Guide to the Papers of Harry Sugarman
1917-1919
P-1042
Processed by Rachel Brill
American Jewish Historical Society
Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th Street
New York, N.Y. 10011
Phone: (212) 294-6160
Email: reference@ajhs.org
URL: http://www.ajhs.org
© 2019 American Jewish Historical Society, New York, NY. All Rights Reserved.
Electronic finding aid was encoded in EAD 2002 by Rachel Brill in 2018. Description is in English.
Descriptive Summary | |
Creator: | Sugarman, Harry, active 20th century |
---|---|
Title: | Harry Sugarman Papers |
Dates: | 1917-1919 |
Abstract: | Harry Sugarman was a Jewish soldier who served as a private during World War I. This collection consists of written materials, mainly personal letters, relating to his time in the military. |
Languages: | The collection is in English. |
Quantity: | 0.25 linear feet (1 half-manuscript box) |
Identification: | P-1042 |
Repository: | American Jewish Historical Society |
Location: | Located in AJHS New York, NY |
Biographical Note
Postcard from Harry Sugarman (1891-)
Postcard from Harry Sugarman (1891-)
Harry Sugarman was born in Russia in 1891 to Joseph and Rose Sugarman, Russian Jews, and had several siblings. Sugarman and his family lived for a time in England, where Sugarman went to school, and around 1910 they immigrated to New York. Sugarman was a furrier. In 1917, he was drafted into the U.S. army to serve as a private in World War I, in which capacity he went to France with the 148th Infantry. He spent much of his time in the army hospitalized, having been wounded. Sugarman returned home and was naturalized as an American citizen in 1919. Information about Sugarman’s life following the war is scarce. He married Anna (Fox) Sugarman and had several children, including his daughter Rena Kleinhandler, who donated the Harry Sugarman papers to the AJHS.
Return to the Top of PageScope and Content Note
This collection contains written materials relating to Harry Sugarman’s time in the U.S. army during World War I.
The collection is primarily composed of Sugarman’s personal letters home to his parents and siblings. The first letters detail his training and daily activities in several U.S. barracks. Once he is deployed to France, he writes about his relations with French soldiers and his activities during his free time; he briefly describes his experience in the trenches. He also writes about spending time in the hospital for “influenza.” Following the official end of the war, Sugarman describes how he spends time in France while waiting to be able to return home. Throughout the letters, he strives to assure his family that he is in good health. Sugarman makes brief mention of his Judaism, asking about the holidays in one letter.
Also included in the collection are military documents and some newspaper clippings.
Return to the Top of PageArrangement
The collection is arranged into three series:
- Series I: Correspondence, undated, 1918-1919
- Series II: Military Documents, 1917-1919
- Series III: Newspaper Clippings, undated
Access and Use
Access Restrictions
The collection is open to all researchers by permission of the Director of Library and Archives of the American Jewish Historical Society, except items that are restricted due to their fragility.
Use Restrictions
Information concerning the literary rights may be obtained from the Director of Library
and Archives of the American Jewish Historical Society. Users must apply in writing for
permission to quote, reproduce or otherwise publish manuscript materials found in this
collection. For more information contact:
American Jewish Historical Society, Center
for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY, 10011
email:
reference@ajhs.org
Related Material
The American Jewish Committee - Office of Jewish War Records, undated, 1918-1921, 1962, I-9 has a record for Harry Sugarman, which includes information about his military service and wounds received. The collection also contains information about many other Jews who served in World War I. Sugarman’s record is in Box 9, Folder 4.
The Bernard C. Ehrenreich (1876-1955) Papers, undated, 1871-1971, P-26] contains correspondence of soldiers in World War I.
Return to the Top of PagePreferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known);
Harry Sugarman
Papers;
P-1042; box number; folder number; American Jewish Historical Society, New York, NY.
Acquisition Information
The collection was donated to AJHS by Rena Kleinhandler in 2016.
Return to the Top of PageAccess Points
Click on a subject to search that term in the Center's catalog.Individuals:
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Container List
Series I: Correspondence, 1918-1919 | ||||
In English. | ||||
6 folders. | ||||
Arrangement:Arranged chronologically. | ||||
Scope and Content:This series contains letters written home by Sugarman during his time serving in the military. The majority of the letters are handwritten, with a few government-issued postcards and one telegram included. | ||||
Box | Folder | Title | Date | Request |
1 | 1 | Correspondence—April-May 1918 | 1918 | ![]() |
1 | 2 | Correspondence—June-August 1918 | 1918 | ![]() |
1 | 3 | Correspondence—September-November 1918 | 1918 | ![]() |
1 | 4 | Correspondence—December 1918-January 1919 | 1918-1919 | ![]() |
1 | 5 | Correspondence—February-March 1919 | 1919 | ![]() |
1 | 6 | Correspondence—Undated | Undated | ![]() |
Series II: Military Documents, 1917-1919 | ||||
In English. | ||||
1 folder. | ||||
Arrangement:Arranged chronologically. | ||||
Scope and Content:This series contains documents relating to Sugarman’s military career, including his enrollment and honorable discharge papers. It also contains a photocopy of Sugarman’s naturalization certificate. | ||||
Box | Folder | Title | Date | Request |
1 | 7 | Military Documents | 1917-1919 | ![]() |
Series III: Newspaper Clippings, undated | ||||
In English. | ||||
1 folder. | ||||
Arrangement:In order of original collection. | ||||
Scope and Content:This series contains two newspaper clippings found in the original collection. | ||||
Box | Folder | Title | Date | Request |
1 | 1 | Newspaper Clippings | undated | ![]() |