John P. Ambuehl Collection
Title
John P. Ambuehl Collection
Creator
Ambuehl Family
Identifier
MS000195
Date
1917-1921
Description
John P. Ambuehl was a private from Borup, Minnesota, who served as a machine gunner in France during WWI and was killed in action in October 1918. The documents in this collection cover his entry into service in 1917 and paperwork related to his burial arrangements. Other items of note include Ambuehl's pocket journal and correspondence from Clarence Rohlfing, a friend of Ambuehl who corresponded with the family after the war.
The bulk of the collection comes from a photo album of pictures taken during Ambuehl's time in military training. He was stationed at training camps in Indiana, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Long Island during the fall and winter of 1917-1918, and these photos capture his time there. Ambuehl wrote to his sister that he would often take pictures of his fellow soldiers and sell them the prints as a way to make money, but he would also send home photos of himself and his friends. The subjects of the photographs are soldiers, either formally posed or relaxed, as well as unit mascots, camp buildings, and scenery taken while traveling between camps. There are also several photographs from Ambuehl's brother Bill, who served in the Expeditionary Forces and survived the war. Scans of the album pages and individual photographs are provided.
The bulk of the collection comes from a photo album of pictures taken during Ambuehl's time in military training. He was stationed at training camps in Indiana, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Long Island during the fall and winter of 1917-1918, and these photos capture his time there. Ambuehl wrote to his sister that he would often take pictures of his fellow soldiers and sell them the prints as a way to make money, but he would also send home photos of himself and his friends. The subjects of the photographs are soldiers, either formally posed or relaxed, as well as unit mascots, camp buildings, and scenery taken while traveling between camps. There are also several photographs from Ambuehl's brother Bill, who served in the Expeditionary Forces and survived the war. Scans of the album pages and individual photographs are provided.
Source
Gift of Carol Frost, great-niece of John P. Ambuehl, and Mrs. James E. Higgins, 1981.
Carol Frost is the daughter of Elsie Ambuehl Halverson and Ole K. Halverson. She also donated the Halverson Collection to WWPL.
Carol Frost is the daughter of Elsie Ambuehl Halverson and Ole K. Halverson. She also donated the Halverson Collection to WWPL.
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
Ada, Minnesota
World War, 1914-1918
United States. Army
Borup, Minnesota
Contributor
Mark Edwin Peterson
Relation
Ole K. Halverson Collection, MS000199
Language
English
Abstract
These papers consist of seven folders of official documents, letters, telegrams, and memorabilia of Pvt. John P. Ambuehl, who was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1917 and died in 1918. Included are transcripts of two letters from Clarence J. Rohlfing describing life at the front and Pvt. Ambuehl’s wounding. There are also two photographs: one portrait of Private John Ambuehl and one portrait of Clarence J. Rohlfing.
Table Of Contents
Ambuehl's Army Service
Personal Possessions
Photographs
General Correspondence and Miscellaneous Documents
Ambuehl's Death and Funeral
Letters to Ambuehl's Family
Photo Album
Personal Possessions
Photographs
General Correspondence and Miscellaneous Documents
Ambuehl's Death and Funeral
Letters to Ambuehl's Family
Photo Album
Collection Items
John P. Ambuehl Collection Finding Aid
Mostly documents, including letters, brochures, certificates, and photographs. There is also a printed book of transcribed letters.
Group of Soldiers in Baseball Uniforms
Group of soldiers in baseball uniforms, Henry Gordon second from right, bottom row
Three Soldiers Sitting on each Other's Shoulders
Three soldiers sitting on each other's shoulders in front of a building, John P. Ambuehl in center (?)
Group of Soldiers around a Hot Air Balloon
Reverse of T100368a. Text reads: This is when they are filling it up with smoke
Parachuter Landing in front of Buildings
Reverse of T100366a. Text reads: This is just when he came down
Two Men in Civilian Clothes Standing by a Rural Lane
Two men in civilian clothes standing by a rural lane
Man in Civilian Clothes and Army Hat
Man in civilian clothes and Army hat, training camp buildings in background
View of a Bridge
Reverse of T100354a. Text reads: what do you think about [?] I think they are pretty good [?] on the [?] he is pretty small but you show them to him and he will find [?] them
