Hugo “Hap” Gruenberg Collection

Special Collections and University Archives is well-known for its World War I materials. The Hugo “Hap” Gruenberg (1991-008) collection consists of personal ephemera and photographs of Private 1st Class Hugo August “Hap” Gruenberg of Ambulance Company 167, 117th Sanitary Train, 42nd (Rainbow) Division, American Expeditionary Forces.

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The “Rainbow” Division was established in August 1917. It was made up of volunteers from the regular army units scattered throughout the United States. Gruenberg’s section was formed from the Tulsa Ambulance Company into a unit of the National Guard. Their unit met up with the other sections at Camp Albert L. Mills on September 2nd.

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On the morning of November 1st, six transports arrived at the French seaport in St. Nazaire. The unit spent about 2 years in France pulling wounded and transporting them for medical attention. They returned home on April 17, 1919 on the U.S.S. Mount Vernon.

“The record of 22,260 patients evacuated from the firing line during action by the 117th Sanitary Train is a record of which every officer and man of the organization may justly be proud.” –Iodine and Gasoline: History of the 117th Sanitary Train

This collection contains numerous personal ephemera, some of which includes Gruenberg’s diary (1917-1918), soldier’s pay record book, Gruenberg’s dog tags and brass key on a leather thong, and one pair of regulation leather leggings. Within the photographs, there is a group photo taken of the 42nd (Rainbow) Division, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1927.

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This collection was donated by Gruenberg’s son, Charles Gruenberg, in September 1991. The Victrola records have been converted into digital files and can be listened to as part of the collection.

Our collections are available during normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the University of Tulsa Special Collections and University Archives.

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One Response to Hugo “Hap” Gruenberg Collection

  1. Pingback: Some new WWI Digital Collections uploads. | From McFarlin Tower

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