Cecil Roberts Gross papers, 1918-1950.
Collection Number: 1890
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
Cecil Roberts Gross papers, 1918-1950.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
1890
Abstract:
Forty-four letters from C.R. Gross to members of his family concerning his service
with the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I and afterward with the army
of occupation in Luxembourg. Also included are newspapers, monographs on agricultural
chemistry, postcards, and other printed items.
Creator:
Gross, Cecil Roberts.
Quanitities:
.2 cubic feet.
Language:
Collection material in English
Forty-four letters from C.R. Gross to members of his family concerning his service
with the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I and afterward with the army
of occupation in Luxembourg, including comments on army life, work in a 33rd Division
field hospital, devastation caused by military operation in Lorraine and northeastern
France, conditions on troop ships, reactions to the cessation of hostilities, the
situation in France during the half year following the Armistice, his studies at the
University of Paris, and related matters. Also included are three newspapers, eleven
monographs on agricultural chemistry, postcards, and other printed items.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
Cecil Roberts Gross. Papers, #1890. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell
University Library.
Names:
United States. Army. American Expeditionary Forces
Université de Paris -- : Students.
Subjects:
World War, 1914-1918 -- Luxembourg.
World War, 1914-1918 -- France.
Hospitals, Military.
Agricultural chemistry.
CONTAINER LIST
Container
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Description
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Date
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Scope and Contents
All the material in the collection may not be covered by this guide.
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Series I. Correspondence
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Scope and Contents
Cornell University Agricultural Experimental Station, Memoir 297. by R.M. Smock, C.R.
Gross. (47 pp.)
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to sister
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1918-03-14-1918-03-15 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to his sister. Camp Logan, Houston, Texas, re: monthly salary,
description of a day's work - pack carried, here and in France.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Mother and Lela
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1918-07-02 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to Mother and Sister Lela, from little French town, "letters
are quite limited now," learning French by association.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Edna
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1918-07-15 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to Sister Edna. From France re: infrequency of receiving mail
- dinner in a French home on July 14th.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Betty
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1918-08-07 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to Sister Betty. From France. Re: Americans received cordially;
well fed here; day spent in exercise; and class pay (increased) and allotment.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Mother
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1918-08-26 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to his mother. From France re: his progress in French language.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Betty
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1918-09-16 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross sister Betty. From France. re: "[have] quit standing around
watching, and now in it", don't stay long in one place - airplanes, and artillery
or bombs, machine guns-often in doubt as to true facts - been acting as orderly in
hospital - lately had several cases of men who'd eaten a shiny blackberry - men delirious
- lasted a day or two.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Lela
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1918-09-18 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to sister Lela. From France. Re: restriction on number of
letters can write per week removed (number was restricted because own officers were
doing the censoring - time element involved.) Dark veil of secrecy over all troop
movements had to discard all equipment, etc., not absolutely necessary work of a field
hospital - condition of area as result of fighting - these villages devoid of civilian
life - rats around ruins - increase in aerial activity on cloudless nights...
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Lela
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1918-10-09 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to sister Lela. From France. Re: account of efforts "to better
my condition" - lately been in charge of burials, long line of planes passed over
today, dropping what appeared to be leaflets.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Sister
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1918-10-19 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to sister. From France. Re: French acquaintances - little
chance to spend $ of late.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Mother
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1918-10-25 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to his mother. From France. Re: empty French village - restrictions
as to taking photographs - necessity of making German's surrender unconditionally.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Edna
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1918-10-27 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to Sister Edna. From France. Re: American offensive launched
on Sept. 26 in district w. of Meuse near Verdun - description of Verdun after the
offensive.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Lela
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1918-10-30 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to Sister Lela. From France. Re: been at a "rest camp" - we
been cleaning up this village ca. 4 mos. of service followed by 7-10 day furlough
far from the front - always great uncertainty as to future movements - rumors when
at front desire among troops for peace but one to ensure no repetition of such a war
incl. - certificate for the medal of Verdun.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Betty
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1918-11-06 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to Sister Betty. From France. Re: Verdun medal - speculation
in ranks as to how long Germany will last - opinion of terms of the Armistice - AEF
as mfg. false reports on its own account.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Lela
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1918-11-10 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to Sister Lela. From France. Re: Still operating hospital
in a back area - trip to area where large evacuation hospital situated - what necessary
before a sentry satisfied.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Mother
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1918-11-11 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to his mother. From France. Re: ringing of bells over end
of hostilities - confidence of men that armistice would be signed (after heard of
Foch's deadline announced the 9th), reactions to the end of hostilities (French more
enthusiastic than Americans)
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Betty
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1918-11-18 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to Sister Betty. From France. Re: don't know where we are
- things easy since hostilities ceased - trip to Commercy (souvenir stores there)
- condition of St. Michel - French woman expressed gratitude of her people that they
were delivered by the Americans.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Sister
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1918-11-18 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to Sister. From France. Re: trip to Commercy: trenches, barbed
wire entanglements, levelled villages - explored ruins of a village - large supplies
of shells, grenades, flares, etc. still remaining.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to parents
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1918-11-24 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to parents. From Ambly, France. Re: can now more freely discuss
previous movements and experiments: a) crossed in camouflaged ships b) men "packed
in" c) liner carried several 1000 soldiers; several 100 civilians and "Y" men; valuable
cargo of copper, silver, food and mail d) ship in a convoy of 8 troop ships and small
British cruiser, submarine chasers, dirigible balloon, hydroplanes (later 3 soon left
us) e) had boat drills, etc. f) gun and bomb equipment of the 8 ships g) entertainment
on board h) zigzagging course across ocean i) submarine chaser came to escort us
to shore j) stopped for short while in England
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to parents
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1918-11-27 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to parents. From Ambly, France. Re: a) rode trains across
England b) stayed at camp in Southampton where English soldiers recuperating c) boarded
boat across channel after 3 days d) conditions in the boat (bad) e) stayed in L'Havre
several days f) somewhat restricted there cause previous American soldiers had acted
up
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to parents
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1918-12-18 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to parents. Lorraine, France. Re: been "en route" since Dec.
