Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Roy Gilbert Conley Papers

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0851
Creators:
Conley, Roy Gilbert
Dates:
ca. 1914-1960.
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
6 Cubic feet
2 boxes
Repository:
The collection documents the life of Seaman 2nd class Roy Conley, particularly his experiences during World War 1.

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
The collection consists primarily of photographs documenting Conley's experiences as a seaman in World War I. War images include battlefields, trenches, weaponry, and damage to villages and cities. Other photographs are of family members and pictures that Conley took later in life as he traveled throughout Europe and the United States as a tourist. Personal papers consist of identification information and a few military documents. There is also a scrapbook containing photographs collected during World War I, photographs of family members and images of the United States and Europe.
Series 1, Personal Papers, 1918-1945, includes documents relating to Conley's World War I and World War II service and family photographs. There is a Naval Aviator's logbook which he used as a scrapbook and which contains photographs, postcards, newspaper clippings and other items accrued in France in World War I. A scrapbook containing photographs collected during World War I, photographs of family members, images of the United States and Europe and personal papers is also included among the materials.
Series 2, World War I, 1918-1919, consists of photographs of World War I battle scenes, including German bodies, a gas attack, tank warfare, artillery pieces and wrecked airplanes. Also included are photographs of the damage done to countryside and towns by aerial and artillery bombardment.
Series 3, Post World War I, 1919, undated, contains sightseeing and other photographs Conley collected after World War I. Scenes of Paris and other European locations, New York and Kentucky are included.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged into three series.
Series 1: Personal Papers, 1918-1945
Series 2: World War I, 1918-1919
Series 3: Post World War I, 1919, undated

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
Roy Gilbert Conley was born in 1899. He lived most of his life in Detroit, Michigan. Conley served in the U.S. Navy from January, 1918 until September, 1919. After basic training at Camp Decatur in Great Lakes, Illinois, he was assigned to a dirigible unit in Paimboeuf, France. He served again during World War II in Port Huron, Michigan as a member of the Coast Guard Reserve. Mr. Conley died in 1963.

Administration

Author
Frank R. Jenkins
Immediate Source of Acquisiton
The collection was donated to the Archives Center by Ms. Barbara Murray, Mr. Conley's grand niece.
Processing Information
Processed by Frank R. Jenkins (volunteer), April 30, 2004; supervised by Vanessa Broussard Simmons, archivist.

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Preferred Citation
Roy Gilbert Conley Papers, circa 1914-1960, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Photographs -- 1900-1950 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
World War, 1914-1918 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks -- 1900-1950 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Soldiers -- World War, 1914-1918 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
World War, 1914-1918 -- trenches Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Seamen -- 1910-1920 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
World War, 1914-1918 -- Artillery Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-3270
Fax Number: Fax: 202-786-2453
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