Historian Anthony L. Powell, will be speaking at the First Division Museum at Cantigny Park, Wheaton, ILL, July 3, 2016 on Chaplain William Braddan.

Anthony Powell: I’m forwarding a message from a researcher. Jeff DeJong [email protected] I am working on a history of the 8th Ill/370th Infantry Regiment in WWI. I was curious if your collection includes any materials related to this unit. I have reviewed many of the secondary sources, but the details they include about this unit are rather sparse. I am particularly interested in finding firsthand accounts of the experiences of soldiers in this unit. I have found two memoirs (William Braddan and Harry Haywood) and would like to uncover others. I also saw that the DuSable was planning an exhibit on this unit. I’ve emailed the curator of the exhibit, but I haven’t heard back. I have found a wealth of information in the Harsh Collection maintained by the Chicago Public Library that has been helpful and have also found a handful of materials in the Schomberg Collection at the New York Public Library. I’ve also seen the presentation by Anthony Powell at your Library. I have a list of items in your collection that I would like to review. If possible, I’d like to schedule a time to meet with you or others who might be able to steer me in the right direction to find additional information. I’m in Oak Park, so a trip to Wheaton would be just a short drive. The experience of this unit represents a critical intersection in American history of civil rights and military history, for which I have not seen any comprehensive history. I’d appreciate your help. The best way to reach me is by email, but I’m also happy to talk by phone if that’s more convenient. The best number to reach me is 312-404-9168. If there is some one else with whom you think I ought to speak, please feel free to pass this on. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks. Jeff DeJong Andrew E. Woods | Research Historian Colonel Robert R. McCormick Research Center First Division Museum at Cantigny Park 1s151 Winfield Road | Wheaton, IL 60189 630 260 8223 | fax: 630.260.9298 | [email protected] www.fdmuseum.org