New York State Adjutant General's Office World War I Historical Research Files

Arranged by type of material (photographs, clippings, maps) and therein roughly chronological.

The series consists of a group of clippings, photographs, training circulars, instructions, and maps, dating from the World War I period. The exact source and association of these records is unclear, although they may be from a collection of Franklin W. Ward, who was Adjutant General from 1926 to 1934. They were apparently kept as background files, perhaps for research purposes to illustrate New York's part in military training (including intelligence training) and the actual fighting.

The materials include: a photograph of the 12th Infantry Rifle Team, Peeksill (New York) dated September, 1914; a selection of newspaper clippings (ca. 1928) from the Albany Knickerbocker Press publication of "War Struck," reminiscences of Adjutant General Franklin W. Ward about his experiences as Colonel in the 27th Division of the American Expeditionary Force (including the 105th and 106th Infantry Regiments) and showing officers (e.g. John F. O'Ryan, commander), captured German soldiers and equipment, and scenes of battle damage and action in Belgium and France; annotated print maps (7 copies) labeled "No. 9228" showing approximate front line and disposition of "Trenches Corrected from Information Received Up To 29-6-18" in West Flanders, Belgium, near the French border (40 x 33 cm); annotated print maps (7 copies) labeled "No. 9229" showing approximate front line and disposition of "Trenches Corrected from Information Received Up To 29-6-18" in West Flanders, Belgium, near the French border (40 x 33 cm); annotated print maps (2 copies) labeled "No. 9309" and entitled "Probate Enemy Order of Battle. 9-8-18." showing division and regiment boundary references, the approximate enemy (German) front line, and approximate dates of relief, in West Flanders, Belgium, near the French border (33 x 40 cm);

undated, unattributed reference map overlay, showing position of companies, guns, reserve positions, and divisional boundaries (51 X 69 cm); copies (2) of War Department Training Circular No. 21, "Positive Intelligence," dated September 14, 1918 prescribing "subjects to be considered and methods observed in training of positive intelligence groups" with separate sheets explaining military symbols denoting size and indentification of units and posts, and how natural and man-made elements should be represented on maps; copy of "Instructions for the Intelligence Service of an Infantry Regiment" by the Military Intelligence Branch of the War Department, dated February 22, 1918, explaining the mission, organization, instruction, and fundamental principles of a regimental intelligence service, with guidelines on the nature of information to be collected, possible sources, and the coordination, transfer, and recording of the information and including a separate "Reproduction of Captured Enemy Intelligence Map Dated 13-7-18, Captured 9-8-18"; and a map entitled "Sketch Map No. 2 Drawn from Air Photos to 14/8/18 to be used as Reference Map for Front Line Intelligence and Patrols" with a legend showing posts, pillboxes, disused roads, old huts or dugouts, and natural features in West Flanders, Belgium, near the French border (27 x 40 cm).

Folder list is available at the repository.

These records were misfiled at the end of series A3352, Claim Applications for Service in the War of 1812, and were separated out by Archives staff in September 1993.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.