MS-082: Capt. Russell Miller and Claudia Lewis Miller Correspondence, 1916-1919

Processed by Amy Sanderson, ‘07

October 2006

  Download Finding - Aid Adobe PDF (39 KB)  

Russell Miller and Claudia Lewis both attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington and there began their courtship. After graduating in 1916/7, Russell participated in an R.O.T.C. training camp in San Francisco, California, and was later stationed as a 2^nd Lieutenant serving in the 347^th Machine Gun Battalion, Co A, 91^st Division at Camp Lewis on American Lake outside of Tacoma, Washington.  Claudia continued to live with her parents in Wenatchee, Washington and worked as a stenographer.  Russell and Claudia were married in April of 1918, approximately two months prior to Russell being deployed to serve in Europe.  Russell Miller returned safely from his service and it can be inferred from a few letters in the collection that the Millers had at least two sons, both of whom serve in the military in the 1940’s and 1950’s.

 
Scope and Content:
297 letters written more or less daily between Russell Miller and Claudia Miller from Washington in 1916-1919.  Almost all letters are attached to their original envelopes with stamps.

 SERIES I –      Breaks from Whitman College - 1916 (3 Folders); Letters from Russell Miller to Claudia Lewis – Letters postmarked from Walla Walla, Washington refer to the various summer employments of both Russell and Claudia, happenings of fellow fraternity and sorority members, and their break-up at the end of the summer.  Two letters from December are written after Russell and Claudia’s reconciliation.

SERIES II –     Summer at R.O.T.C. Training Camp - 1917 (7 Folders); Letters between Russell Miller and Claudia Lewis – Letters refer to day-to-day happenings at camp in the Presidio, San Francisco, California and gossip about college acquaintances.

SERIES III –    Camp Lewis – 1917-1918 (22 Folders); Letters between Russell Miller and Claudia Lewis while Russell was stationed at Camp Lewis on American Lake near Tacoma, Washington. Most of the letters refer to day-to-day happenings, gossip at either Camp Lewis or the various offices that Claudia works at in Wenatchee, and arranging visits to see each other.  Many letters address the issue of Russell and Claudia’s impending marriage.  There are references to training, marches, and time spent at the rifle range, as well as Claudia’s time spent in Seattle for the Red Cross Home Service Institute, which are noted in the folder inventory. Claudia also writes about knitting Russell a sweater and an averted elopement in her family.   There are some letters to and from family and friends that are enclosed with other letters and noted in the folder inventory.

SERIES IV –   After Marriage – 1918-1918 (5 Folders); Letters between Russell Miller and Claudia Lewis Miller.  Letters mainly discuss Russell and Claudia’s status as newlyweds while Russell is still stationed at Camp Lewis. Russell writes about hearing rumors of when another draft will take place and is eventually sent to Camp Merritt, New York at the end of June, 1918.  Claudia sends ahead her daily letters to New York commenting on the daily headlines about the war, passing troop trains, the draft, and saving money for her and Russell’s future.

SERIES V –     Russell Miller in Action – 1918-1919 (1 Folder); Three letters from Russell Miller after his arrival in Europe. Documents described in folder inventory.

SERIES VI –   Russell Miller Correspondence (1 Folder); Twelve letters, see folder     I                           inventory

SERIES VII – Claudia Lewis Miller Correspondence (1 Folder); Six letters, see folder    I                           inventory

SERIES VIII – Undated Correspondence (1 Folder); Three letters, see folder inventory

SERIES IX – Miscellaneous – (1 Folder); Nine items, see folder inventory