8 - passed beyond German front - Germans lacked cloth - articles abandoned by German
when evacuated - ate with a French woman - they bitterly condemned Germans - hiked
into Lorraine - French there welcomed us enthusiastically. People in Lorraine almost
starved - (Germans took all with them when they left) - trip to Rumelange, Luxemburg
(mining iron town) - like villages better as approach Germany - articles in shops
expensive - saw blast furnaces
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to parents
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1918-12-21 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to parents. Kruchten, Luxemburg. Re: type of food - our division
been frequently shunted from army to army - people here seem glad to have us - description
of march and quarters.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to parents
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1918-12-23 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to parents. Kruchten, Luxemburg. Re: from L'Havre (when first
in Fr.) loaded into box cars to Charmay and then marched to Rougeux (there 9 weeks)
- left in trucks for front - Aug. 23 - passed a camouflaged concentration camp for
this division - country near front - Boche aerial activity - casualties handled by
Field Hospital # 132 (esp. on Oct. 11 following drive commenced on Oct. 9) - Germans
near by took advantage of exposed position of our hospital buildings, just W. of Verdun
- feelings about "unrighteousness of war" - time in a suburb of Verdun, end of Oct.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to parents
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1918-12-31 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to parents. Kruchten, Luxemburg. Re: trip to Diekirch, Luxemburg,
troops there have it nice….many in Luxemburg speak English - Luxemburg-Germany frontier
now closed.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to parents
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1919-01-04 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to parents. Kruchten, Luxemburg. Re: General - photo house
in Diekirch - can't get any film and paper from either U.S. or Germany because of
closing of the frontiers.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Annie
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1919-01-06 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to Annie (friend of Lela's). Kruchten, Luxemburg. Re: all
having hard time understanding money values here now….
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to parents
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1919-01-09 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to his parents. Kruchten, Luxemburg. Re: trip to Vianden where
there is an historical castle - train we took there old - supper we had at a hotel
- Luxemburg City presently closed to American soldiers; so is Treves. - value of francs
in American dollars
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Betty
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1919-01-12 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to Sister Betty. Kruchten, Luxemburg. Re: conditions of a
field hospital's housing role played, etc. - (theoretical course of wounded man from
the front to the U.S.) - having things easy now - shops in Arlon, Belgium fairly
well stocked.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Mother
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1919-02-04 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to his Mother (Mrs. M.G. Gross). Kruchten, Luxemburg. - Re:
"card furnished to each soldier to notify his family of his present location and health."
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Edna
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1919-02-12 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to Sister Edna. Kruchten, Luxemburg. Re: trips to Clerveaux
- people met there - castle (been used to quarter German soldiers at times during
war and what they'd taken - comparison of how French and American soldiers leave place
they've been - have had no leave since in AEF.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to parents
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1919-02-13 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to his parents. Kruchten, Luxemburg. Re: applied to take
course in a British University; cost arrangements.
