Search

A collection of selected German, Dutch and English periodicals, newspapers and pamphlets published during and relating to World War I. Also included are approximately 150 picture postcards depicting the life of German soldiers during the War and the life of prisoners of war captured by the Germans. The majority of these cards were issued by the International Red Cross. Handwritten captions for the postcards and for other materials were written by Jeannette Unger, the donor. Also includes a selection of American, Canadian and English popular songs of the period with war or patriotic themes

The papers include correspondence, subject files, photographs, and printed materials. The majority of the collection concerns the mission of the American Red Cross to Russia in 1917-1918; Thacher served as a secretary of the mission. There are letters and telegrams by W.B. Thompson and Raymond Robins, records of supplies, shipments, and distribution reports and over 600 photographs from Russia, China, and Romania. There is substantial correspondence from 1918-1919 concerning Russia, including letters by Louis Brandeis, Felix Frankfurter, and Lillian Wald. A substantial part of the collection concerns Russian war relief in 1941-1942, an area in which Thacher was active. Printed materials include a pamphlet and an article on Russia prepared by Thacher after his return from that country in early 1918.