Floyd A. Brotzman papers

Table of Contents

Summary Information

Background note

Scope and Contents note

Administrative Information

Controlled Access Headings

Collection Inventory

Summary Information

Repository

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Title

Floyd A. Brotzman papers

ID

4168

Date

1918-1919

Extent

0.6 Linear feet

Author

Finding aid prepared by Annie Halliday.

Sponsor

Processing made possible by a generous donation from Howard and Maxine Lewis.

Language

English

Abstract

Floyd Ambrose Brotzman was from Easton, Pennsylvania, and he served with the U.S. Army (112th Field Signal Battalion) during World War I. Floyd was born October 12, 1886, in Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. His parents were Irwin Brotzman (1850-1903) and Salina Brotzman (1850-1934). Floyd attended Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. In 1908 Floyd became a math teacher and taught at Easton High School. He entered the army on April 27, 1918, when he was 32 years old. He served overseas in various parts of France from June 23, 1918 to March 5, 1919, and he was honorably discharged on April 11, 1919. After the war he returned to Easton, Pennsylvania. He continued teaching at Easton High School. Floyd Brotzman passed away on January 5, 1981, at the age of 94 years old. He was buried next to his parents in Hays Cemetery in Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. This collection consists of two journals that Floyd kept from 1918 to 1919, 53 letters either to or from Floyd while overseas in the army, a copy of the New Testament he carried while in France, his original WWI dog tags, and his WWI Victory medal.

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Background note

Floyd Ambrose Brotzman was born October 12, 1886, in Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. His parents were Irwin Brotzman (1850-1903) and Salina Brotzman (1850-1934). Floyd’s father passed away when Floyd was only seventeen years old. Floyd attended Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, and graduated with his bachelors in mathematics. In 1908 Floyd became a math teacher and taught at Easton High School. He entered the army on April 27, 1918, when he was 32 years old, and fought in World War I as part of the 112th Field Signal Battalion, Company B. He served overseas in various parts of France from June 23, 1918, to March 5, 1919 and he was honorably discharged on April 11, 1919. After the war he returned to Easton, Pennsylvania. Sometime in 1919 or 1920 he married a woman named Mamie (b. 1884) in Pennsylvania. He served at Easton High School for over 49 years, and taught subjects such as mathematics, general science, and American history. He was also an adviser to the mathematics club. Floyd Brotzman passed away on January 5, 1981, at the age of 94 years old. He was buried next to his parents in Hays Cemetery in Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.

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Scope and Contents note

This collection consists of two journals that Floyd kept from 1918 to 1919, 53 letters either to or from Floyd while overseas in the army, a copy of the New Testament he carried while in France, his original WWI dog tags, and his WWI Victory medal.

The two journals are daily diaries; one for 1918 and one for 1919. The 1918 diary starts when he’s a still a civilian. It mostly contains observations on the weather, his teaching schedule, and other personal notes. In February and March the entries begin to mention his being reviewed by the draft board and his physical examination. On March 11th he has been accepted by the draft board. He arrives at Camp Lee, in Virginia on April 27th. His entries while he’s at training camp discuss drilling, attending lectures, what sort of food he ate, and the general atmosphere of the camp. On June 21st he is sent overseas to France, and the entries then become more sporadic. On August 21st there is a detailed air raid description, and on November 11th celebration occurs when the armistice is signed. In the back of the volume are some cash accounts. The 1919 diary begins with Floyd still being in France. He talks about duties to which he’s assigned, how many miles they hike, and the places they’ve hiked. On January 28th they are received by General Pershing, and by April 11th he’s back home in Easton, Pennsylvania. The entries following his return offer an interesting insight into what it was like acclimating to civilian life. His diary again becomes about pleasant topics such as teaching, attending church, cutting grass, and visiting family.

Most of the letters in the collection are between Floyd and his widowed mother, Salina. Floyd’s letters are usually about small events that happen while in training camp or on the front. When he’s still at Camp Lee he describes the difficult training, what they ate, and attending bible class. He mentions in a letter dated July 15, 1918, that he’s somewhere in France. He writes to her about his sore feet, being cold in his tent, and having to clip his hair because there’s no water with which to wash. Floyd writes sadly to his mother about missing his family on Christmas, and she sends him a loving Christmas card in return. Beginning with his letter dated November 27, 1918 he writes in more detail, as his letters are no longer being censored. Other letters in the collection are from his sister, Daisy, with one containing an enclosed letter from his nephew, Karl. Daisy also often included newspaper clippings related to their hometown and soldiers returning home. There are few letters from other family members, such as his Uncle Steve, and one from his future wife, Mamie. A 1918 letter from his reverend back in Easton, Pennsylvania, S.H. Kinard, talks a bit about the flu epidemic happening in the states. Kinard mentions how the city of Philadelphia dealt with the fatalities of the epidemic and how they “dug trenches with steam shovels and buried them a hundred in a trench” He also mentions that coffins were being stolen from cemeteries so that families had a place to put their dead.

The collection also contains Floyd’s WWI dog tags and his WWI Victory medal. The dog tags are intact and on their original cord. The Victory medal has three battle clasps attached. One is for those that participated in the battle of Ypres-Lys, Belgium, which lasted from August 19, 1918 to November 11, 1918, and suffered 2,600 U.S. casualties. The second clasp is for soldiers who fought in the battle of Meuse-Argonne, France, which started on September 26, 1918, and also ended on Armistice Day in November. Around 1.2 million U.S. soldiers took part in this battle, with 117,000 killed or wounded. The final clasp is for the Defensive Sector, which is awarded to those who performed general defense service or for soldiers who fought in a battle which was not recognized with its own clasp. There is also a pocket sized copy of the New Testament with Floyd’s U.S. address and his army unit.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

 Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2019.

Access restrictions

This collection is open for research.

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

• Beltrone & Company.
• Easton High School (Easton, Northampton County, Pa.).
• United States. Army. Field Signal Battalion, 112th..

Geographic Name(s)

• Camp Dix (N.J.)
• Camp Lee (Va.)
• Easton (Northampton County, Pa.)
• France
• Northampton County (Pa.)

Personal Name(s)

• Brotzman, Floyd

Subject(s)

• Influenza Epidemic
• World War I.
• World War, 1914-1918.

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Collection Inventory