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Box 1 |
From Cecil Gross
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1919-02-27 | |
Scope and Contents
Postcard from Cecil Gross. Kruchten, Luxemburg. (picture of Clerveaux - 1835) - our
division to return to America in May.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to parents
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1919-03-13 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to his parents. Paris, France. Re: have left the company -
trip to Paris - traveling on French railroads a difficult matter - hotel conditions
- Sgt. Carson took us thru rooms at Foreign Off. Where Peace Conference being held
(reporters not allowed in main room - where deliberations held) - walks in Paris,
Louvre, etc. - am going to attend lecture courses and take courses at the Alliance
Francaise and at Pasteur Institute - Attached - "American Commission to Negotiate
Peace, Visitor's Pass"
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to parents
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1919-03-20 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to his parents. Paris, France. Re: courses in French, Industrial
Chemistry, biological chemistry, will take course in bacteriology - pay amounts (including
for school) can save $, now, by eating at Red Cross huts and Y eating places - (Sorbonne
University Detachment c/o Army Educational Commission.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Edna
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1919-04-19 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to Sister Edna. Paris, France. Re: mail more rapid since Armistice
- Red Cross canteens (type of food) - Army way behind in paying us commutations of
rations - puppet shows and stamp.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to parents
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1919-04-29 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to parents. Paris, France. Re: 33rd division now on way to
Brest - (I'm here) children playing in Luxemburg Gardens afternoons - French so open
in their affection Sunday dinner at a French restaurant - boat race on Seine.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Mother
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1919-05-18 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to his Mother. Marseille, France. Re: Sorbonne Detachment
- # men and officers - pass arrangements - trip to Nice; decided to stay here at Marseille:
small trip to Mediterranean - rue Cannebiere - Notre dame de la Garde - took boat
to Chateau d'if (prison for German soldiers during war) - old cathedral - Palais-Longchamps
comparison of attitude of Paris and Marseille toward American soldiers (Fuime controversy).
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to parents
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1919-06-06 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to his parents. Paris, France. Re: So enjoying stay in Paris
- failure of Red Cross to adjust matter of my allotment - present "Metro" strike in
Paris.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Lela
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1919-06-21 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to his sister Lela. Paris, France. Re: Soon coming home -
this is examination week - things seen in Paris - "Metro" strike over (posters all
over requesting delay of strikes and labor agitation till after peace signed)
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to parents
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1919-06-28 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to his parents. Paris, France. Exams over; received diploma
from Alliance Francaise - Peace treaty signed today - all Paris gay (will be big demonstration
and celebration tonight).
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Lela
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1919-07-03 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to his sister Lela. Brest, France. Re: trip to Paris.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Mother
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1919-07-04 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to his Mother. Brest, France. Re: General - attached - Registration
Coupon.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to parents
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1919-07-07 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to parents. Brest, France. Re: getting impatient to depart
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Edna
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1919-07-08 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to Sister Edna. Brest, France. Re: Postcard - leave tomorrow.
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to parents
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1919-07-08 | |
Scope and Contents
Letter from Cecil Gross to parents. Brest, France. Re: General
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I.a. Postcards
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Box 1 |
Cecil Gross to Edna
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1919-07-18 | |
Scope and Contents
Postcard from Cecil Gross to sister Edna. Re: Destination, Camp Milo; front, picture
of Statue of Liberty and writing: "Well Done Men. America Greets You"
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Box 1 |
From Cecil Gross
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date unknown | |
Scope and Contents
Postcard from Cecil Gross. Front - picture of 2 puppets dancing.
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Box 1 |
From Cecil Gross
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date unknown | |
Scope and Contents
Postcard from Cecil Gross. Front - view of Clerveaux incl.: L'Abbaye de St. Maurice,
old castle, new church.
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Box 1 |
From Cecil Gross
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date unknown | |
Scope and Contents
Postcard from Cecil Gross. L'Abbaye de St. Maurice.
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Box 1 |
From Cecil Gross
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date unknown | |
Scope and Contents
Postcard from Cecil Gross. Front - view of water falls among trees "Souvenir d'Echternach.
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Box 1 |
From Cecil Gross
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date unknown | |
Scope and Contents
Postcard from Cecil Gross. Front - Viaduc de la ligne du Nord. Luxemburg.
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Box 1 |
From Cecil Gross
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date unknown | |
Scope and Contents
Postcard from Cecil Gross. Front - Clerveaux - the new church
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Box 1 |
From Cecil Gross
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date unknown | |
Scope and Contents
Postcard from Cecil Gross. Front - View of Echternach
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Box 1 |
From Cecil Gross
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date unknown | |
Scope and Contents
Postcard from Cecil Gross. Front - View of Arlon, Belgium - La Gare - Re: few soldiers
quartered here (some Belgium and some American ones)
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Box 1 |
Postcard
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date unknown | |
Scope and Contents
Postcard - Front - typical pastoral scene of region now occupying; purchased in Arlon
(stream, trees, hill) Diekirch.
