a directory of the camp, roster of the prisoners, and various passes, as well as a sketch and several watercolor paintings by the prisoners. The camp held German and Ukrainian prisoners, largely officers. A large amount of study materials from his time at a radar school at the Presidio show the information being presented to the students. The collection also contains numerous souvenirs collected by Baillie and his wife, Sarah, in the several states and bases at which he served during the war. Sarah stayed with Baillie as he was transferred around the country and often found war work at nearby bases. Largely ephemeral in nature, these souvenirs document the stateside soldier as tourist. Many of the souvenirs are postcards, but they also include menus, flyers, and advertisements for local establishments from places like a bullfight in Juarez, Mexico, the Carlsbad Caverns, Muir Woods, Lake Tahoe, New Orleans, and San Quentin prison. A newspaper from San Francisco welcomed war workers to the city, introducing restaurants and other places of interest in the city. Photographs correspond to the souvenirs in that they document the travels and recreational activities of Edward and Sarah rather than his military service. The photographs of landlords show that Sarah lived off base and needed to find accommodations. Edward is in uniform in most of the photographs and there are shots of other uniformed men at the Army base in San Rafael, California.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.wvm-mss00941