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Box 1 |
Snapshot
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date unknown | |
Scope and Contents
Snapshot - 3 soldiers in front of room where 8 of us billeted (during war - Rougeux,
France
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Box 1 |
Postcard
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date unknown | |
Scope and Contents
Postcard - Luxemburg - Chateau Grand-Ducal Colmar-Berg (in color)
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Box 1 |
Postcard
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date unknown | |
Scope and Contents
Postcard - Kruchten Quartier de la Gare - writing - general
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Box 1 |
From Cecil Gross to Edna
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date unknown | |
Scope and Contents
Postcard from Cecil Gross to sister Edna. Re: saying - "the ship on which I sailed
has arrived safely overseas: (standard print).
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Box 1 |
From Cecil Gross to Lela
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date unknown | |
Scope and Contents
Postcard from Cecil Gross to sister Lela - giving address while with AEF in France.
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Series II. Newspapers
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Box 1 |
New York Herald
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1918-06-30 | |
Scope and Contents
European Edition - Newspaper headlines re: Anti-German uprising in Ukraine and Victorious
French troops
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Box 1 |
New York Herald
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1918-10-26 | |
Scope and Contents
European Edition - Newspaper article entitled, "American Gains Notable in Thirty Day's
Offensive". Burr Price.
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Box 1 |
The Stars & Stripes
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1918-11-29 | |
Scope and Contents
The official newspaper of the A. E. F. (published in France) entire paper.
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Series III. Monographs
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Box 1 |
Chemical Age
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1921-04 | |
Scope and Contents
Vol. 29, No. 4 by P.F. Nichols and C.R. Gross. Methods of Preparing Vegetables for
Dehydration" - based on experiments made with potatoes, carrots and cabbage (3 pp.)
Plus - Editorials on why U.S. entered the War, economic recuperation, and teacher's
pay (1 p).
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Box 1 |
Commercial Dehydration of Fruits and Vegetables
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1925-09 | |
Scope and Contents
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Dept. Bulletin No. 1335 - P. F. Nichols, Ray Powers, C.R.
Gross, and W.A. Noel (40 pp.)
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Box 1 |
Interference of Pyridine Derivatives in Arsenic Determination
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1933-01-15 | |
Scope and Contents
A reprint from "Industrial and Engineering Chemistry" Vol. 5, by C.E. Gross (58-60
pp)
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Box 1 |
Sources of Error in the Gutzeit Method for the Determination of Arsenic
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1933-08 | |
Scope and Contents
A reprint from "Journal of the Association of Official Ag. Chemists" Vol. XVI, No.3
by C.R. Gross (pp. 398-403)
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Box 1 |
The Removal of Lead, Arsenic and fluoride Residues from Apples
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1933-1934 | |
Scope and Contents
Proceedings Twenty-ninth Annual Meeting, Washington State Horticultural Association
by Edwin Smith, A. Lloyd Ryall, C.R. Gross, R. H. Carter, C.W. Murray, V.E. Fahey.
(pp. 86-96)
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Box 1 |
Colorimetric Method for Determination of Rotenone
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1934-05 | |
Scope and Contents
Reprinted from "Journal of Association of Official Ag. Chemists" by C.E. Gross and
C.M. Smith. (pp. 336-339)
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Box 1 |
Spray Residue Removal from Apples
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1934-09 | |
Scope and Contents
University of Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin No. 368. by M.H.
Haller, J.H. Beaumont, C.R. Gross, H.W. Rusk. (pp. 121 - 136)
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Box 1 |
Studies on Odor Elimination in Apple Storage
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1945-12 | |
Scope and Contents
Reprint from Refrigerator Engineering, Vol. 50. by C.R. Gross, R.M. Smock. (pp. 535-540)
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Box 1 |
Effect of Some Hormone Materials on the Respiration and Softening Rates of Apples
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1947 | |
Scope and Contents
Reprint from American Society for Horticultural Science, Vol. 49. by R.M. Smock and
C.R. Gross (pp. 67-77)
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Box 1 |
Odor Sources in Egg Storage and Methods of Removal
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1947 | |
Scope and Contents
Reprint from Food Industries, Vol. 19. by C.R. Gross, G.C. Hall, R.M. Smock. pp. 919-921,
1028, and 1030.
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Box 1 |
Studies on Respiration of Apples
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1950-03 | |
Scope and Contents
Cornell University Agricultural Experimental Station, Memoir 297. by R.M. Smock, C.R.
Gross. (47 pp.)
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Series IV. Miscellaneous
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Box 1 |
Former Student Notes -" Where They are After Fifteen Years"
|
1930-10 | |
Scope and Contents
The Cornell Countryman. Includes paragraph on C.R. Gross (2 pp)
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Box 1 |
Certificate to C.R. Gross in appreciation of effective service - (during war)
|
1945-03-01 | |
Scope and Contents
From U. S. of America - Office of Science Research and Development
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